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    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in San Rafael

Avatar for Castaneda Grading & Excavating
Castaneda Grading & Excavating
5.0(
23
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping+2 more

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 SH Grading & Excavating
SH Grading & Excavating
5.0(
16
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving San Rafael, 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%
17 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Orlando's Landscaping
Orlando's Landscaping
4.9(
13
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"I used Orlandoâ s company for a large project in the front yard (walls, demo, New stairs, new path, new sod install, lighting) and a synthetic turf job in the back. Both ended up looking great!"
Response time12 hrs
Recommended by92%of homeowners
JOHN MOUNTAIN
5.0(
7
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

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
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Ivanscaping is a full service landscaping and yard and garden maintenance company. Owner Ivan Melendez is an experienced certified professional who trains his crew very well, and is very understanding of your needs. My lawn was brown and full of weeds with an irrigation system in bad shape. Within a couple of weeks under Ivanâ  s care, it is now green and flourishing. And my plants look great too!"
Response time4 hrs
Recommended by33%of homeowners
Avatar for E G Paving Construction, Inc.
E G Paving Construction, Inc.
5.0(
2
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

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
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving San Rafael, 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
Response rate90%
49 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Hard soil could be a sign of overly dry dirt, either from poor drainage or drought. It's important to test the nutrient levels, density, and drainage capacity of your soil to see if it's absorbing water properly. Begin by adding a light layer of water and observing how long the soil retains moisture. If you experience a good deal of runoff, you may need to aerate your lawn, apply a wetting agent, or hire a professional for a closer look.

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.

If you don’t wish to dig it out and convert it into a finished basement, you can still encapsulate your crawl space to protect it from damage for an average cost of $5,500. Finishing a crawl space beyond this isn’t really worthwhile, as the low ceilings mean you won’t be able to use the area as living space.

Call 811 to locate and mark the gas lines at least three days before digging. In many areas, you can dig within 18 inches of the lines, though in some locations, the distance may be further. Check local regulations, as you may need a utility company representative onsite when digging. Document your calls to 811 and precautions taken to avoid gas lines. A homeowner can be held liable for hitting a gas line in some cases, but contacting the proper authorities and following all guidelines can offer protection.

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.

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.