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    Verified excavation services reviews

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

Avatar for Castaneda Grading & Excavating
Castaneda Grading & Excavating
5.0(
23
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major 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%
25 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
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding 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
10 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

"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 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
10 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%
31 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

To drill a shallow well, you may be able to use a drive well point. This is a tapered point that is driven into the ground. A drill bit at the end of PVC pipe may be another option to consider. A lot of the cost depends on what tools are available near you.

You do not have to dig footers for a deck as long as it meets local code and holds up to weather in your area. If you live somewhere that experiences high winds and earthquakes, you may need to dig for your deck posts. Deck blocks, post anchors with base plates, and helical pile systems are the three no-dig deck post options you can choose from if local code permits.

Septic drain lines (or leach lines) are typically buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and should be at least 6 inches below the surface. These pipes are perforated and surrounded by filtering materials like sand or gravel. Burying the lines at this depth helps minimize odors and allows bacteria and other biological processes in the soil to effectively treat the wastewater. Burying lines too close to the surface can cause issues unless the soil is very compact and stable.

The physical constraints of hand-drilling a well limit the depth you can achieve. Manually digging with picks and shovels may only lead to shallow wells of up to 60 feet in depth. To reach greater depths, you need more specialized equipment. The diameter of your well and the tools you’re using will determine how far down you can dig.

Trenching is a specific kind of digging. Trenching means digging a depression in the earth that’s deeper than it is wide, often with heavy machinery. Digging refers to any kind of removal of earth in order to create a human-made depression, hole, or cut in the earth’s surface. You can dig with big tools or even with just a hand shovel.

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.