COST DATASep 8, 2026 · 7 min read
What Does Sitework Cost in Virginia? A 2026 Regional Breakdown
Per-acre ranges, the 8 regional multipliers, and why the same subdivision prices 30% apart across the state.
Read article →The DirtBid Blog
Virginia sitework, soils, and estimating — written from the data behind the DirtBid regional cost model, not recycled national averages.
RISKSep 1, 2026 · 6 min read
The $250,000 Line Item: How “Unsuitable Soils” Clauses Eat Development Budgets
Nearly every sitework contract excludes unknown soil conditions. Here is how that boilerplate becomes a six-figure change order — and how to get ahead of it.
Read article →
SOILSAug 25, 2026 · 6 min read
Marine Clay in Northern Virginia: The Soil That Breaks Budgets
Why NoVA’s shrink-swell clays force undercuts, what remediation actually costs per cubic yard, and how to screen for it before you own the problem.
Read article →
ESTIMATINGAug 18, 2026 · 8 min read
The Sitework Markup Waterfall, Explained — With Real Math
Mobilization, contingency, overhead, profit, bond, insurance: the order matters more than the percentages. A worked example from $1M base to final bid.
Read article →
DEVELOPMENTAug 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Before You Buy Land in Virginia, Ask the $350 Question
A pre-purchase soil screen is the cheapest due diligence in development. What it catches, what it can’t, and when to escalate to geotech.
Read article →About This Blog
Where does the data in these articles come from?
From the DirtBid platform itself: the 8-region Virginia cost model, county-level soil risk profiles covering all 133 jurisdictions, USDA-NRCS soil surveys, and unit rates observed in real executed Virginia sitework contracts. When we cite a number, it has a source.
How often do you publish?
Roughly weekly. Upcoming topics include Hampton Roads water tables, karst construction in the Shenandoah Valley, and Virginia E&S (VESC) requirements. Have a topic you want covered? Email support@dirtbidai.com.
Can I share or cite these articles?
Yes — share freely with attribution and a link back. For reprints in trade publications or newsletters, email us and we will usually say yes the same day.