Highland sits on the upper benches of the South Wasatch Range — formally documented as located on "the upper benches of the base of the South Wasatch Range," which is exactly where the terrain gets its character. The name came from Alexander Adamson, a Scottish immigrant who settled the area in the 1870s and named it Highland because the bench terrain reminded him of the Scottish Highlands of his birth. It was incorporated in 1977, has grown steadily to nearly 20,000 residents, and has maintained a consistently residential character with a deliberately small commercial zone — Highland is designed to be a neighborhood, not a town center.
Highland's residential zoning reflects the terrain: minimum lot sizes of 40,000 square feet — nearly an acre — under the city's R-1-40 designation. Large lots on sloped upper bench terrain create consistent demand for every excavation service BullRok provides. The soil throughout Highland is rocky Wasatch alluvial bench material — well-draining but technically demanding for foundation and utility work, with caliche hardpan layers common at varying depths on the upper bench. The grade changes across large Highland lots make retaining walls and cut-and-fill grading standard features of residential site work here, not exceptions. BullRok serves Highland regularly — free onsite assessment before any recommendation.
Highland's R-1-40 Zoning Means Nearly Acre-Sized Lots — Large Lots on Sloped Bench Terrain Mean Significant Earthwork
With a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet on upper Wasatch bench terrain, Highland properties have more usable yard to create — and more slope to manage — than most Utah County communities. Retaining walls, cut-and-fill grading, and drainage systems are standard features of nearly every Highland residential project, not premium upgrades. BullRok assesses each Highland lot individually: slope angle, caliche depth, rock content, and drainage pattern all evaluated before recommending any approach or price.
Excavation & Site Services in Highland
BullRok handles the full scope of excavation and site work in Highland — from natural stone retaining walls suited to the upper bench character to precise foundation digs through rocky alluvial material and large-lot grading projects.
Boulder & Rock Walls
Natural stone retaining walls that match Highland's upper Wasatch bench setting — the right visual choice for large lots with mountain views, and the structurally correct choice for rocky alluvial soil that demands solid footing.
Concrete Block Walls
Engineered concrete block retaining walls for Highland's large residential lots — properly footed in rocky alluvial bench material with drainage designed for the grade changes across Highland's sloped terrain.
Foundation Excavation
Precise foundation and basement excavation across Highland's large lots — with rocky alluvial material assessment, caliche identification, and drainage design built into every project from day one.
Land Clearing
Full lot clearing for Highland's large residential properties — removing scrub, rock, and vegetation from nearly acre-sized lots efficiently while respecting the natural upper bench character of the community.
Utility Trenching
Water, sewer, gas, and electrical trenching across Highland's large lots — through rocky Wasatch alluvial material with caliche-ready equipment and proper pipe bedding for long-term stability on the upper bench.
Grading & Site Prep
Cut-and-fill grading for Highland's large sloped lots — creating level building pads and usable yard areas from upper bench terrain, with drainage systems designed to manage the natural slope and Wasatch snowmelt runoff.
View our full services page for details, or check our 2026 Utah retaining wall cost guide to understand pricing before your estimate.
BullRok offers free onsite consultations — we walk your lot, assess the slope, soil, and caliche depth before recommending anything.
Schedule Free ConsultationHighland's Key Terrain Areas & Excavation Considerations
Highland's upper bench position and large lot character create consistent excavation conditions across the city. Here's what BullRok encounters across Highland's main project types.
⛰️ Upper Bench — Rocky Wasatch Alluvial
Highland's position on the upper benches of the South Wasatch Range means rocky alluvial fan material throughout the city — limestone and quartzite fragments from the Wasatch Range deposited across the bench terrain. Well-draining but demanding for foundation digs and utility trenching. Caliche hardpan layers at varying depths are common on the upper bench and require ripping or hammering. BullRok identifies caliche during the free site assessment and arrives equipped for what the lot actually needs.
🏡 Large Lot Residential — Grade & Slope Management
Minimum lot sizes of 40,000 square feet on sloped upper bench terrain means most Highland properties have significant grade changes between the street and the usable yard. Creating level building pads, terraced yard areas, and properly drained outdoor spaces on Highland's large lots is the defining project type across the entire city — and it requires cut-and-fill grading and retaining walls on nearly every residential site.
💧 Wasatch Bench Drainage
At 4,876 feet on the upper bench, Highland receives more precipitation and snowmelt than the valley floor communities below. The natural slope of the bench terrain means drainage runs downhill — but without proper management at each property, that drainage becomes erosion, wall failure, and foundation damage. BullRok engineers drainage into every Highland project based on the specific lot's slope angle and natural drainage pattern.
🌱 New Build & Lot Development
Highland's steady population growth — 25% since 2010 — continues to drive new residential construction. New builds on Highland's large lots require the full sequence of site prep: clearing, grading, foundation excavation, utility installation, and retaining walls — all executed on rocky upper bench material with proper drainage from the start. BullRok handles the complete site work sequence for Highland new builds from clearing through finish grading.
Why Highland Homeowners Choose BullRok
Highland's large lots, upper bench terrain, rocky alluvial material, and caliche potential demand a contractor who brings proper site assessment and the right equipment — not a flat-valley approach on upper bench lots.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Every BullRok project is fully licensed and insured. Required for excavation, retaining wall, and grading work in Highland City and Utah County — we handle all permitting correctly from the start.
1-Year Warranty
BullRok backs every project with a 1-year warranty on workmanship and soil settlement — essential on Highland's rocky bench terrain where proper wall footing, drainage, and caliche management determine long-term stability on large sloped lots.
Free Onsite Estimate
We visit your Highland property, walk the full lot, assess slope angles, rock content, caliche depth, and natural drainage patterns — and give you a real written estimate. Free, no obligation, no pressure.
Caliche-Ready Equipment
Upper bench alluvial terrain in Highland commonly encounters caliche hardpan layers that require ripping or hammering. BullRok identifies caliche during the free site assessment and arrives with the capability to handle it — not a discovery after the project starts.
Local Utah Company
Based in Utah — not a franchise. We know Highland's upper Wasatch bench terrain, the rocky alluvial soil conditions, caliche potential on the upper bench, and the large-lot grading demands that define this community's site work.
Upper Bench Drainage Design
Highland's elevation and natural bench slope mean proper drainage design is essential on every wall and foundation project. BullRok engineers drainage that works with the upper bench's natural slope — directing Wasatch snowmelt and runoff away from structures from day one.
Call us or request an estimate — we'll have someone out to your site quickly.
Call (435) 660-0567How a BullRok Project Works
Here's exactly what working with BullRok looks like from your first call to the finished job in Highland.
Free Onsite Consultation
We visit your Highland property, walk the full lot, assess slope angles, rocky alluvial material, caliche indicators, and natural drainage patterns. We advise on any Highland City or Utah County permit requirements. No pressure, no obligation.
Detailed Written Estimate
You receive a clear, itemized estimate based on your actual lot, slope, and soil conditions — including any caliche ripping, special footing requirements, or drainage system design specific to your Highland property. No surprises.
Excavation & Construction
Our crew arrives with the right equipment for your specific Highland lot — caliche-ready, properly sized for large lot site work, and with drainage engineering built into every stage of the project.
Cleanup & Final Walkthrough
We leave your property clean and walk you through the completed work. Every BullRok project is backed by a 1-year warranty on workmanship and soil settlement.
Serving Highland and the Surrounding Area
BullRok serves Highland and the surrounding communities in northern Utah County.
We also serve American Fork , Lehi , Saratoga Springs , and communities throughout Utah County and Central Utah.
What Our Customers Say
"I recommend Brian and his crew. They did work for our concrete block walls for the pickleball courts going in the park. They look amazing!"
"The service is friendly and the results are always of the highest quality. I recommend BullRok to all my friends and colleagues."
"If you are looking for a high quality company, I highly recommend this one. They are the very best in the field, no compromise."
Get Your Free Estimate in Highland, UT
Excavation, retaining walls, land clearing, utility trenching & more. BullRok serves Highland and all of Utah County — free onsite consultations, no obligation.
(435) 660-0567 Request Free Onsite EstimateLicensed · Bonded · Insured · 1-Year Warranty on All Work
