What is final gradingin construction?

It splits by surface, which is why it gets missed. The sitework contractor usually final grades earth subgrade, the paving contractor often fine grades the aggregate base immediately ahead of asphalt or concrete, and the landscape contractor finish grades planting areas to receive topsoil. None of that is universal, so the scope letters and bid clarifications need to say explicitly who fine grades what, or the GC ends up paying for it twice.

The spec section for each surface sets it, and it varies by use. Subgrade and base under paving are commonly held to tolerances expressed in hundredths of a foot, often described in the field as a half inch or better, while landscape areas might be acceptable at a tenth. Tighter tolerance means slower production and better equipment, so read the actual spec language before pricing rather than assuming one number sitewide.

Because the cost structure is different. Rough grading is a volume operation priced around moving dirt; final grading is a precision operation where the volume is tiny but the production rate is governed by tolerance, equipment, and grade checking. Final grading also tends to happen in multiple visits as phases become ready, and each remobilization costs money that a single blended grading rate will hide.