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Verified Reviews for Excavation pros in Athens, IL

*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Athens, IL 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 Athens, IL 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 June 13, 2026

Top-Rated Excavation pros in Athens - Updated Nov 2026

Avatar for LT Excavating
LT Excavating
4.5(
8
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Athens, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"I wish these young men were my sons. I am proud to have had the opportunity to hire them for a somewhat complex job concerning 43 tons of soil being delivered and then correctly molded and shaped into the site that was best for my lawn. If you want to receive assurance that honesty and great American values are not dead,yet hire this company! Their price was very reasonable without the quality of their work being cheap!"
Response time5 hrs
Response rate100%
Recommended by75%of homeowners
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Applegate Excavating & Sewer Service
5.0(
2
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Athens, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

We are a locally owned and operated company with over 20 years of industry experience. We value honesty and integrity in all aspects of our business. We offer a variety of excavation and sewer services that are customizable to each individual project. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work as well as our commitment to outstanding results. We look forward to building lasting relationships with our clients and guarantee your satisfaction!

6 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Avatar for Eddington Builds
Eddington Builds
5.0(
1
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Athens, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2025

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

From the first scoop of dirt to the final nail in the deck, Eddington Builds is your single source for professional property upgrades. We combine heavy-duty excavation power with expert craftsmanship to handle every phase of your outdoor project. Whether you need land cleared and leveled, a new concrete driveway or patio poured, or a custom-built deck and fence to finish the space, our team of specialized pros delivers.

6 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Balducci Brothers
New to Angi
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Athens, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

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 General Contractor services that are customizable to each individual project. You will find us to be competitively priced, paying 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! \n \n

Farm 1
Farm 1
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

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 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.

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. 

After you successfully remove your boulder, you have a few options for what to do to get rid of it. You can rent a dumpster if your yard has many boulders or if you’re planning a larger project. You can even save the boulder and reuse it elsewhere on your property to save on landscaping costs. A few ideas include using the boulder as a natural, abstract statue, breaking it into smaller pieces to line your garden bed, or offering it to a landscaping company that could reuse it for another project.

The best method for digging a trench depends on the scope of the project. For a short, shallow trench (less than 2 feet deep) in light, soft soil, digging by hand may be sufficient. However, digging by hand is labor-intensive, so consider the effort required. A machine trencher is the better option for longer trenches (over 100 feet), deeper ones, or when dealing with difficult soil conditions, such as rocky or hard ground, or obstructions like tree roots. A machine can save significant time and energy in these situations.

The Athens, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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