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Find Excavation pros in San Rafael

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

Serving San Rafael, 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 rate96%
21 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for M P Excavating & Engineering
M P Excavating & Engineering
4.5(
15
)

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Ultimately happy with the end result and fair price for our 30ft sewer lateral replacement. Miguel was professional, friendly, and hardworking. However, communication was a bit spotty and we had follow up many times (I understand this is the busy season, though). Also, it was unclear if we were supposed to call 811; we assumed he would, but didn't, and this was an issue as the water line was hit during construction and the city had to come to shut it off on the whole street. It was handled quickly, but would have been avoidable. The project ended up taking much more time than expected, but it was completed in a day, as promised. I would recommend him, but you should be diligent and responsible yourself to make sure all the right steps are being taken."
Large drainage project
Large drainage project
Large drainage project
Large drainage project
Large drainage project

+11

Response time1 day
Response rate98%
28 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Orlando's Landscaping
Orlando's Landscaping
4.9(
13
)

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"I asked this company to do a cleanup job on the garden. They not only did it quickly and professionally, they actually found a few things that I had not noticed, and included them as a matter of course. I am SO pleased with their service that I plan to just hire them in the future, no asking around for bids."
Response time12 hrs
Recommended by92%of homeowners
JOHN MOUNTAIN
5.0(
7
)

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"I cannot say enough about how good this experience with John Mountain/Mountain Engineering has been. They said it would be 3 weeks; anti was. The work was painstakingly done, including a French drain behind the wall. And they replaced the plants that were destroyed during the process, which was an unexpected bonus."
Response time10 hrs
12 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by57%of homeowners
Avatar for IVANSCAPING CORP
IVANSCAPING CORP
5.0(
7
)

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Two large projects. Couldn’t be happier. On time, excellent workmanship, wanting to please but open to making suggestions when asked. Superior design and quality of work. Reasonably priced. Thorough clean up after the job . Owner on site to supervise work. Owner very knowledgeable. Owner returns calls promptly. Neighbors LOVE our fencing and landscape."
Response time4 hrs
Recommended by33%of homeowners
Avatar for Sonoma Siteworks & Engineering
Sonoma Siteworks & Engineering
5.0(
4
)

Serving San Rafael, 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
4 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 San Rafael, 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
20 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by50%of homeowners
Avatar for Ultra Construction Group Inc
Ultra Construction Group Inc
4.4(
5
)

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Giovani and Dell of Ultra Construction were great to work with and they responded quickly and efficiently to our contractor inquiry. They came out the next day and provided a fair and reasonable estimate. Dell and his crew, including Julian came out and had the concrete walkway and stairs installed in just one day. It looks great and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Their prep work and cleanup were outstanding. Would highly recommend this company for any concrete construction work"
Response time2 days
Response rate90%
48 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.

The best method for digging a trench depends on the scope of the project. For a short, shallow trench (less than 2 feet deep) in light, soft soil, digging by hand may be sufficient. However, digging by hand is labor-intensive, so consider the effort required. A machine trencher is the better option for longer trenches (over 100 feet), deeper ones, or when dealing with difficult soil conditions, such as rocky or hard ground, or obstructions like tree roots. A machine can save significant time and energy in these situations.

Yes, trenchers can go through gravel. Gravel is made up of smaller, softer rocks that certain trenchers are able to cut through. Just be sure to use a rock wheel trencher or chain trencher, both of which are made to cut through rocky landscapes and gravel pathways without dulling the teeth or chain.

Trenching and boring are two distinct methods for installing underground utilities. Trenching involves digging a channel using equipment like an excavator, trencher, backhoe, or shovel. While it is a simpler process, it causes significant disruption to the surface, landscaping, and surrounding ecosystems.

Boring, also known as directional boring, is a less invasive alternative that uses a drill to create a tunnel for utility lines without disturbing the surface. This method is more precise and is ideal for installations that need to go underneath buildings, roads, or bodies of water. Although boring is less disruptive, it is generally more expensive than trenching.

Excavations take a few days or up to a few weeks. The time it takes to excavate an area depends on the size of the area, the type of soil, the type of excavator, and even the time of year, since winter can make digging up the ground more difficult.

The San Rafael, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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