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TRUSTED BY UNIVERSAL CITY, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon12
    Verified excavation services reviews

Top-Rated Excavation pros in Universal City - Updated Nov 2026

Avatar for Encore Builders, Inc.
Encore Builders, Inc.
5.0(
149
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Universal City, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"This is my second time working with Encore Builders and they killed it once again! These guys are the best. Iâ ve been doing lots of renovations in my house over the past year. Some of the projects have taken months of planning and work but Encore Builders is always in and out. My home is on a hillside and the backyard area needed some work. Oz and Brandon put together a 3D image and we chose out the style I wanted. I was amazed. Some simple stepping stones really elevated the space. Project took two days and we didnt even notice they were here. The crews were quick but didnâ t compromise the quality of the work. You can tell they are a hardworking company. Very impressed with their work yet again. Thanks Encore Builders team!"
Turf
Turf
Turf
Turf
Turf

+70

Response time1 day
Response rate99%
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Rainforestla, Inc.
Rainforestla, Inc.
4.7(
37
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Universal City, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"My wife and I have hired RainforestLA for four separate landscaping and design projects (turf, fence, concrete, stepping stones, etc.) and are always amazed with the final product. They do amazing quality work that lasts year after year. We could not recommend them more and look forward to hiring them again."
wood retaining wall
steps
steps
steps
steps

+59

Response time3 days
Recommended by96%of homeowners
KP Earthwork & Paving
3.6(
14
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+1 more

Serving Universal City, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Ken is very knowledgeable and professional. My backyard was not draining well in the last rain after a garage extension. He graded the soil and built a paving stone walkway. When I couldn't find anyone to put sods on the soil, he took on the job and did a great job. I am very happy with the work."
 parking lot during
 parking lot after
 swimming pool
 drainage trench
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for NYM, Inc.
NYM, Inc.
New to Angi
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving Universal City, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2000

Free estimates

We are dedicated to providing our clients with the very best in excavation and building site services. We specialize in residential and commercial services and take pride in the attention to detail put into each of the projects we're involved with. We're known for our quality work and the integrity of our business. We look forward to building long-term relationships with our clients, and guarantee your satisfaction.

Grading
Grading
Grading
Grading
Grading

+5

Response time1 hour
J NEW ERA ENGINEERING INC
New to Angi
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Universal City, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2004

Free estimates

J NEW ERA ENGINEERING INC \n \nHere at company, we are a locally owned and operated company that values honesty and integrity and treats your home as if it were our own. We offer a variety of quality home improvement services. You will find us to be competitively priced with close attention to the details of each and every project that we are involved with. We look forward to building lasting relationships and guarantee your satisfaction!

Response time2 hrs
Avatar for SES Builders inc
SES Builders inc
5.0(
97
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Universal City, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I heard about SES from my friend. He did last year a kitchen remodeling project with them. I wanted to renovate 2 bathrooms, so I called them right away and got 4 more quotes. I felt more comfortable with SES and decided to do the project with them. The result came out greater than I imagined. Thank you guys"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+33

Recommended by98%of homeowners
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

If you don’t have a crawl space but have a partial basement you want to make deeper, you can expect to spend a little less—between $40,000 and $90,000 on average. However, if you’re not adding new finished square footage, you won’t see much in the way of ROI.

Most residential basements are 8 to 10 feet deep. You can dig deeper depending on building codes, but it does become more difficult. You’ll likely need to install stronger foundation walls and additional supports to handle the increased load. Depending on the water table, you may also need a water management system. Clay soil can support a deeper foundation than sandy soil. A structural engineer will be able to tell you the maximum, feasible depth.

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.

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.

Downspouts should be buried at least 5 to 10 feet away from your foundation. This can vary depending on your local building codes, soil type, and property slope. The main goal is to ensure water is directed away from your foundation.

The Universal City, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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