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TRUSTED BY ELKRIDGE, MD HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon51
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Elkridge

Avatar for J & W Brown Contracting, LLC
J & W Brown Contracting, LLC
4.5(
22
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Elkridge, MD and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"J&W did a wonderful job building my brick steps and concrete walk way to the front of my home. A quick quote and a great price considering the current market for bricks and concrete. Mr. Brown went the extra mile and I will be utilizing this company next week to replace the side entrance steps. I highly recommend!"
Remod
Remod
Remod
Remod
Remod

+6

129 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by85%of homeowners
Avatar for D&D Construction & Landscaping, Inc.
D&D Construction & Landscaping, Inc.
5.0(
4
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Elkridge, MD and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2013

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"John Kattwinkel was extremely professional and knowledgeable about the work. He understood our requirements and proposed a detailed spec within our budget. The work was on schedule, and excellent quality."
Response time2 days
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Sunset Lawn Care
4.1(
8
)
Building Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving Elkridge, MD and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Customers say: Quality work

"They've done LOTS of work for me and they continue to do lots of work because they are reasonably priced, excellent service, and does what he says he will do. Never had any problems, miscommunications, or misunderstandings, and the work is always completed as expected"
Response time2 days
Recommended by85%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Hard soil could be a sign of overly dry dirt, either from poor drainage or drought. It's important to test the nutrient levels, density, and drainage capacity of your soil to see if it's absorbing water properly. Begin by adding a light layer of water and observing how long the soil retains moisture. If you experience a good deal of runoff, you may need to aerate your lawn, apply a wetting agent, or hire a professional for a closer look.

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. 

Most residential basements are 8 to 10 feet deep. You can dig deeper depending on building codes, but it does become more difficult. You’ll likely need to install stronger foundation walls and additional supports to handle the increased load. Depending on the water table, you may also need a water management system. Clay soil can support a deeper foundation than sandy soil. A structural engineer will be able to tell you the maximum, feasible depth.

Excavation is priced in cubic yards, so you’ll need to find the volume of the area in order to calculate costs. Multiply the length, width, and proposed depth of your excavation site, then convert it into yards to get the volume. Multiply this figure by the price per cubic yard.

Most homeowners can measure by hand to get a rough estimate, even if it’s tedious. You may want to pull out a tape measure or use a string to help mark the area.

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 Elkridge, MD homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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