The Woodlands & Greater Houston
Land Clearing for Building Sites, Lots and Fence Lines
Drakon Builders clears and grubs building sites, lots, fence lines and brush across The Woodlands, Conroe and Greater Houston. Our fleet runs from a compact Cat D1 to a Cat D6 dozer and from an 8-ton Kubota KX080 to a 24-ton John Deere 240 excavator, with our own operators doing the work. Start with the area you need opened and what you intend to build there.
A cleared lot and a prepared building pad are different scopes. Clearing opens the work area; grubbing addresses roots and buried vegetation within that scope. Tell us where the future slab, driveway and drainage paths belong so the clearing limits support the next phase. Debris can be hauled off or stacked according to the agreed scope.
We work across Montgomery County, The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Willis, Spring, Lake Conroe and Greater Houston. Work is shown in machine-days with operator. The plan depends on access, vegetation, root removal and where the cleared material will go, rather than a promise based only on the outline of a property.
Clear the ground you actually need
Bring a survey or site plan if you have one and identify the footprint you want cleared. A house site may need room around the pad for construction access as well as the driveway approach. A fence line needs a defined corridor. Brush removal on an open lot needs clear stopping points so vegetation outside the work area stays out of the scope.
Discuss trees and areas to retain before equipment enters the lot. Marking a boundary on a plan is useful, but the operator also needs to understand it on the ground. Include gates, existing fences and nearby structures in that discussion. Access and room to turn affect which machine can reach each part of the work area.
Grubbing and root-ball removal under pads
For a future building pad, include root-ball removal in the clearing scope. Cutting vegetation at the surface does not address the material below it. Explain where the slab is planned and whether pad preparation follows immediately, so the excavation and clearing boundaries can be considered together.
Removing a root ball leaves an opening that must be addressed during pad preparation. Clearing alone should not be treated as a finished foundation surface. Separate the clearing handoff from the fill, compaction and grading work needed for the building. Our building pad service covers that next stage, and we also pour slabs.
Debris haul-off or stacking
Decide where the material goes before the clearing starts. Haul-off and stacking are scope choices. A stack location should be discussed alongside the future building footprint, access route and drainage work so the material does not occupy the same ground needed for construction.
If haul-off is part of the job, show where loading access is available. If stacking is selected, identify the intended area and what must remain accessible around it. Avoid leaving this decision until vegetation is already down. Moving a pile again is a separate task that can interfere with the next phase.
How the job runs
- 1.Walk the clearing limits and identify what stays. Review the building footprint, fence lines, equipment entrance and any areas that need separate attention.
- 2.Define clearing, grubbing and root-ball removal separately. Decide whether debris leaves the property or is stacked in a designated area.
- 3.Plan the dozer and excavator work around the access and removal scope. Show the planned work in machine-days with operator.
- 4.Clear and grub the agreed area, then review the ground with the next phase in mind. Confirm whether pad preparation or grading is included or follows separately.
We call Texas 811 for utility locates before digging. For sites that disturb an acre or more, we put the required stormwater controls (SWPPP) in place. In unincorporated Montgomery County, we handle the county development permit and drainage sign-off when a job needs them.
Equipment we use
Our Cat D6 dozer moves cleared material and handles the broader clearing work where access allows. Our Kubota KX080 excavator, in the 8-ton class, handles digging and root-ball removal. Our Kubota SVL95 compact track loader moves loose material around the work area. Each machine has a different role; the site and scope determine the combination.
The fleet is operated by our own operators. Our John Deere 240 excavator takes the heavy stump and root work on larger clearings, and our Cat D1 dozer handles tight areas near fences and structures. Discuss the actual access and clearing requirements with us so equipment selection follows the job rather than a machine name alone.
Straight answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you clear just a fence line?
Yes. Fence-line clearing can be scoped as a corridor rather than clearing the whole lot. Identify the line, access points and vegetation you want retained so the boundaries are clear before work starts.
Do you remove root balls where the house will sit?
Yes. Root-ball removal under pads belongs in the grubbing scope. Tell us the planned pad location and whether we are also preparing the pad so both stages can be discussed together.
Will you haul away the cleared debris?
Debris haul-off or stacking is determined by the scope. Choose the approach before work begins and identify the loading access or stack location. Do not assume either option is included without discussing it.
Can you prepare the pad after clearing?
Yes. We offer building pad site preparation, including rough grading, select-fill caps and compaction. We also pour slabs. Clearing and pad preparation should be described as distinct stages even when planned together.
What should I send when asking about clearing?
Send the site location, the intended clearing limits, your planned use and any available survey or layout. Explain access restrictions and whether you want debris hauled off or stacked. These details help define the work.
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