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  • 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

"Dan laid a concrete pad for a shed. He excavated and leveled the site, framed, rebarred , poured and finished work in a timely manner. His costs were fair and he was extremely courteous. I would not hesitate to recommend him or use him again."
Response time8 hrs
5 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

"Amazingly, it was 90 feet of fencing. He did it piece by piece and even reinforced the bottom so that no "critters" could enter our patio. All was done in 2 days, and he even did a few little touch-up things with the landscape. we are considering having him do a stone wall at the property line shortly. We are very happy with his work"
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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 rate85%
11 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

4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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 - Step 1
Roof Leak Repair - Step 2
Roof Leak Repair
Recommended by81%of homeowners
Avatar for Repiping Professionals
Repiping Professionals
4.2(
50
)
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 1948

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Using MasterServ is a perfect example of the pros and cons of using a big company. They were able to offer a lower price (by several hundred dollars) than other estimates I received because they specialize in volume (and not necessarily quality). The estimator who came was extremely pleasant and professional, however, internal communication in this company is a disaster. Therefore, small details like getting a new shower valve installed and installign new shower heads were initially overlooked by the installers because this wasn't communicated between the estimator and the crew. I never met the so-called project manager, who should have been there the first day to make sure everyone was on the same page about what was to be done. It was explained to me by the estimator that it would be a two-day job (true). The first day, the crew showed up and spent about two hours cutting holes in the walls and prepping the house. The second day they were there from 7 AM until 830 at night, working like crazy to get it done that day -- very stressful. When I saw that they hadn't installed the new shower valve, I got some grief from the crew and the so-called project manager over the phone, and this was eventually rectified with me paying an extra $200 to have the crew come back for an hour or so to install. When the job was complete they had disconnected and capped some old galvanized pipes, but with the new water pressure they blew out a couple weeks later (because they make their money by moving fast, quality and client communication suffer!). The guy they sent to do the drywall patching was a total incompetent. He showed up a couple days after the plumbing work was done started work and left mid-day saying he'd be back the next day to finish, though he never did return. I called the so-called project manager who was surprised to hear that the job wasn't done and it took a few more days for them to schedule a new guy to come out who had to re-do everything because the first guy was incompetent. In the final analysis, this company was the cheapest alternative, but there were a lot of headaches -- stay on top of them and make sure they do the work correctly!"
President - George Anderson
Service Van
Repiping Worker
Recommended by85%of homeowners
Wild Sage Landscaping
5.0(
20
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 2014

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We hired Wild Sage to demolish our existing railroad tie retaining wall and install a new Allan Block wall. They started exactly on time, and finished earlier than projected. The entire job from start to finish was superbly managed and executed, and this also includes the initial contact, job-site survey, job price/work estimate, and all communication before, during and after the job. As part of the job they also removed all the wood and excess dirt. It was Super-Professional work, and we couldn't be happier with our new wall! It was just a fantastic job! Thanks so much guys!"
Sod Installation
Sod Installation
Sod & Walkway Installation
Sod Installation
Block Steps

+166

Response time1 day
Response rate88%
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Because decomposed granite is a durable material, a crushed rock or gravel base is optional as long as the DG is properly installed and compacted. However, installing a base is a good idea because it will ensure proper drainage and stability and act as a weed suppressant (although you may still occasionally have to pull weeds). Installing an adequate base can also increase the durability of driveways and walkways. If you forego the paver base or gravel underneath, line the area with landscaping fabric to avoid weeds.

You can bury underground electrical wire six inches deep—but only if you use a rigid metal electrical conduit. For rigid, non-metallic conduits, bury the wire at least 12 inches deep. If using an underground feeder cable rated for direct burial, you'll need to place it at least 18 inches deep, as it has no conduit for extra protection.

A perc test can take anywhere from one to eight hours to complete. The total time depends on factors like the amount of excavation required, the depth and width of the holes, and whether multiple test holes are needed. For a single hole, the process of filling it with water and monitoring the drainage rate usually takes less than an hour. Professionals can often complete the entire test in a single day. While it's possible to get results the same day, some companies may take a few days to provide the official report.

The rules for trenching and excavation include setting up and following safety protocols, learning how to use tools and machines properly, and ensuring there is a safe exit for all workers. Keep heavy equipment and materials away from the edge of the hole or trench. Call the 811 dig line before starting any excavation or trenching project to ensure you don’t hit any electrical or gas lines.

The best way to protect tree roots is to avoid the roots entirely by excavating outside the root radius of the tree. For nearby projects, it’s a good idea to construct a temporary retaining wall. But that’s not always possible, depending on the project and the root system. In these cases, consider using alternative equipment like an auger to tunnel under the ground.

Remember, tree roots can damage nearby cement foundations as they grow. If a tree is close enough to interfere with large excavations, it may be better to remove the tree than risk future problems.

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.