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Avatar for Kuhlman Construction, LLC
Kuhlman Construction, LLC
5.0(
7
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Vandalia, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Chase dove into a couple of projects on my farm that were a little too much for me to handle. He took the time to procure all the materials and we agreed on a bid. He held up his end of the bargain and the work was exactly what I asked for. One of a few young men with the drive to get things done. Will use him again for a future construction project."
What I Love To Do For You
What I Love To Do For You
What I Love To Do For You
What I Love To Do For You
What I Love To Do For You

+19

Response time3 hrs
Response rate100%
Recommended by75%of homeowners
Avatar for AB excavation
AB excavation
New to Angi
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Vandalia, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

Credit card accepted

AB Excavation is a locally owned and operated excavation and land clearing company based in Highland, Illinois.\nWe specialize in land clearing, grading, and site preparation for residential and small commercial projects. Our work includes Fences, small lot clearing, new home site prep, demolition and haul-off, pond and water feature excavation, and culvert installation.\n\nWe take pride in doing the job right the first time, showing up when we say we will, and communicating clearly with our customers from start to finish. Whether it’s clearing property, prepping a build site, or handling drainage work, we focus on quality workmanship, efficiency, and fair pricing.\n\nWe serve Highland and the surrounding areas and work closely with homeowners, builders, and property owners to get projects completed safely and on schedule.

TNT Turnover Services
New to Angi
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Vandalia, 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TNT Turnover Services isn’t just remodeling spaces—we’re transforming them.\n\nWe take outdated, worn, or underperforming areas and turn them into clean, modern, high-impact spaces built to impress and made to last.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.

The Lawn Tamer LLC
New to Angi
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Vandalia, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

🌱 Need Your Yard Looking Its Best? Let The Lawn Tamer Handle It! 🌱\n\nHi! I’m Christopher, owner of The Lawn Tamer. With 5+ years of experience, we provide reliable, professional lawn care and landscaping at a great value.\n\n✅ Mowing & edging\n✅ Trimming & cleanups\n✅ Mulch & landscaping\n✅ Shrub & property maintenance\n✅ Free estimates\n\nWe don’t just cut grass — we tame lawns! 💪🌿\n\n📩 Message me today for a FREE estimate and let’s get your property looking its best!

3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solution
Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solution
4.4(
256
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Vandalia, 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."
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+13

Recommended by90%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

In the United States, a depth of 36 inches (three feet) for underground water lines is the accepted industry standard. This depth varies from location to location based on local conditions. In areas with colder winters, they may be buried deeper to prevent frozen well water pipes : This is usually at least six inches below the frost level. The International Plumbing Code calls for a minimum of 12 inches below grade.

Excavation and grading are both generally necessary for designing your foundation, and leveling the ground where your foundation will go. These steps can also prepare the area by removing vegetation and anything else that could interfere with your home’s foundation.

Digging out a basement takes anywhere from a few days to a few months. Most projects take at least two to five weeks, but it could take several months if you encounter obstacles. This project takes longer if you need to brace or raise your home before the excavation. Digging out a basement in new construction can take as little as three days.

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. 

Water lines are buried at various depths, depending on the type of line. For example, most sprinkler lines are buried between four and 12 inches underground. On the other hand, water mains usually sit between one and 3 feet below ground. However, they can go even deeper in cold climates to prevent freezing.

The Vandalia, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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