Fill Dirt in Nueces County, TX

Fill-dirt is subsoil without organic topsoil used to raise grades, build pads, or fill depressions. In Nueces County it is commonly used to raise yards and building pads above high-water or to correct low spots; it's not a surfacing material for driveways because it may not shed water or resist wear without a base layer.

Local delivered prices vary by supplier, moisture content, and haul distance, but a common delivered range in the Nueces County area is about $10 to $30 per ton (roughly $13 to $45 per cubic yard depending on density). For an exact quote check your zip code on Hello Gravel or contact our sales team, since local availability and truck access strongly affect price.

Because local fill-dirt varies in moisture and composition, use a working range of about 1.2 to 1.6 tons per cubic yard for loose to moderately damp South Texas fill-dirt; compacted material can run higher. For bidding or ordering, multiply cubic yards needed by a chosen factor (for example 1.4 tons/yd3) and ask your supplier for the exact dump weight used locally.

Hello Gravel often includes delivery or offers clear delivered pricing, but independent contractors in Nueces County typically charge additional fees depending on access and job size: expect contractor spreading or placement to run from about $75 to $300 for small residential loads, or roughly $8 to $20 per cubic yard for spread-and-grade services on larger jobs. Always request a written estimate that lists mobilization, spreading, and any disposal fees for unsuitable material.

In coastal Nueces County, mixes that include a higher proportion of fines and some clay help reduce settlement and erosion compared with pure sand. For yard grading and pads, ask for a dense subsoil mix (not topsoil) and compact in lifts; for areas prone to flooding, an engineered fill with added structural clay or a geotechnical recommendation is preferred.

Fill-dirt is suitable for raising grade and under slabs but is not an ideal finished driving surface; crusher run or crushed stone is the better base for driveways because it compacts and drains well. A common approach is to place compacted fill-dirt to reach desired grade, then install a 4 to 8 inch layer of crusher run or base stone as the driveway surface.

Compact fill in 4 to 8 inch lifts with mechanical equipment — plate compactors for small areas, rollers for large jobs — and target a high relative compaction (contractors often aim for 90%+ of standard Proctor for structural fills). Also avoid placing wet, saturated material and consider drainage consolidation time in coastal areas where groundwater is high.

Possibly. Many City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County projects that change grades, alter drainage, or affect floodplains require permits, and HOAs may restrict visible changes or imported material. Check local building and floodplain offices and your HOA covenants before ordering, and keep documentation of placement and compaction in case inspectors ask.

One acre raised 6 inches requires about 806 cubic yards of material (43,560 sq ft x 0.5 ft = 21,780 cu ft; 21,780/27 = 806 yd3). Using a working conversion of about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that equals roughly 1,130 tons of fill-dirt; always add 5-10% for compaction and settlement when ordering.

Using the material and delivery ranges above, the material alone could run roughly $11,000 to $34,000 (based on $10–$30/ton and about 1,130 tons), with hauling and placement costs potentially adding several thousand dollars more depending on access and spreading needs. Ask Hello Gravel for a full delivered quote to your zip code to get an accurate per-ton and total job price.

Properly placed and compacted fill-dirt can raise low spots and create positive drainage away from structures, but it must be combined with grading best practices like swales, proper outlet points, and erosion control. For lots near bayous or in flood-prone zones, coordinate with local floodplain rules and consider engineered solutions (retention swales, French drains) rather than relying on loose fill alone.

Hello Gravel connects you with local suppliers and haulers that serve rural Nueces County; many aggregate suppliers have minimums by truckload (often 3 tons minimum through Hello Gravel, while quarries may prefer 10–20 ton truckloads for rural deliveries). If you need smaller amounts, ask us about shared loads or nearby suppliers that accommodate residential drops.

If properly compacted and graded, structural fill under slabs or base layers needs little routine maintenance, but surface areas and top dressing may settle and require periodic regrading or adding material after heavy rains. For driveways and parking pads, expect to maintain the finished surface (stone or asphalt) rather than the fill-dirt beneath; check grades after major storms and repair any erosion or washouts promptly.