REAL DEAL DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS
Greater understanding of dirt, outstanding customer service keep Kansas company busy
In college, Neal Parker was not enamored with dirt. “At the time, I thought that the class on soils was the worst and had the most boring lectures I ever sat through.”
Parker had to take the four-hour course to complete his degree in horticulture with an emphasis on landscape design. He admits the class came in handy when he started encountering various geologies in Kansas. Nearly 15 years ago, Parker founded Real Deal Drainage Solutions, which is based in DeSoto and covers the entire Sunflower State.
With a staff of five, the company delivers a variety of services. As its name indicates, one of its main offerings is earthwork that provides positive drainage. It also does complete landscaping design, which includes plants as well as hardscapes, such as patios. Parker indicated that drainage and landscaping are about 50 percent of his business, with building and repairing retaining walls comprising most of the other half.
“Things clicked once I got out in the real world,” recalled Parker. “We run into everything from sandy loam to fatty and sandy clay. I have a much better appreciation and understanding of soils and best practices for working with each type. Drainage comes into play in every situation, even on retaining walls. It’s essential to get that right. Otherwise, a wall fails prematurely.”
Real Deal Drainage Solutions’ early work focused on small residential projects. Today, it maintains its roots; however, the bulk of its business is now for private developers and general contractors who rely on Parker’s expertise and experience.
“A fair amount of our jobs come directly from customer referrals,” said Parker. “They know they can trust us to do things right the first time or properly fix mistakes another contractor has made, so they recommend us.”
Added drilling service
Approximately a year ago, Parker added foundational pier drilling to his resume; and, in order to perform the work, he purchased a tight-tail-swing Link-Belt 245 X4 Spin Ace that he equips with continuous-flight augers. Parker worked with the staff at Kirby-Smith Machinery’s Kansas City branch, including Rental Sales Representative Phil Brown and Sales & Operations Manager Tim Yauilla to acquire the 56,900-pound excavator.
“The 245 allows us to drill a 20-foot- deep hole in about three minutes, and we’re often going down through shale and limestone,” said Parker. “It can handle any materials we encounter. It gives us versatility too, because we can use the excavator for bigger drainage work, such as setting structures, installing pipe and laying riprap, as well as pond construction or rebuilding. I like the big base and appreciate the zero tail swing because there isn’t a large counterweight to worry about. It stays within the footprint of the tracks.”
Parker finds the same attributes appealing in the smaller 80 X3 Spin Ace that Real Deal mainly uses for retaining wall construction. He currently rents the 18,000-pound machine; however, he plans to purchase it in the near future.
“We can do smaller, finer excavations, such as wall preparation,” Parker indicated. “It really stands out in lifting and setting blocks. On a recent project, we had some blocks that weighed about 2,000 pounds. With the 80 X3, I could pick them up, swing up to 180 degrees and set them in place without any worry about stability. It, and the 245 X, are easy to operate and have great fuel economy.”
Parker has rented other equipment from Kirby-Smith, including Takeuchi skid steers and JLG telehandlers. He noted that he talked extensively with Brown and Yauilla about his plans to add drilling, and they helped him determine the right machine to fit his needs.
“I believe in finding the best value for my money, and after our discussions and my own research, I knew the 245 was the right decision,” said Parker. “I think it’s essential to have a dealership with people who are knowledgeable about their equipment and will stand behind it. That’s certainly true of Phil, Tim and Kirby-Smith.
“They understand I’m a small business, and a down machine is very costly,” he added. “If I have any issue, they get on it quickly. I’m probably one of their smallest customers in terms of volume, but you would never know it by the way they treat me.”
Greater versatility
Parker believes the demand for drilling will continue and possibly grow in the future.
“Land is at a premium and prices are high, so developers are looking for ways to maximize what’s available,” he pointed out. “A lot of the soils are unsuitable to build on without piers. Offering the drilling gives us access to an additional source of revenue, makes us more competitive and provides another service we can offer customers. It’s added versatility.”
