Concrete base Layer
The dirt beneath your concrete slab is constantly moving. The base prevents the movement of the dirt from cracking the concrete slab by providing a layer that absorbs the differential movement often found in existing soil. When a gravel base is applied, runoff washes through the gravel base keeping your slab well supported and crack free. For hard to reach areas many contractors use pea gravel as a base for poring concrete.
Septic Tank Decommissioning
Decommissioning is the process of making the tank inoperative. For safety purposes it is required that a decommissioned tank be filled with sand, concrete or gravel. We provide the service of filling your unused tank with Pea Gravel through our blower service.
Before we can begin the job we need to know how many yards of material you will need. To determine the quantity of material, divide the gallons of the tank by 202.
202 gallons= 1 yard
Once you know the quantity, determine how far from the road or driveway the tank is located. Our truck is capable of blowing pea gravel up to 150 feet, however, additional charges apply for distances over 200 feet.
What Impacts Pricing & What You Should Know
Before booking pea gravel fill / backfill jobs, these are the cost-influencing factors to consider:
| Factor | How It Affects Price |
|---|---|
| Volume / Cubic Yards | More material = more cost. But small jobs may carry higher cost per yard because of transport, setup, and minimum load charges. |
| Distance from truck bed to fill point | The farther the material must travel (through gates, over structures, up slopes), the more setup and time required, which adds cost. |
| Material Type & Quality | Pea gravel vs crushed stone vs fill sand vs soil — different costs. Material delivery, source, screening, cleaning all influence price. |
| Access Constraints | Tight access, narrow gates, steep slopes, or obstructions make the job harder, slower, and may require extra labor or equipment. |
| Site Prep & Cleanup | Removing obstructions, protecting nearby surfaces or plantings, cleaning up overflow or material spilled — all add to time and cost. |
| Minimum Load / Minimum Charge | If your job is under a certain size (yards), there may be a minimum load requirement or surcharge. This helps cover the cost of mobilizing. |
Typical Use Cases & Examples
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Septic Tank Decommissioning: You converted an old septic tank into something else. You need to fill it with pea gravel to meet safety standards. We compute how many yards needed (e.g. gallons converted to cubic yards), then blow pea gravel in.
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Under Slab Backfill: Concrete slab base or foundation has voids or needs aggregate under it. Rather than haul material in, we use a blower truck to place pea gravel or similar fill.
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Trenches & Utility Backfilling: When pipe trenches or utility lines need to be backfilled (often with gravel for drainage), blower service can drop in material over the trench without disturbing surrounding ground.
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Landscape Finish Work: In decorative or functional beds, walkways, or patios where you want pea gravel or fill stone evenly and cleanly placed.
FAQs
Q: How many yards of pea gravel are needed to fill a septic tank of known gallons?
A: At Aardvark Bark, one rule of thumb: 202 gallons = 1 cubic yard. So if your old tank was, say, 2,020 gallons, you’d need about 10 cubic yards of gravel.
Q: What kind of material can be blown with this service?
A: We can handle pea gravel, fill gravel, sand, possibly other fill materials depending on size / consistency. If a material is too large, coarse, or wet, it may not blow/slings well.
Q: Will the fill damage my property (lawns, plants, fences)?
A: We take measures to avoid damage. Because material is delivered by blower, there’s minimized tracking or driving through soft areas. Still, we’ll coordinate how to protect plants, surfaces, driveways, etc.
How to Request Back Fill Pea Gravel Service
Here’s a step-by-step to get an accurate quote and smooth installation:
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Measure or Estimate Volume — If it’s a septic tank, tell us its gallons. If it's a trench or area, measure length × width × depth in feet, convert to cubic yards.
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Measure Distance & Access — How far is the fill point from road or truck staging area? Are there gates, fences, or obstacles? Height or slope? Can we drive close or need long reach?
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Choose Material Type — Pea gravel, fill stone, sand, etc. Ask about clean, screened pea gravel if needed for septic/regulation.
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Check Minimums — See if your required volume meets our minimum load for blower service. If not, there may be a surcharge or you may need to add extra material.
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Schedule — Pick a date when conditions are good, access is clear (gates open, obstacles moved), and you’re ready.
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Prep — Clear the fill area, move items that might block the path, protect surfaces if needed.
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Install & Inspect — Our crew will deliver and place material, then check depth, fill amount, clean up (excess, overflows, etc.).
Why Aardvark Bark for Fill & Backfill Service
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Local expertise in Washington and the Puget Sound area, so familiar with local codes, soil conditions, common septic regulations.
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Reliable delivery systems able to place pea gravel or fill through distance and obstacles.
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Clean service: minimal mess, cleanup included, finishing touches to avoid overshoot and protect property.
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Transparent quotes: we’ll tell you up front material volumes, access issues, any surcharge for distance or obstacles.