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TRUSTED BY SAN MARCOS, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.7
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon19
    Verified excavation services reviews

Top-Rated Excavation pros in San Marcos - Updated Nov 2026

Avatar for Kan Builders
Kan Builders
5.0(
13
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving San Marcos, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2025

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"If you need your yard or fence done, use these guys. They did an awesome job and were super tidy the whole time. I didn?t take before photos because it was an eyesore before this lol but I love how clean and nice it looks now! The entire staff is pretty cool"
Hillside Engineering
16 neighbors recently requested a quote
Accurate Grading and Demolition, Inc.
4.3(
26
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving San Marcos, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2014

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Quick and efficient. Unfortunately, some large globs of concrete outside of the frames were left behind. Is was so wet and a bit muddy, they were probably missed in the cleanup."
Response time2 days
15 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for Quetzal Landscapes, Inc
Quetzal Landscapes, Inc
4.2(
57
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving San Marcos, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"It took us almost a year to be able to get our retaining wall done. Kristian and Quetzal Landscaping did a fantastic job including dealing with our neighbor and his concerns. We are moving out of the area, however, if we stayed and needed another wall built Kristian would be our go-to guy. Thank you so much Kristian."
Turf installed
Fence Maze and Trash can area.
Back Yard After
Scotts back yard
outdoor kitchen

+518

Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for JH Landscaping
JH Landscaping
4.6(
9
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving San Marcos, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2005

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"We shared our vision with Mr. Hernandez of transforming our 2500 sq ft grass back yard into a water conserving oasis with new irrigation, drip watering system, rocks, boulders, plants and trees. He and his crew turned our vision into a reality with top notch work, attention to detail, and within our stated budget despite changes we made during the process. Mr. Hernandez was hands on, responsive and attentive to our needs (I'm a paraplegic) and even went with with us to the nursery to find the best plants and trees for our project. We couldn't be more happy!"
Our Work
Our Work
Our Work
Our Work
Our Work

+54

Response time2 days
Recommended by83%of homeowners
Avatar for M&G Landscaping
M&G Landscaping
5.0(
3
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving San Marcos, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"We are extremely pleased with the retaining wall installation. The team was professional, reliable, and attentive to detail throughout the entire process. The finished wall looks great, feels sturdy, and was completed with excellent workmanship. We would definitely recommend their services."
Landscaping
retaining wall
Outdoor kitchen
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

Trenches are typically 12 to 24 inches deep and 8 inches wide. However, the required depth depends on the specific project and local ordinances. For example, a French drain may need to be 18 inches deep, while a water pipe might require a depth of 24 inches and a drainage pipe 36 inches. Your city or county may have specific regulations, so it's wise to consult with an excavation professional to determine the correct depth for your project.

A crawl space can be as little as 42 inches below the grade of your house, but this is not always recommended in flood-prone areas. At a minimum, there must be at least 16 inches of clearance between the ground and the floor joists to access the space in an emergency.

There are many ways to cut through roots when digging, especially if your trencher doesn’t seem to be removing the roots. First, use a shovel to expose the roots. Then, use gardening shears to clear out smaller roots or a reciprocating saw to remove larger plant roots. If you plan on keeping the plant, avoid cutting any roots over 2 inches thick.

Underground downspouts refer to the sections of downspout extensions that lead away from your home and gutter system. While they cost more than traditional extensions, they can provide several benefits, such as less frequent damage and no need to move them for lawn care tasks. Whether they're worth it or not depends on your budget at installation time and how much convenience they'll add to your situation.

Yes. A metal detector is one of the quickest and easiest ways to find your septic tank. However, metal detectors can be too expensive (costing upward of $300 in some cases), and not everyone has a metal detector just lying around. If that’s the case for you, you can also take a long metal rod and poke it into the ground at regular intervals until you hit something—likely your septic tank lid.

The San Marcos, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.