Top-rated excavation pros.

Get matched with top excavation pros in Calmar, IA

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your excavation project in Calmar, IA?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Verified Reviews for Excavation pros in Calmar, IA

*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Calmar, IA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Excavation companies in Calmar, IA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

Last update on May 20, 2026

Find Excavation pros in Calmar

Excavating questions, answered by experts

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.

Concrete blocks are the cheapest way to base a shed. However, the space in between allows critters to go under, burrow, and even damage your shed’s frame. For a more pest-proof option, consider building a shed base with gravel or paver stones. Both options are fairly affordable and easy enough for a DIY project. For gravel, you can build a wooden frame to contain the loose material.

Trenching is a specific kind of digging. Trenching means digging a depression in the earth that’s deeper than it is wide, often with heavy machinery. Digging refers to any kind of removal of earth in order to create a human-made depression, hole, or cut in the earth’s surface. You can dig with big tools or even with just a hand shovel.

Yes, trenchers can go through gravel. Gravel is made up of smaller, softer rocks that certain trenchers are able to cut through. Just be sure to use a rock wheel trencher or chain trencher, both of which are made to cut through rocky landscapes and gravel pathways without dulling the teeth or chain.

Septic drain lines (or leach lines) are typically buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and should be at least 6 inches below the surface. These pipes are perforated and surrounded by filtering materials like sand or gravel. Burying the lines at this depth helps minimize odors and allows bacteria and other biological processes in the soil to effectively treat the wastewater. Burying lines too close to the surface can cause issues unless the soil is very compact and stable.

The Calmar, IA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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

See all articles