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Downs Excavating LLC
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Contacted Downs Excavating to assist with hauling away junk and debris from flood damage and he was quick to show up and get the job done! Fast and friendly service and have recommended Travis to everyone I know."
Response time5 hrs
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Friend Landscaping
Friend Landscaping
4.8(
59
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2001

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Fantastic from first contact with very reasonable estimate, great communication, completion with friendly and competent workers within days!! I couldn’t be happier!! I will seek them out for any future landscaping projects!!"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+81

Recommended by98%of homeowners
Avatar for Guild Lawn & Landscaping, LLC
Guild Lawn & Landscaping, LLC
4.9(
21
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"The crew arrived, toured the job and went to work! This project involved trimming and shaping several overgrown shrubs. The work exceeded my expectations. The crew was friendly, polite, and very focused on getting the job done. I appreciated their advice on one particularly problematic shrub."
holiday light install
holiday light install
holiday lights install
Govee LED LIghts install
Govee LED lights install

+9

Response time1 day
Response rate96%
Recommended by85%of homeowners
Avatar for Prime Surface Solutions
Prime Surface Solutions
5.0(
9
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"If you have any sort of handyman or landscaping job (or anything else)that needs to be done, I highly recommend contacting Prime Surface Solutions in Waukee. Jett and Emily are absolutely FANTASTIC to work with. We recently hired them to landscape a sloped area where we were battling erosion near our foundation. Not only did they listen to our concerns, they offered advice that would work best for our foundation, burning bushes, lawn, and budget. We had a contract that evening and materials delivered two days later. Jett and Emily were kind, respectful, honest people who worked meticulously with an eye for details others might ignore. I can't think of the last time I saw such hardworking people, and we will DEFINITELY hire them again for other projects. Check out their list of services--they do so much more than landscaping. They are based out of Waukee but will travel-- we live in rural Ogden. If we could give them 10 stars, we would do so! https://www.yelp.com/biz/prime-surface-sol"
Zach’s kitchen countertop
Zach’s kitchen countertop
Nicks resurfaced vanities
Nicks resurfaced vanities
Bathtub/ Shower Projects

+45

Response time1 day
Avatar for Goldsmith Industries LLC
Goldsmith Industries LLC
5.0(
2
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

"Justin is so easy to work with and instantly makes you feel at ease. I'm a nervous person so having someone like Justin help me was great. The project we wanted to do wasn't able to be completed due to city codes but i will definately keep Goldsmith Industries in mind for any upcoming projects."
Goering Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Remodeling
3.9(
25
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 1932

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"My disposer went bad and when I replaced it the existing plumbing would not line up and was kind of patch work anyway.  Time to get it fixed.
So I called Goering Plumbing because of the Angie reviews and John N, the service tech, came out the next day (on time).  John did a fine job of straightening up the issues and also took the time to discuss a few other matters with me which were a big help.
One month later and still no leaks.
Plus John was clean...  :)  No three day old, stinky clothes and crusty boots like the techs of a certain plumbing/sewer cleaning service that I have had the not-so-pleasurable experience of using in the past. 
I was also able to use the $40 trip charge coupon that Goering Plumbing has posted here on Angie - cool.
And speaking of money, just want to let you know that Goering's hourly rate is $90 with the first hour being fully charged.  I do not know if they breakdown the rate into, say, 15 minute intervals for subsequent hours.
All in all, a very good service call.
"
Recommended by80%of homeowners
Showing 1-10 of 34
Excavating questions, answered by experts

The best type of soil to build on is a mixture of sand and clay, known as loam soil. Loam soil has the best combination of these soil types to build a foundation on. The clay particles help with water retention, so it won’t erode like sandy soil might, and the sandy particles help with drainage, so you won’t see unsafe soil expansion or have an increased risk of leaks from water sitting against your foundation.

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.

In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even for projects that only involve grading or yard leveling. Permit requirements depend on your local government and the scope of the project, but they are especially common for significant digging or work that could affect utilities or public property. These permits help protect the local topography and prevent drainage issues. An experienced excavation company will typically know whether permits are needed and can often handle the process of pulling and closing them for you. You can also verify permit requirements by contacting your local building department and describing your project.

Professional installers often include a deep layer of crushed gravel under permeable pavers to allow more runoff to soak through into the soil below. Many installations will include multiple layers of gravel, with coarser aggregate at the base and finer aggregate that sits on top of that bottom layer. Above the gravel, you’ll often find coarse sand that helps reduce paver shifting over time. Some permeable paver designs include a water collection system set into the gravel layer to route runoff to a safe area for disposal.

Slab foundations are more affordable than crawl spaces because they require minimal excavation, as the slab sits directly on the ground or on footers that only sink a few feet into the ground. Crawl spaces require excavation of the entire footprint of the home to several feet below the surface. Not only does that mean higher labor costs, but more materials are necessary for the concrete foundation walls.

The Ames, IA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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