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*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Riga, MI is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

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Last update on December 12, 2025

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Murphy Landworks
5.0(
4
)

Serving Riga, MI and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

My name is Carter Murphy, and I am the proud owner and main operator of Murphy Landworks. At 17 years old, I started this business\nwith a strong work ethic, a passion for the outdoors, and a commitment to providing dependable, high-quality services to my community.\nFrom a young age, I have always had the drive to work hard and take pride in every job I complete, which is the foundation Murphy\nLandworks was built on.\n\nMurphy Landworks offers a wide variety of outdoor services designed to help keep your property looking its best year-round. Whether\nit’s property maintenance, land cleanup, or other outdoor projects, my goal is to deliver results that customers can truly be proud of. Every\nproject is completed with careful attention to detail, efficiency, and a focus on doing the job right the first time.\n\nAs a small and growing business, I believe that trust, reliability, and strong communication are just as important as the quality of the work\nitself. I take pride in building lasting rel

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Excavating questions, answered by experts

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.

A perc test can take anywhere from one to eight hours to complete. The total time depends on factors like the amount of excavation required, the depth and width of the holes, and whether multiple test holes are needed. For a single hole, the process of filling it with water and monitoring the drainage rate usually takes less than an hour. Professionals can often complete the entire test in a single day. While it's possible to get results the same day, some companies may take a few days to provide the official report.

Dumpsters work best on hard, study, and level surfaces made of asphalt, stone, or concrete. If the surface is uneven or too soft, the dumpster could get stuck or tip over when filled. Keep in mind that you must obtain a dumpster permit to keep it on a city street in many areas.

No, you typically cannot use metal detectors to find your sewer line. Most sewer lines are made of non-metallic materials such as PVC, clay, or cast iron, which are not detectable by standard metal detectors. Metal detectors are designed to locate metallic objects, so they won't be effective for identifying the path of a non-metallic sewer line. To locate your sewer line accurately, it's best to use other methods.

Septic drain lines (or leach lines) are typically buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and should be at least 6 inches below the surface. These pipes are perforated and surrounded by filtering materials like sand or gravel. Burying the lines at this depth helps minimize odors and allows bacteria and other biological processes in the soil to effectively treat the wastewater. Burying lines too close to the surface can cause issues unless the soil is very compact and stable.

The Riga, MI homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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