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*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Payson, 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 Payson, 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 July 12, 2026

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Avatar for McDowell Excavating, LLC
McDowell Excavating, LLC
5.0(
10
)

Serving Payson, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"This was the only company out of the companies sent by Angi.com that responded. They were very timely in their response. Gave a lot of wise advise and were very knowledgeable. I purchased a different property out of the area, but I would highly recommend them."
Excavator
Snow removal
Snow removal
Snow removal
Driveway reclaiming

+2

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Excavating questions, answered by experts

If you don’t have a crawl space but have a partial basement you want to make deeper, you can expect to spend a little less—between $40,000 and $90,000 on average. However, if you’re not adding new finished square footage, you won’t see much in the way of ROI.

Most states do not require excavation companies to hold specific licenses, but many require at least a contractor’s license. Additionally, heavy equipment operators require a special commercial equipment license to operate machinery required for excavation. You can use Angi’s contractor licensing tool to confirm that an excavation company you’re considering hiring is fully licensed. You should also make sure that the excavation team is fully insured before allowing them to work on your property.

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.

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. 

Sewer lines can be buried anywhere from 18 inches to 8 feet deep, with a common average depth between 18 and 30 inches. The exact depth depends on local factors like climate and soil type. In colder regions, pipes must be buried deeper (below the frost line) to prevent freezing, sometimes as deep as 8 feet. The digging depth can also impact the cost of sewer line replacement. To find the specific depth for your property, you can check the building plans for your system, which should be on file with your city or local sanitation department since permits are required for installation.

The Payson, 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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