Site Loam

Site Loam — Mass DOT M1.04.0 Topsoil for Lawn Establishment & Finish Grade

Site Loam is the spec-name topsoil DPWs, landscape contractors, and GCs order for new construction finish grade, athletic field installation, and any project where Mass DOT M1.04.0 compliance is on the plans. Properly textured sand-silt-clay loam with controlled organic content and pH for healthy turf establishment. Bulk delivery across Greater Boston, with tickets and certifications available for spec-compliant work.

At a glance

What it's good for

• Public-works finish grade on DOT, DPW, and municipal projects with M1.04.0 on the plans
• New lawn establishment over Common Borrow or graded sub-base
• Sod underlayment — 4" minimum depth per industry standard
• Athletic field finish — baseball, soccer, football turf installation
• Commercial landscape installs where the GC needs spec compliance
• Garden bed top-dressing on commercial properties

How much site loam do I need?

For a 5,000 sq ft new lawn at 4" finish depth, plan on about 62 cubic yards of loam. For a baseball outfield (200' × 200', 6" deep), you're looking at 740 cubic yards (typical project ships in 30-yard daily increments). For a commercial property strip 100' × 8' × 4" deep, roughly 10 cubic yards.

Rule of thumb: 1 cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3" depth, or 75 sq ft at 4" depth. Order 10% extra for settling.

How Site Loam compares

• vs. Loam (Screened) — Same physical product, screened to the same gradation. Site Loam is the spec-compliant listing for projects requiring Mass DOT M1.04.0 documentation. Loam (Screened) is the residential listing for the same material when spec compliance isn't required.
• vs. Super Loam — Super Loam has higher organic content (premium garden grade) targeted at residential lawn perfectionism. Site Loam meets exact M1.04.0 spec — designed for the industry-standard balance between texture, organic, and drainage.
• vs. Common Borrow — Borrow is structural, used to raise grade. Loam is the topsoil that goes on top. You typically order both for a full site-prep stack.
• vs. Garden Soil Mix — Garden Soil Mix is amended with peat and compost for raised beds and vegetable production. Site Loam is straight loam — what you want under turf.

Frequently asked questions

Is Site Loam the same as Loam (Screened)?
Same physical material, screened to the same gradation. Site Loam is the spec-compliant listing for Mass DOT M1.04.0 projects with documentation available. Loam (Screened) is the residential listing.

Is Site Loam Mass DOT M1.04.0 compliant?
Yes. Our Site Loam meets M1.04.0 specification for texture (sand-silt-clay loam), organic content (5–8%), pH (6.0–7.5), and screen size (½" minus). Tickets and lab certifications available on request.

How deep should I install loam for a new lawn?
4" minimum for sod, 4–6" for seed establishment. Industry standard for athletic fields and high-traffic turf is 6". Public works projects often spec 4" finish depth over compacted borrow base.

Can I use Site Loam for raised vegetable beds?
It works, but for vegetable production you'll get better results blending it with compost (1:1 ratio) or using our Garden Soil Mix which is pre-amended.

What's the typical install order on a new construction project?
(1) Strip and stockpile existing topsoil. (2) Cut and fill to subgrade. (3) Place Common Borrow to raise grade. (4) Compact in lifts. (5) Spread Site Loam at finish depth. (6) Seed or sod.

Do you deliver in the Boston area?
Yes — same-day and next-day bulk delivery across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties. Multi-load scheduling available for larger projects.

Same-day and next-day bulk delivery, no minimum order. We run Site Loam across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth County daily.

Pair with our Common Borrow (M1.01.0) for the structural fill underneath, or our Compost for top-dressing existing lawn over Site Loam.

Order Site Loam today — Mass DOT M1.04.0 topsoil delivered by the truckload across Greater Boston.

• Same-day & next-day delivery available — weekends fill fast, order early.
• Curbside or on-property drop — let us know at checkout.
• Up to 6 yds per load for dense materials (gravel, soil, rock, sand) — mulch loads carry up to 10 yds. $100 flat rate, no minimum order.
• Job site delivery available — live load tickets and signed BOLs on request.
• Questions? Call (617) 645-0987 or see full delivery info →