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TRUSTED BY SANTA BARBARA, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.7
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon12
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Santa Barbara

Affordable Construction Services
4.8(
22
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business+1 more

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1997

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"I hired Daniel for some mudslide excavating work. Job went well. He was prompt and reliable. Done on time. Would recommend."
Response time2 days
6 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by95%of homeowners
Avatar for FENCE 4 U
FENCE 4 U
5.0(
17
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Very well, Mr. Guillermo Gonzalez arrived as expected for estimate, e- mailed quote, and showed up with crew to install fence as scheduled. Good workmanship, good materials, completed fence better than expected. Went very smoothly, competitive price, professional."
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+68

2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by93%of homeowners
Avatar for Shofar Landscape Contracting
Shofar Landscape Contracting
5.0(
13
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Shofar Landscaping contracting was honest, timely, and efficient! They were professional and completed all the work we discussed and met our expectations. The crew were wonderful to work with! Looks great! Thank you!"
Response time1 day
Response rate87%
8 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Essential Landscapes Inc.
Essential Landscapes Inc.
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Customers say: True professional

"The job went very well, from the initial walk-through of the landscape clean up project through the planning and execution of the work. Jorge understood our needs, offered suggestions, was very knowledgeable and professional and prompt and on time in all phases of the project. The landscape cleanup involved over 40 hours of labor. We felt the total cost was quite reasonable. His team continues to provide monthly maintenance services."
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+21

Response time2 days
Response rate100%
4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Thomas Parks Contracting
Thomas Parks Contracting
4.8(
100
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 1976

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I am so very pleased with the work that Thomas Parks and his crew accomplished on my home/decks/roofs and gazebo. It took three weeks but he was very thorough. The first day was powerwashing the house. One day to dry and then each day thereafter there was a crew of five. The preparation work was extremely tedious. They used hand powersanders to cover almost every inch to even out cracks and layers of old paint. It was no easy job. In some spots it is three levels.....up and down ladders; and it just happened to be very hot weather. After completing Thomas asked me to write a list of things that might need touch up. Again, I was impressed. As we walked around the house/decks/gazebo together he spotted some small things that I did not see. That is to say, he is very honest and trustworthy. I highly recommend Thomas Parks Contracting. Thomas Parks and company is a company of high work ethics, trustworthy and honest. I will certainly call him for any other work that I might need."
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+12

Recommended by94%of homeowners
Avatar for Richco Plumbing Inc
Richco Plumbing Inc
4.6(
107
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I have used Reiko plumbing many times in the past.  I was very satisfied with all aspects of their work. The labor charge was $75/hour. 
In the last month they offered to change my garbage disposal for $778.42.  There would not breakdown the cost of labor and replacement parts.  I went to Home Depot and brought a top of the line InSinkErator for $223.00.  I replaced the garbage disposal unit myself in 30 minutes.
I think it unprofessional to not divulge the cost of the replacement parts and their labor costs are unjustified.
"
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Recommended by88%of homeowners
Avatar for Roof Rx
Roof Rx
4.2(
1,190
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"not that great. basically paid $99 to get an estimate. included cleaning roof and minimal repairs. took a while to get appointment, and then when they came, they didn't even do the work! gave a really big estimate and then re-seheduled to have someone else do the work. they wouldn't totally replace the roof, gave different estimates to repair, I went with a different company to do a full roof rplacement."
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Roof Leak Repair
Recommended by81%of homeowners
Avatar for 1st Demo, Inc.
1st Demo, Inc.
4.9(
15
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"I had two sheds on my property demolished, they emptied the sheds, got rid of everything, they demolished the sheds and got rid of all of that as well. They did a super job, they were on time, worked steadily and completely,cleaned up all of the debris, were friendly and kept me up to date on what was going on. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who wanted quality and honest service."
It is not done until clean
careful removals
Every detail is important
Roof removal
Same day progress

+1

Response time1 day
Response rate89%
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Showing 1-10 of 45
Excavating questions, answered by experts

No, a ditch isn’t a trench. A ditch is an open, relatively shallow channel that’s carved out of the ground and used for drainage purposes. In contrast, a trench is a deeper excavation that’s entirely underground. Trenches have many uses, including gas lines, sewage systems, and electrical wiring. Unlike trenches, ditches don’t get filled back in with dirt after they’re dug.

The digging depth will depend on the size of the trencher you use. Even smaller units can dig up to 4 feet deep, which is plenty for a DIY job. However, much larger trenchers can reach a depth of 18 feet and are better used by a team of pro contractors, not a single DIYer. As with all home improvement projects, use the right tool for the job and proceed with caution.

The average cost of excavation is approximately $3,200, with typical projects ranging from $500 to $15,000. Depending on the contractor, you may be charged between $50 and $200 per cubic yard or an hourly rate of $40 to $180 for an excavation specialist. The total cost is influenced by several factors, including the project size, the amount of soil to be removed, and the soil's condition. Hard soil, tree roots, or excessive rocks and clay can increase the price, potentially adding $200 to $1,200 to the final bill. Other factors that can drive up costs include the presence of nearby structures that complicate the work or tight spaces that require manual excavation instead of heavy machinery.

Water lines are buried at various depths, depending on the type of line. For example, most sprinkler lines are buried between four and 12 inches underground. On the other hand, water mains usually sit between one and 3 feet below ground. However, they can go even deeper in cold climates to prevent freezing.

Depth is not a qualifying component of evacuation. Any human-made cut, cavity, or depression in the earth’s surface is considered excavation. The hole from excavation can be any size, shape, or depth. Excavation is used to create foundations, reservoirs, drainage ditches, and roads. Long, narrow excavations are called trenches and are often used for underground utilities.

The Santa Barbara, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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