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TRUSTED BY MOUNT VERNON, IA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon19
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Mount Vernon

Avatar for Stone Landscape Solutions
Stone Landscape Solutions
4.4(
14
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Mount Vernon, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We hired Stone Landscaping to remove a downed tree in our yard caused by the Iowa derecho. During removal several issues arose that the contractor was more than happy to address and correct. They also gave us s competitive price for tree removal that was more than fair."
Planter Bed
Planter Bed
Planter Bed
Retaining Wall
Retaining Wall

+25

Response time4 days
Recommended by91%of homeowners
Cedar Prairie Grading, LLC
5.0(
6
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+1 more

Serving Mount Vernon, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2016

Free estimates

"Tom did a great job and when he was done he did several extra things that he thought would help that were not originally discussed for no extra charge. He helped solve a drainage problem behind my house."
Prepairing to build pond
Prepairing to build pond
Prepairing to build pond
Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
ClassiConcrete
3.9(
56
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Mount Vernon, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 1999

Credit card accepted

"John gave me what I thought was a decent estimate that was in line with everyone else. He gave me a date for the work to be completed, but they didnt arrive on that date. On that they that they didn't arrive, I had cancelled an appointment to stay home that morning. When I called him, he was in Iowa working at his other location. When I let him know that I had cancelled an appointment to be here for the work, he said "Did we inconvenience you?" in an unfriendly tone. The crew came to do the work on a weekend. John is not a good communicator at all. John had told me that he was going to resurface the floor. I did not understand what that meant and assumed it was putting in new concrete because he did not explain it. I saw that the crew was just chopping up the floor and going to fill in the cracks. When I stopped them and contacted John, he said he had it noted down as resurfacing. When I explained to him that the he did not explain what resurfacing meant to me, he got upset and said I had to pay more. He first said the job would cost an extra $800. When I declined it, he offered the work to be done at an extra $400. After the job was complete, it was done nicely. When I advised him how many companies on Angie's List offer discounts to members, I asked what type of discount he offered. He said that he would add some decorations to the sidewalk and that was done. Also, when I saw that dirt needed to be replaced in the trenched along each side of the driveway and sidewalk, he said I would need to call someone else. I had to pay another contaractor $300 for the dirt to be filled after they finished the driveway and sidewalk. The work took three days and he only stopped by once to oversee the job and that was when we had the arguement over the garage floor. The product and quality of service was good, but the communication was bad. The workers did a good job and they worked hard. However, I would not recommend this company to someone else as I felt that dealing with John was not appropriate. He didn't offer good customer service in what I see in terms of what I feel is appropriate customer service for what a person would normally expect.
"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Stamped
Polish
Stain

+1

Recommended by82%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Trenching and boring are two distinct methods for installing underground utilities. Trenching involves digging a channel using equipment like an excavator, trencher, backhoe, or shovel. While it is a simpler process, it causes significant disruption to the surface, landscaping, and surrounding ecosystems.

Boring, also known as directional boring, is a less invasive alternative that uses a drill to create a tunnel for utility lines without disturbing the surface. This method is more precise and is ideal for installations that need to go underneath buildings, roads, or bodies of water. Although boring is less disruptive, it is generally more expensive than trenching.

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. 

A trench that is less than 5 feet deep often doesn't require a protective system. Most residential trenches will not go this deep (the typical residential drainage trench is just 18 inches deep). In the event that an excavator needs to dig more than 5 feet beneath the surface, a protective system is required unless the excavation is in entirely stable rock.

If you have a broken sprinkler pipe underground, there will be some signs you can easily spot to locate it and take action. These include leaks, water spouts, flooding, consistently damp areas on your lawn, low water pressure, and grass around the sprinkler head that’s taller and darker than anywhere else in the yard. 

If there are no obvious signs of a broken pipe, you can use tools such as water leak mics, leak noise loggers, audio devices that record leaks, and acoustic testing links. 

Broken pipes can lead to uneven watering, plant damage, and higher utility bills. The longer you wait to fix them the more the repair cost may be.

Hard soil could be a sign of overly dry dirt, either from poor drainage or drought. It's important to test the nutrient levels, density, and drainage capacity of your soil to see if it's absorbing water properly. Begin by adding a light layer of water and observing how long the soil retains moisture. If you experience a good deal of runoff, you may need to aerate your lawn, apply a wetting agent, or hire a professional for a closer look.

The Mount Vernon, IA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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