When people think about water problems in Teton Valley, they usually picture spring runoff or winter frost heave. But Shawn at ParkFab knows summer can be just as brutal on your site — especially if you skip proper grading and drainage planning.

The Summer Problem Nobody Talks About

Summer in Victor, Driggs, Tetonia, or Alta isn’t just “dry and dusty.” Our soil bakes hard under 90+ degree heat, which can:

  • Seal the surface like concrete, making sudden summer storms run off instead of soaking in.

  • Create erosion channels that carry sediment into the wrong places.

  • Overload improperly planned swales, culverts, or drains.

The result? You can have standing water in one corner of your lot and bare, eroded patches in another — both of which can compromise your foundation and landscaping.

Why Grading Is More Than Just “Smoothing Dirt”

A lot of excavation crews will rough in a pad and call it done. Shawn doesn’t work that way. His grading plans factor in:

  • Roof runoff paths (yes, he’s thinking about where every drop will go once gutters are installed)

  • Driveway slope & compaction to prevent washouts or rutting

  • Future landscaping so water doesn’t end up pooling at tree lines or hardscape edges

  • Long-term soil behavior — how your lot will drain in year two or year ten, not just right after the build

The High-Heat Risk: Compacted Soil & Sudden Rain

Here’s the thing — hot, compacted soil can’t absorb heavy rain quickly enough. Shawn’s seen this hundreds of times: a 20-minute summer storm dumps more water than the ground can handle, and without good drainage design, that water heads straight for your foundation or garage.

His fix? Properly graded slopes away from the home, integrated French drains or daylight drains where needed, and, in some cases, subgrade prep that encourages water infiltration instead of rapid runoff.

Planning for All Four Seasons at Once

Shawn’s approach isn’t “winter plan” and “summer plan” — it’s one grading and drainage strategy that works year-round. That means:

  • No frost heave in winter.

  • No water pooling in spring.

  • No erosion gullies in summer storms.

  • No soggy spots in fall.

When you’re investing in a high-end mountain build, you can’t afford to fix the ground twice.

Get Grading Right the First Time

Shawn at ParkFab doesn’t just move dirt — he engineers your site for long-term performance in Teton Valley’s extreme climate. If you want drainage that works in August heat and January freeze, call him before you break ground.

Call Shawn at ParkFab
📞 208-360-2411
📧 shawn@parkfab.com