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  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.3
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  • Verified reviews icon13
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Find Excavation pros in Marion

Francis Excavating
5.0(
3
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Marion, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Francis Excavating proudly serves our customers with pride, integrity, and attention to the details that matter most to you. This is one of the many things that sets us apart from the rest. We leave customers happy and give them a part of us of what we are proud too do. Put smile on people faces and have a clean job site.

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+16

Response time3 hrs
Avatar for McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc
McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc
4.1(
69
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Marion, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Provider was prompt, professional and friendly.  Arrived at the agreed upon time for a free estimate and performed work same-day after we agreed to the price.  He stuck to the price despite taking longer than expected and more work than usual due to worn-rusted pipes in my home.  Cleaned-up after himself and left no sign that work was done other than our new, working toilets.  We are very pleased and reccomend McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc.


"
Recommended by96%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

You should dig 3 to 6 inches deep for plastic edging. Dig as wide as you need to fit your plastic edging into it—2 inches is usually sufficient.

A walk-behind trencher can cut through roots as long as they’re not too thick, making a project much easier than digging with a shovel and other hand tools. Assess your terrain and the number of trees in the surrounding area to determine if a walk-behind trencher will ease the job. Digging a trench by hand is much more time-consuming and labor-intensive. 

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.

How deep your septic system needs to be into the ground depends on several factors. In extremely cold environments, the tank needs to rest below the maximum frost line, which can be up to six or eight feet deep. The standard burying depth for most systems is between a few inches and four feet below ground level. Depth can also depend on the slope of the landscaping and other property variables. 

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.

The Marion, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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