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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 SH Grading & Excavating
SH Grading & Excavating
5.0(
16
)

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%
16 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 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
)

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

"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 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

"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%
48 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

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.

There are several methods to hollow out a tree stump, and the best one depends on your tools, experience, and priorities. Common methods include using a chisel and hammer, a chainsaw, or burning.

  • Chisel and Hammer: This is often considered the easiest approach for those with limited tools or experience, though it is the most time-consuming.

  • Chainsaw: Using a chainsaw is the fastest method, but it comes with significant safety risks, especially for inexperienced users.

  • Burning: This can be an effective method, but it is not recommended unless you can first drill holes into the stump. Without holes, the stump will be difficult to light and may not burn completely through.

A power drill with at least a ⅜-inch diameter bit can make the job quicker and easier, regardless of the primary method. While you can use a chisel or chainsaw without a drill, it will require more time and effort. Always wear protective goggles and thick gloves, as splinters are an inevitable risk.

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.

Excavation and grading are both generally necessary for designing your foundation, and leveling the ground where your foundation will go. These steps can also prepare the area by removing vegetation and anything else that could interfere with your home’s foundation.

As a general rule, the protected area should be about 1½ times as wide as the canopy of the tree’s leaves. This digging measurement can vary by tree species and the age of the tree. Of course, that can be a lot of fencing for larger trees, which is why our first step is about making difficult decisions on which trees to save.

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.