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TRUSTED BY SANTA ROSA, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.6
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon35
    Verified excavation services reviews

Top-Rated Excavation pros in Santa Rosa - 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 Santa Rosa, 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%
22 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for SH Grading & Excavating
SH Grading & Excavating
5.0(
17
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingLandscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Santa Rosa, 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
JOHN MOUNTAIN
5.0(
7
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Santa Rosa, 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
8 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by57%of homeowners
Avatar for Sola De Vega Landscaping
Sola De Vega Landscaping
4.6(
12
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Santa Rosa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Saul & crew were great to work with, arrived on time every day, gave great advice, & the project came out better than we hoped for. The entire crew were experts at what they did. We're very happy with our very large project (front, both sides & back yards). Saul' company worked hard every day even with rain delays, the overall project was completed in good time & stayed on budget. Thank you Saul!"
First phase of installation
90 % finished
finishing touches
The start of the project
digging old dry creek

+21

Response time6 hrs
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for IVANSCAPING CORP
IVANSCAPING CORP
5.0(
7
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Rosa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Our Realtor referred us to Ivanscaping, and we are thrilled with the results from Ivan and his hard-working team. We needed a yard makeover to help with the sale of our home, completely replacing a large, unhealthy front yard with a new design to enhance the curb appeal of our property. Ivan met with us and helped plan a new landscape that would minimize the grass area for easier watering, and create a new perimeter featuring drought-resistent plants. We found Ivan to be very experienced, patient, and thoughtful with his approach, supplying multiple samples of stone and mulch for our review, and offering his expert advice on how to achieve our goals. He helped rough in the new design by providing both a digital sketch and walking us through the yard to mark specific locations for the new features so we knew exactly what to expect. Ivan recommended some specific plants and grass for us based on photos we supplied, and took care of all the details—making the project very simple and"
Response time4 hrs
Recommended by33%of homeowners
Juan Contreras Landscaping
5.0(
6
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Rosa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"Juan and his crew did a great landscaping project in our backyard. It involved removing very long and old flagstone pathways, creating a concrete patio and border wall, and putting gravel on our pathways. They were friendly, communicated well, and very hard workers."
Response time3 hrs
9 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

It takes one hour to dig a 10-foot trench by hand. Use a trenching shovel with a sharp tip and a long head. Plan for more time if your soil is heavy or rocky. Consider renting a trencher if you’re digging a long or deep trench or if you have challenging soil or terrain. 

You can dig 60 to 80 linear feet by hand per day depending on the depth. Digging a 100-foot trench by hand will take you two work days, but it can take longer if you have heavy or rocky soil. If you’re digging a deep trench or one that’s over 100 feet, consider renting a mechanical trencher, such as a walk-behind or ride-on, or calling a pro for help. 

In the United States, a depth of 36 inches (three feet) for underground water lines is the accepted industry standard. This depth varies from location to location based on local conditions. In areas with colder winters, they may be buried deeper to prevent frozen well water pipes : This is usually at least six inches below the frost level. The International Plumbing Code calls for a minimum of 12 inches below grade.

To locate an underground downspout, you should start by identifying where the above ground gutter drains. Look for an entry point, such as a pipe or elbow leading into the ground. Follow the surface path for signs like depressions, landscaping disruptions, or wet areas after rain. You can use a metal detector or plumber’s snake to trace the pipe underground. For deeper pipes, a professional locator tool or camera inspection may be necessary. Visual markers or utility maps can also guide the search.

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 Rosa, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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