01What we do
Clear it. Dig it. Build on it. Drive on it.
Excavation, Land Clearing, Septic Installs, Tree Removal, Driveways, Gravel, Concrete, Dirt Work, Pool Installs, House Sites, Footers, Underground Utilities and More.
Clear the ground
Woods, brush, old buildings and junk out; a workable site in.
- Land clearing
- Tree removal
- Old buildings & cleanup
Dig & install
Septic systems, utility trenches and pool holes, dug to the plan.
- Septic installs
- Underground utilities
- Pool installs
Build the pad
House sites, footers and the dirt work every build stands on.
- House sites & pads
- Footers
- Dirt work & grading
Drive & finish
Gravel driveways, drainage, concrete and the final grade.
- Driveways
- Gravel
- Concrete
02Know the ground
Red clay, chert and rock. Every lot here.
East Tennessee’s valleys are red clay weathered out of limestone and dolomite, studded with chert, with rock ledges close underneath and sinkholes where water has dissolved the stone. Around Douglas Lake and the French Broad, add slopes that fall to the water and bottomland that floods.
That ground decides how deep a footer goes before it finds something solid, how big a drain field has to be, how a driveway sheds water, and whether a pool dig turns into rock work. We read it before we dig, and we tell you what we see.
Rock & clay questions03In their words
“They do things the right way the first time.”
Nine reviews on LocateFaith, all five stars. Here’s what customers wrote, word for word.
Messer Enterprises does great work!
Jason and Corbin are honest, trustworthy, hard working, reasonably priced, and very talented. They do things the right way the first time. I highly recommend them.
My Go To!
Needing some work done on a property we purchased, I called Jason and set up a meeting. He was on time, professional, and had very reasonable rates. He came and graded a long neglected driveway and brought it back to life! He also helped clean up and remove various buildings and junk that was left on the property. Jason is great with his machine and respects your property! We will be using Jason and Messer Enterprises llc in the future when it's time to grade the house pad, install septic, and possibly install another driveway! Looking forward to working with them in the future!
Great Work
We have had Messer and Crew out on 3 or 4 projects. Each project was different with a variety of variables. They exceeded expectations without exceeding budget. Highly Recommend
Great guys!
Great to work with. Honest and trustworthy. Laid out the work required beforehand, got approval, then did it! No fuss, no muss.
Great work
These guys show up on time! Great price and honest. They always go above and beyond for the customer. I have these guys do several jobs for me and I am always satisfied.
Kept his word and delivered great work.
Great solutions, clear explanations and easy to work with.
Excellent people doing extraordinary work.
Work was done in timely manner exactly as discussed.
04How we work
Laid out first. Then done.
- 01
Laid out before we start
We walk the job, explain what it needs and get your OK before the machine moves. Alex M. put it best: laid out the work, got approval, then did it.
- 02
Right the first time
Dirt work done right doesn’t need doing twice. Lynn’s words: they do things the right way the first time.
- 03
On time, on budget
Customers keep saying the same two things: we show up when we said, and the job lands where the price said it would.
- 04
Respect for your land
It’s your land and you live with it after we leave. One customer wrote that Jason is great with his machine and respects your property. That’s the standard.
05Finished ground
From woods to a house you can drive up to.
Cleared, cut, graded and graveled: the house sites in these photos are the kind of start-to-finish dirt work we do. The drive goes in, the yard gets shaped to shed water, and the straw goes down so the seed can hold.
House sites & pads
06Service area
Douglas Lake, the French Broad and the foothills.
We’re based in Dandridge and work across the East Tennessee region: Jefferson, Sevier, Hamblen and Cocke counties and the towns around them.
- DandridgeJefferson County
- Jefferson CityJefferson County
- White PineJefferson County
- SeviervilleSevier County
- MorristownHamblen County
- NewportCocke County
07Straight answers
Septic & site-work questions.
Do I need a permit to install a septic system in Tennessee?
Yes. Every new or repaired septic system in Tennessee needs a permit before installation, issued through TDEC’s Division of Water Resources or, in a contract county, the county’s own septic program.
Why is East Tennessee ground so hard to dig?
Much of the valley here is red clay weathered from limestone and dolomite, mixed with chert, and solid rock often sits close to the surface in ledges.
What does preparing a house site involve?
Clearing the footprint and access, cutting and filling to a level pad, compacting the fill, digging footers or a basement, and grading so water drains away from the house.
Do I need a permit to burn brush in Tennessee?
From October 15 through May 15, Tennessee requires a free burn permit from the Division of Forestry for open burning within 500 feet of woodland or grassland. You can get one online or by phone.
Why do gravel driveways wash out?
Water. A drive washes out when rain runs down it instead of off it, usually because it has no crown or cross slope, no ditches and no culverts where water crosses.
What affects the cost of excavation or a septic install?
The ground, the slope, the access and the scope: rock, steep or wet sites, long hauls, trees to clear and the type of septic system all change the price.