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Applegate Excavating & Sewer Service
5.0(
2
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Rochester, 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
Avatar for Eddington Builds
Eddington Builds
5.0(
1
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Rochester, 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.

13 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Reinhart Grounds Maintenance, Inc.
Reinhart Grounds Maintenance, Inc.
2.8(
2
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Rochester, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1986

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Reinhart Grounds Maintenance, Inc., is one of the largest full service commercial landscape companies in the central Illinois region. We have been able to meet the needs of any size customer by using the most advanced equipment, latest techniques and highly trained staff. Please call us today for a quote!

Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Smock Excavating
Smock Excavating
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and Clearing

Serving Rochester, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Very professional business, on time, excellent job at Excavating and others things I needed done, tore out the barn, floor, and re-grated it, and poured concrete back, very dependable and excellent work, I would recommend them for any excavating work or other stuff needs to be done, Very dependable"
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

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.

The best way to protect tree roots is to avoid the roots entirely by excavating outside the root radius of the tree. For nearby projects, it’s a good idea to construct a temporary retaining wall. But that’s not always possible, depending on the project and the root system. In these cases, consider using alternative equipment like an auger to tunnel under the ground.

Remember, tree roots can damage nearby cement foundations as they grow. If a tree is close enough to interfere with large excavations, it may be better to remove the tree than risk future problems.

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.

Prior to excavation, you should prepare the dig site and call 311 before you sign anything.

To get your site ready for excavation, you should move anything in the area that isn’t affixed to the land. You can save money on the excavation by removing hardscaping, including walkways, decks, concrete patios, and paver patios.

Before you carry out any digging, you should call 311 to confirm that there are no utility lines running through your excavation site. Skipping this step could lead to severe injury and property damage if your excavator hits a water, sewage, or gas line.

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. 

The Rochester, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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