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TRUSTED BY LAKE FOREST, IL HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.4
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon42
    Verified excavation services reviews

Verified Reviews for Excavation pros in Lake Forest, IL

*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest, 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 February 01, 2026

Find Excavation pros in Lake Forest

Avatar for JK Company, LLC
JK Company, LLC
5.0(
106
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2016

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Tino and JK did a great job assisting us with the complete demolition of a single story house. Very easy to communicate with and completed the work with minimal dust and debris. Would definitely recommend."
Patio
Drive
Patio
Patio
Entryway

+11

Response time1 day
45 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by94%of homeowners
Request Quote
Avatar for Efrains Brick Paving and Landscaping
Efrains Brick Paving and Landscaping
5.0(
21
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Overall Landscaping projects I have hired them for are outstanding. And I've hired them for over 20 Years all our patio and brick paver jobs are still holding up. Couldn't be more pleased with the work and professionalism."
Walkway
Walkway
Patio
Patio
Patio

+3

2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by86%of homeowners
Request Quote
Avatar for Greenworks Landscape
Greenworks Landscape
4.8(
45
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2011

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Excellent work with catastrophic tree damage due to huge windstormâ ¦ Hard and thorough workers!"
Brickwork
Brickwork
Brickwork
Response time1 day
4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by97%of homeowners
Request Quote
Avatar for Illinois Sewer And Drain Inc
Illinois Sewer And Drain Inc
4.9(
20
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2004

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We are new homeowners and had a hole in our septic tank made of concrete block, which was sending wastewater into the foundation/basement of the home. It was my first time using Angie's List, and I would recommend Illinois Sewer and Drain to anyone. Joe and his team of experts solved our issue immediately at an affordable price. They even went above and beyond to install a sump pump in our basement to help with the rain water. Quality work!!"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+23

Response time9 hrs
Recommended by65%of homeowners
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Avatar for Greentrail Landscape & Design, Inc.
Greentrail Landscape & Design, Inc.
4.3(
81
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For BusinessLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2001

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Jose from Greentrail was very responsive to our request. The prices were very competitive and fair! Also, the team showed great pride in their work. Highly recommend using them for all your landscaping needs! Most importantly, he kept us informed on scheduling communication was excellent!"
Response time2 days
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by93%of homeowners
Request Quote
Avatar for Unique Landscaping Service
Unique Landscaping Service
4.3(
143
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For BusinessLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Unique Landscaping basically did a renovation of my yard- taking out all trees, leveling it out, and putting down all new sod. It looks amazing and we would definitely hire them again!"
.
KIDS PLAYGROUND AREA
AFTER
PLANTING DESIGNS
Hardscape Projects

+452

Response time8 hrs
Response rate100%
Recommended by95%of homeowners
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Avatar for Hernandez Bro's Landscaping
Hernandez Bro's Landscaping
4.2(
29
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They were very easy to work with and offered some good design ideas to complete the job. Very reasonable pricing. Professional and cleaned up before leaving. Fonal oitcome was above what we expected."
Our work
WALK WAY
Our work
Our work
Our work

+3

Response time10 hrs
Response rate96%
11 neighbors recently requested a quote
Request Quote
Avatar for Toro Total Construction LLC
Toro Total Construction LLC
4.5(
22
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Fermin did an excellent job painting 4 of our bedrooms recently. He completed the jobs in a timely manner and our rooms look great! Will definitely hire again."
Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Request Quote
Avatar for JM Demolition and Hauling
JM Demolition and Hauling
5.0(
3
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Lake Forest, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"JM Demolition helped me demo a 2 bedroom apartment and haul out all garbage in a week."
Debris Haul
1st Floor Demolition
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

You do not have to dig footers for a deck as long as it meets local code and holds up to weather in your area. If you live somewhere that experiences high winds and earthquakes, you may need to dig for your deck posts. Deck blocks, post anchors with base plates, and helical pile systems are the three no-dig deck post options you can choose from if local code permits.

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.

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.

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.

A crawl space can be as little as 42 inches below the grade of your house, but this is not always recommended in flood-prone areas. At a minimum, there must be at least 16 inches of clearance between the ground and the floor joists to access the space in an emergency.

The Lake Forest, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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

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