How to hire an excavation company
Questions to ask before you book
- Are you licensed for this work in this state, and what is the license number? (We mark a license Verified only when it matches the state license file; today that is Oregon and Washington.)
- Do you carry general liability insurance, and will you send the certificate before the job starts?
- Is the job priced per acre, per hour, per day or as a fixed total, and is the mobilization fee included?
- Does the quote include hauling off dirt, stumps or debris, and where does it go?
- What happens to the price if you hit rock, water or buried debris?
- Who pulls the permits (demolition, grading, stormwater), and for a teardown, who orders the asbestos survey and the utility disconnects?
- Will you file the 811 locate ticket and wait for the marks, and can I have the ticket number?
- Which machines will you bring (mulcher, dozer, excavator, skid steer), and will they damage the driveway or lawn on the way in?
- Will you put the scope, price and schedule in writing before you start?
Common questions
What does an excavation company do?
Excavation contractors move earth with heavy equipment. Typical jobs are digging foundations and basements, clearing and grading lots for new homes, trenching for water, sewer and power lines, septic system installs, driveways, ponds and drainage, and demolishing buildings and hauling the debris.
What does land clearing cost?
It depends on how dense the trees are, the terrain, and whether stumps are pulled or ground and whether debris is hauled, burned or mulched in place. Where customers mention what they paid we show it on the city page with the number of reports and the date.
Do I need a permit?
Often. Demolition almost always needs a permit, and many states and the EPA require an asbestos inspection before a building comes down. Grading and land clearing over a set area can need a grading or stormwater permit. Your county or city building department is the authority; a good contractor knows the local rules.
What is 811?
811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. A call or online ticket a few working days before digging gets buried utility lines marked for free. It is required by law in every state.