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TRUSTED BY NOVATO, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon18
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Novato

Avatar for Castaneda Grading & Excavating
Castaneda Grading & Excavating
5.0(
23
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Humberto is a very creative problem solver! Personable and definitely interested in customer satisfaction, so spends time understanding the full scope of the problem. The problem was the subterranean north wall of the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Vallejo that was far from being waterproof, especially with the rains last winter. Castaneda dug out the soil next to the wall, pressure washed it and applied two coats of DryLok and then a layer of Henryâ s waterproofing. Then Humberto installed a French drain and then a big pipe to route the water off of five downspouts. To get the correct drainage slope, more excavating needed to be done than anticipated. Removed five landscaped trees and lots of concrete that was in the way of the drains which were to be routed under city sidewalks."
Garden
Graded
Finished driveway
Final slope grade
Finish grade 4 inches below sidewalk

+77

Response time1 day
Response rate95%
27 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for SH Grading & Excavating
SH Grading & Excavating
5.0(
15
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I am incredibly pleased with this company. The entire crew were 100% professional. The owner of the company took time to answer my homeowner questions as they came up. He was very patient and thorough. All the men on the job worked incredibly hard and stayed on task throughout the project. They installed the French drain, installed a washout and removed an old deck all in a weekend. I would most certainly recommend them."
Grading
Grading
Grading
Grading
Dirt pile

+25

Response time7 hrs
Response rate100%
12 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for McCormick Home Builders, Inc.
McCormick Home Builders, Inc.
4.5(
29
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Customers say: True professional

"We hired McCormick Home Builders to remodel our living room, and we are beyond pleased with the result. The team was professional, worked efficiently, and Aris design ideas made a huge difference. The room feels so much brighter and more spacious. This was the best decision we made for our home, and we were already planning our next remodel with them."
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+1

Response time6 hrs
Recommended by23%of homeowners
Avatar for Ray's Rescue Plumbing
Ray's Rescue Plumbing
4.8(
16
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2023

Emergency services offered

Warranties offered

"I was very pleased with Ray's plumbing services. He made it hassel free, he was efficient, professional, finished the job promptly. He was not pushy, however he was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions without* making me feel like an annoyance, as others have made me feel in the past and wanted to rush through and collect money. I Highly recommend Ray's Rescue Plumbing to my loved ones and to anyone looking for a trustworthy company. -Services provided: front of hous, entire faucet valve & pipes equipped/replacement; had unresolvable water leakage. Simply from being an older home the pipes had visible begin showing corrosion from due time"
Install - hot water heater
Install - hot water heater
Install - hot water heater
Tankless Install
Happy to help

+2

Response time4 hrs
Response rate91%
75 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Sonoma Siteworks & Engineering
Sonoma Siteworks & Engineering
5.0(
4
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Went great. Good company to work with, awesome communication. They jump right on it and knock the work out quickly and cleanly. Very knowledgeable and professional."
Additional Photos
Clearing and Grading
11 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for E G Paving Construction, Inc.
E G Paving Construction, Inc.
5.0(
2
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Edgar and his employees were amazing. Their bid was the best. Other guys said they would have to rip up pavement that this crew could do no problem minimally. The guys were so well groomed and polite. Not that that matters but it was an extra bonus. Lovely crew and incredible job in a few days. I will for sure use them again."
Driveways
Building pads
Concrete patio
Preparation
Asphalt pave

+4

Response time2 days
21 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by50%of homeowners
Avatar for Ultra Construction Group Inc
Ultra Construction Group Inc
4.3(
4
)

Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Gio and the entire Ultra Construction Group team are amazing. They showed up on time and were incredibly organized and their attention to detail made the project even better then I imagined. I would highly recommend this company for any concrete project big or small."
Response time2 days
61 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Sewer lines can be buried anywhere from 18 inches to 8 feet deep, with a common average depth between 18 and 30 inches. The exact depth depends on local factors like climate and soil type. In colder regions, pipes must be buried deeper (below the frost line) to prevent freezing, sometimes as deep as 8 feet. The digging depth can also impact the cost of sewer line replacement. To find the specific depth for your property, you can check the building plans for your system, which should be on file with your city or local sanitation department since permits are required for installation.

Yes, an excavation company is the best option for land grading and yard leveling. General landscapers might be able to tackle these projects, but an excavation company will do a better job because they’re used to operating the necessary heavy machinery. Landscapers might opt to do the work manually, which takes much longer and could cost you more in labor fees. Finally, excavation companies will understand local regulations and know when you need permits to legalize the work, while a landscaper might not.

It takes one hour to dig a 10-foot trench by hand. Use a trenching shovel with a sharp tip and a long head. Plan for more time if your soil is heavy or rocky. Consider renting a trencher if you’re digging a long or deep trench or if you have challenging soil or terrain. 

In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even for projects that only involve grading or yard leveling. Permit requirements depend on your local government and the scope of the project, but they are especially common for significant digging or work that could affect utilities or public property. These permits help protect the local topography and prevent drainage issues. An experienced excavation company will typically know whether permits are needed and can often handle the process of pulling and closing them for you. You can also verify permit requirements by contacting your local building department and describing your project.

The best way to protect tree roots is to avoid the roots entirely by excavating outside the root radius of the tree. For nearby projects, it’s a good idea to construct a temporary retaining wall. But that’s not always possible, depending on the project and the root system. In these cases, consider using alternative equipment like an auger to tunnel under the ground.

Remember, tree roots can damage nearby cement foundations as they grow. If a tree is close enough to interfere with large excavations, it may be better to remove the tree than risk future problems.

The Novato, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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