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Avatar for Down & Dirty Land Clearing LLC
Down & Dirty Land Clearing LLC
5.0(
11
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business+1 more

Serving Summersville, MO and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"For the past two years, Tim and Down & Dirty Land Clearing have done my site work, excavating, and trail making. Excellent workmanship and a clear commitment to safety every step of the way. Tim genuinely cares about doing the job right. I will continue my relationship with Down & Dirty and can comfortably recommend them."
Resort building
Resort building
Resort building
Resort building
Resort building

+5

11 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for R & R Excavating, LLC - Home  Facebook
R & R Excavating, LLC - Home Facebook
5.0(
1
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Summersville, MO and surrounding areas

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

We pride our company on reliability, great communication, integrity, and quality work. We are experts in our trade and will do our best to keep you as educated as we can on your particular task or project. We look forward to earning your business.\n

Response time5 days
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

There are several methods to hollow out a tree stump, and the best one depends on your tools, experience, and priorities. Common methods include using a chisel and hammer, a chainsaw, or burning.

  • Chisel and Hammer: This is often considered the easiest approach for those with limited tools or experience, though it is the most time-consuming.

  • Chainsaw: Using a chainsaw is the fastest method, but it comes with significant safety risks, especially for inexperienced users.

  • Burning: This can be an effective method, but it is not recommended unless you can first drill holes into the stump. Without holes, the stump will be difficult to light and may not burn completely through.

A power drill with at least a ⅜-inch diameter bit can make the job quicker and easier, regardless of the primary method. While you can use a chisel or chainsaw without a drill, it will require more time and effort. Always wear protective goggles and thick gloves, as splinters are an inevitable risk.

The easier way to find buried sprinkler lines is to use the plan from the professionals who installed the system. If you don’t have professional plans, listen for running water on your lawn when you turn on the system. You may also spot wet areas, giving you an idea of where the heads are. Once you find the sprinkler heads, you’ll likely be able to connect the dots between them, revealing the system below.

Whether you grind or dig up and remove your tree stump depends on your landscaping goals. Using a stump grinder leaves the root system in place for it to decompose over time, whereas digging up the tree stump removes the roots and the stump. Overall, stump grinding is a far simpler process since you won’t need to deal with the roots. Stump removal will make your yard look like a demolition site, but you’ll have an easier time replanting in the same place as your former tree.

You should dig 3 to 6 inches deep for plastic edging. Dig as wide as you need to fit your plastic edging into it—2 inches is usually sufficient.

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 Summersville, MO homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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