Get matched with top excavation pros in Columbus, MN

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4.5

(75 reviews)

Top-rated excavation pros.

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Avatar for Clark Companies, Inc
Clark Companies, Inc
4.5(
102
)

Serving Columbus, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"We have had 2 projects done this summer. After putting them off due to another company's high bid, we decided to try Clark and found them to be more willing to work within our budget. The job leader took time to understand our vision and the office communication was always immediate and timely. The crew was thoughtful and did a remarkable job of keeping the inevitable lawn damage to a minimum. After long hot days, they still made sure the work area was cleaned up each time. We are very happy with the outcome and highly recommend Clark."
NEW WALL
Huge Patio DONE!
Retaining wall
Double Boulder Wall
Commercial City Wall

+132

Response time1 day
141 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by66%of homeowners
Avatar for Outdoor Aesthetix
Outdoor Aesthetix
5.0(
13
)

Serving Columbus, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2016

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Dug out rock beds around the house, replaced with beautiful new rocks and expertly placed flowers and shrubs. Very quick and very clean, my yard looks so much better now!"
Response time10 hrs
Response rate89%
9 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Able Excavating LLC
Able Excavating LLC
5.0(
6
)

Serving Columbus, MN and surrounding areas

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Josh was very easy to work with and completed a perfect job on our project. I feel like we received far more than what was bid and charged for. It was a great and refreshing experience."
Pool Demo
Pool Demo
Pool Demo
Pool Demo
Pool Demo

+24

Response time6 hrs
Recommended by83%of homeowners
Avatar for Service Master - Stillwater
Service Master - Stillwater
4.6(
56
)

Serving Columbus, MN and surrounding areas

Credit card accepted

"On one hand it is difficult to know how to evaluate the service we received from Service Master. We have never hired a cleaning company before, and what we needed was a very deep clean of our house prior to listing it for sale. If the results were undeniably spectacular, then it would be easy an easy evaluation. The house looked so much better after the painting and cleaning - night and day. However, the painters left some streaks of paint on the wood floors and neither they, nor Service Master, were able to clean them up, even though they both said they would. Moreover, citing the paint on the floor, Service Master came back to us after a day of cleaning saying they needed more time for an additional charge of $600. 
We were in sort of a vulnerable position: they weren't done with their work and we were days away from getting our house listed. So we felt like we had no choice but to agree.
We already thought they were expensive, and this just added to our feeling that maybe we were being taken advantage of. Unfortunately, our situation made us vulnerable in this way. We were in a hurry and busy with not only our jobs but getting the house ready for sale. So we only got one estimate for cleaning the house, and used Service Master because they were the only company who could meet our deadline (our agent told us about Service Master, and the top companies we called from Angie's List were not able to meet our schedule.)
Overall, the house did look great after their cleaning and, as a postlude, it sold in one day on MLS, so there was a bright end after all. We just have this nagging feeling that we paid a lot more than we should have, and we didn't like having to agree to pay more in the middle of the work."
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+5

Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for Gervais Contracting LLC
Gervais Contracting LLC
5.0(
6
)

Serving Columbus, MN and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Where to even start. This company is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. I recently hired Gervais Contracting to install a new driveway and handle the dirt work for a new garage. The proposed shed pad area was about 8 feet lower than the house grade. I consulted five other excavation contractors, but they only wanted to raise the grade by 1 foot, which would have caused significant water problems in the future. When Zach from Gervais Contracting came out, he expressed his concerns about this approach. He explained that simply raising the grade by 1 foot would lead to tremendous water issues. To confirm, I had an engineer visit my house, and he agreed completely with Zach's assessment. Zach then worked his magic, finding the appropriate grade to ensure maximum watershed away from the new building, eliminating any future water problems. Zach was the only contractor out of the five who provided the right advice and solution. Despite being a young guy, his knowledge in the industry is unmatched. From start to finish, he was easy to communicate with, always responsive to my calls, and incredibly knowledgeable. When the project was completed, my driveway was smooth as glass, and the shed pad was perfectly level and ready for concrete. If I could give 100 stars, I would. This is the best contractor I have worked with in my 56 years. Thank you so much, Zach, and your crew at Gervais Contracting! Incredible services that you guys provide, Hire these guys even if they have the higher price because you cannot beat the level of knowledge, honesty and above Quality work they provide !! You will not regret it"
Oak grove shed pad
Oak grove shed pad
Stump grinding
Beginning of project
Beginning of project

+3

Response time8 hrs
Recommended by83%of homeowners
Avatar for Don Green's Dirt Service
Don Green's Dirt Service
5.0(
8
)

Serving Columbus, MN and surrounding areas

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Contacting them after seeing their ad in the Angie's List magazine. John was great to work with and he and the team did a great job. Consulted with me throughout the entire process and we're very happy with the result. Leveled and graded our backyard (~4,000 feet) and laid new sod."
driveway
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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FAQs for excavation projects in Columbus, MN

Unfortunately, some plumbing scenarios, like a broken sewer pipe repair, will require excavation to complete the job. Plumbing excavation costs range from $30 to $70 per cubic foot. However, if you need additional trenching, expect to pay an extra $4 to $12 per linear foot. Keep in mind that these costs are on top of the plumbing repair costs, and they don’t account for labor costs. Consult your excavation specialist to determine an accurate estimate for your job.

The average cost for pool excavation is $2,500. This cost can range from $450 to $4,500, depending on the pool shape and size, time of year, and any need to move buried utilities. 

When excavating for your pool, you might have to move existing utilities. You can expect to pay an additional $15 to $25 per linear foot to move gas lines. To move a septic system, it’ll cost an additional $2,000 to $20,000. A pool that is 10 feet by 12 feet averages $450 to excavate, and a 20-foot-by-40-foot pool averages $3,020.

The cost for residential excavation is $3,200 on average, ranging between $50 and $200 per cubic yard. Total costs could range from $500 to $15,000, depending on the project type, yard size, and soil type. 

When a project needs an excavator, the contractor will subcontract one as part of the larger project. If you hire an excavation specialist, you can expect to pay between $40 and $180 per hour. When excavating, if you have soil with excessive rocks or clay deposits, expect an additional cost of $200 to $1,200.

Warm weather seasons like spring and summer are ideal times to excavate due to the ground being softer and easier to dig through. However, it is important to note that bad weather, like heavy blizzard conditions or torrential rainfall, can prolong the project length, increasing costs. That’s why it’s best to avoid excavating during winter or hurricane season, depending on your home’s location.

While completing an excavation project yourself is possible, we don’t recommend it. You’ll likely need to buy or rent the equipment necessary for the job. This equipment costs as $100 per hour or $2,200 weekly, increasing by as much as 50% for larger jobs. 

In addition, completing an excavating job yourself poses a safety risk. If proper marking hasn't occurred, you risk hitting buried cables and other critical piping, like gas and water lines. Additionally, if working with excavation equipment, you’ll need to steer clear of any overhead wires. Leaving this project to an excavating professional is best.

The Columbus, MN homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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