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5.0

(12 reviews)

Top-rated excavation pros.

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Avatar for Baker's Land Management
Baker's Land Management
4.9(
6
)

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

We take great pride our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumer's needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction, from the start to the completion of a project. order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.\n

Response time1 day
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
TNT Turnover Services
New to Angi

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

TNT Turnover Services isn’t just remodeling spaces—we’re transforming them.\n\nWe take outdated, worn, or underperforming areas and turn them into clean, modern, high-impact spaces built to impress and made to last. From kitchens and bathrooms to full property turnovers, our work is driven by precision, quality craftsmanship, and attention to every detail.\n\nAt TNT Turnover Services, we don’t believe in shortcuts—we believe in results. We bring reliability, speed, and professionalism to every project, delivering a smooth, hassle-free experience from start to finish. On time. On budget. Done right.\n\nWhether you’re upgrading your home or preparing a property for its next chapter, we’re here to raise the standard and exceed expectations.

1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solution
Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solution
4.4(
256
)

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"RESPONSIVENESS TO NEEDS
There are different measures of success on any project and different constraints and issues that will challenge those measures.  My primary measure of success was a DRY basement, and Brian?s proposal to deliver it was comprehensive. He was committed to meeting my request while satisfying my second measure of success: do it at an affordable price.

ESTIMATE
Brian does all estimates himself instead of sending out salespeople (which I appreciate).  I scheduled Brian's first visit in the days following a large rainfall that caused flooding in neighboring areas, so his schedule was packed. Understandably, Brian was crunched between appointments when he arrived slightly behind schedule, but he had kept me updated in the hours preceding his arrival.  Brian quickly conveyed a focus on resolving the seepage problem.  He also listened to my concerns, identified primary and secondary issues, and said he would send a thorough e-mail containing precise details for a solution with a cost breakdown.  He arrived and left in about hour, and within a couple days he sent an e-mail estimate with two options. 1) A complete basement drain tile system with crack repairs, or 2) a partial system that he believed would resolve the problem at a lesser cost. He offered to allow me to "upgrade" to the full system in the future and pay the difference between the two estimates. This type of offer was not even discussed by the three other companies (two big names and one small business) that came for estimates.

With the exception of the extended (years-long) payment / financing options offered by the larger companies, Brian?s proposed solution was almost a hands-down winner.  The other small company was comparable, but after sending the initial estimate, Brian offered to return on the weekend to give me the opportunity to talk again when there was more time.  Other companies' approaches to doing exterior excavation ranged from doing minor reinforcement to not even wanting to touch it.  Brian, in contrast, said he can?t honestly guarantee a dry basement when he didn?t know what the previous repair looked like.  He offered to completely excavate the two walls that had work done previously and to replace (if necessary) any inferior quality materials with his own fix.  Now we're cooking with gas!  The cost of the job remained competitive, and this ?extra mile? effort on top of everything else fully satisfied my need to be 100% sure the seepage would be stopped.  I opted for the full drain tile system.

TIME
The timeframe Brian quoted was in line with all of his competitors: 2 days max.  The time element of the job met some challenges, taking 5 full working days to complete, (Tues-Fri plus half days Sat-Sun).  The reason?  The crew found the floor was new, dense 4-inch concrete poured on top of the original 4-inch concrete floor.  This meant twice the work for the breakup crew that was prepared for a conventional job, making it impossible to accommodate the original time frame. Brian promised to never leave a job unfinished, so he juggled his crews' schedules to make daily progress, and he never once raised his price despite the extra time or material (concrete) required. I was very grateful.  He also personally came to finish the job on the weekend rather than pushing it out to Monday or Tuesday.

EXTRAS AND RESPONSIVENESS
Some plumbing in the floor was impacted by the concrete breakup and required repairs due to its age and condition.  Brian took the time to find the exact materials I requested for the repair and installed them.  I was not present at installation so he took photos and video and sent them to me via smartphone so I could verify he got it right.  What other contractor does that?! He also paid attention to every detail for laying out the design of the downspout tie-ins, finishing touches, and every single special request I threw at him. He also spotted an additional leak in the corner of the foundation and sealed it up as well. His commitment to resolving every issue to my satisfaction was outstanding.

Brian made himself accessible via phone, e-mail and text, and he responded quickly to inquiries.  I wanted to know every detail of the work, and Brian accommodated. Another totally unexpected surprise came when Brian discovered that some of the promised work did not need to be performed, and he provided credit for this instead of using the difference for my extra requests.

SATISFACTION
"You'll be happy," is Brian's mantra.  He addressed a couple gripes - dust exposure to the first floor space; a few trampled plants outside - by providing equitable financial credits.  These professional oversights on his crew's part are unacceptable to Brian, and credit on the final bill was all he could do to make up for it.  Overall, the crew was polite, and one even brought a stack of extra floor tiles from his personal supply to replace some I'd lost during demolition work I had done weeks earlier!

From start to finish, despite delays and minor shortcomings, Brian executed on the proposed project by 100% nailing the two most important measures of success ? quality and cost. As for timing, the job ran long but Brian didn't quit until the job was done. I never expect perfection; nevertheless, Brian aimed to earn my satisfaction as his primary goal. I give an A+ on nearly every category, taking a point or two away for the issues mentioned.

Rain is coming in the next two days, and I'll only edit this review if the repairs fail to deliver a dry basement.  I am posting this review before the rain comes as a vote of confidence that I won't have to change a word.

The most important criterion to assess a job well done is whether you'd recommend a service provider to a family member or friend.  In Brian's case, I absolutely would."
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+13

Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for RW Construction
RW Construction
4.7(
21
)

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Roger (RW Construction) and his guys were so professional and courteous. They completed excavating and demolition on our structure/garage in a timely manner and they did quality work. Our land looks leveled and beautiful!!! RW Construction was always available to answer questions and address concerns from start to finish. I would highly recommend this company."
Response time1 day
Response rate93%
Recommended by95%of homeowners
Sutterer Excavation
4.9(
4
)

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Warranties offered

With over 10 years of experience as an excavator, Sutterer Excavation, is who you need to take care of your home. We handle everything from the initial consultation to making sure your property looks perfect every single time. We will always treat your property as we would treat our own, and you will be surprised how simple and easy our team will make the whole process seem. Give our team a call today. We're looking forward to working with you!

Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc
McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc
4.1(
69
)

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Mcdonagh & sons plumbing & sewer takes great pride with 15 years of experience! We are honest, reliable, genuine and trustworthy! We are constantly referred by our customers because of our great service and dedication to meet their needs! We offer free estimates! "anything plumbing, anything sewer, any time". Ertain areas are to subject a service fee *prices may vary. Discounts can not be combined, unless noted. Award winning. Additional dba - mcdonagh & sons plumbing and sewer.

Recommended by96%of homeowners
Smith Excavating - Inicio Facebook
5.0(
2
)

Serving Makanda, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

We are dedicated to providing our clients with the very best in excavation and building site services. We specialize in residential and commercial services and take pride in the attention to detail put into each of the projects we're involved with. We're known for our quality work and the integrity of our business. We look forward to building long-term relationships with our clients, and guarantee your satisfaction.

Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Directional drilling is complex and requires training to use the advanced machinery. It can be challenging to monitor the position of the drill since there’s no direct line of sight. Directional drilling can also be more expensive with a cost of $10 to $30 per linear foot compared to $5 to $12 per linear foot for trenching. 

Digging a bush up by the roots is the most natural DIY method for removing a bush stump. Start by identifying the shrub type and revealing its roots. Cut the shrub to its base and loosen the soil, ensuring no utility lines are nearby. Optionally, treat the base with herbicide, then dig around the roots and cut a circle around the shrub using various tools. Dig a trench, cut the base of the root ball, and finally fill the hole to prevent regrowth. This thorough process ensures complete removal without damaging surrounding areas.

Depending on the severity of the freeze and the method used, thawing frozen underground pipes can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Applying heat directly to the pipe using heat tape, infrared lamps, or hot water jetting can speed up the process. However, patience and careful monitoring are key to avoiding pipe damage.

Yes, you can excavate in the winter, but it might make the job harder. Frozen ground is harder to dig, and snow or ice can make the work site more hazardous. A contractor may need special equipment and techniques, such as ground-thawing methods, to break through frozen soil. Although winter excavation is possible, it may take longer and be more costly than excavating during warmer months.

Because decomposed granite is a durable material, a crushed rock or gravel base is optional as long as the DG is properly installed and compacted. However, installing a base is a good idea because it will ensure proper drainage and stability and act as a weed suppressant (although you may still occasionally have to pull weeds). Installing an adequate base can also increase the durability of driveways and walkways. If you forego the paver base or gravel underneath, line the area with landscaping fabric to avoid weeds.

The Makanda, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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