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Find Excavation pros in Princeton

Avatar for Long Hill Contracting, LLC
Long Hill Contracting, LLC
4.9(
28
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Princeton, NJ and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"If anyone is looking to get grading and land level I recommend that you use Long Hill Contracting. Dave, who is the owner comes out to your home and does a walk thru. He asks questions on what you are looking to get down. He then present vision of your project with you. The projects turnaround time was very quick. He is extremely professional, project pricing is fair/reasonable and he goes out of his way to work within your budget. Thank you Dave!"
Excavation of contaminated soil
Loading truck for disposal of contaminated soil
Backfilling excavation with certified clean
Placement of clean material
Remediation complete

+45

Response time10 hrs
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Panaro Outdoor Design, LLC
Panaro Outdoor Design, LLC
4.3(
172
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Princeton, NJ and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1979

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Gino and his team did a great job!! I tried to do this project alone and realized I was not up to the task. Gino came to our home on Sunday because he realized, I was in trouble. Gino and team did the excavation, concrete base then built a beautiful paver patio well above our expectations. He was honest, helpful and charged a very fair price. He made us feel very comfortable and did not take advantage of us knowing the predicament and poor shape of our backyard was in after I tried to do this project myself. The very same day he came to assess the job, he realized my backyard needed to be fixed ASAP. Gino started up the skid steer I rented, rolled up his sleeves and said, “Let’s get this backyard into shape and then we will talk numbers. First, you need some help, then we will talk business.” I could tell he was not going to rip me off, but I knew he was just genuinely trying to help. He saved me form any possible flooding and drainage issues prior to when he and his team could officially start the job. He's a good man, I can't say enough great things about Gino and his team."
Pavers Down
Pavers Finished and Locked in
Gino himself putting the finishing touches
Beautiful shrubs
Another walkway done

+299

Response time1 day
Response rate88%
10 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for N and J Hardscaping Landscaping, LLC
N and J Hardscaping Landscaping, LLC
4.6(
15
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Princeton, NJ and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2004

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"Nelson came out quickly, looked at the job, and gave me great ideas and a fair estimate. The work was performed beautifully and in less time than I expected. My new steps and walk were lovely, and I never would have thought of the design myself. I am more than pleased with his wonderful work."
Response time2 days
10 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by91%of homeowners
Avatar for Alliance Service Professionals, LLC
Alliance Service Professionals, LLC
4.3(
22
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Princeton, NJ and surrounding areas

Approved (Corporate)

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I hired Alliance to complete several jobs in my newly purchased home including: 1. bringing bathroom and kitchen plumbing up to code, 2. installing a garbage disposal and faucet, 3. installing a new toilet and fixing plumbing to toilet, and 4. multiple pinpoint leaks and pipe corrosion in the basement plumbing. From the start, it was such an easy and stress-free process. Communication was constant through email and text about the service dates and ETA of the team members, which was fantastic as I was traveling back and forth between my current and new home. The estimator (Mike) was at my home the day after I made the initial call and walked through everything with me in a friendly, well-informed, and pressure-less manner. He never tried to upsell me and, in fact, helped me prioritize the most important items to address. The plumbing technician (Andrew) was at my house five days later with all of the required materials and worked for 8 hours on the various items. He even found and fixed another broken component while working which probably saved me additional stress and money! At the end of the service, he walked through all of the fixes, went over the warranties associated with them, and ensured my satisfaction before processing payment. He was so impressive that another contractor working on the painting in my home asked him for Alliance's business card. I would hire Alliance again for any plumbing need and would recommend them without hesitation to friends, family, strangers, or anyone else with plumbing needs!"
Before
Long view of completed work
Close up of completed work
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+19

4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by90%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Because decomposed granite is a durable material, a crushed rock or gravel base is optional as long as the DG is properly installed and compacted. However, installing a base is a good idea because it will ensure proper drainage and stability and act as a weed suppressant (although you may still occasionally have to pull weeds). Installing an adequate base can also increase the durability of driveways and walkways. If you forego the paver base or gravel underneath, line the area with landscaping fabric to avoid weeds.

Trenching and boring are two distinct methods for installing underground utilities. Trenching involves digging a channel using equipment like an excavator, trencher, backhoe, or shovel. While it is a simpler process, it causes significant disruption to the surface, landscaping, and surrounding ecosystems.

Boring, also known as directional boring, is a less invasive alternative that uses a drill to create a tunnel for utility lines without disturbing the surface. This method is more precise and is ideal for installations that need to go underneath buildings, roads, or bodies of water. Although boring is less disruptive, it is generally more expensive than trenching.

The best method for digging a trench depends on the scope of the project. For a short, shallow trench (less than 2 feet deep) in light, soft soil, digging by hand may be sufficient. However, digging by hand is labor-intensive, so consider the effort required. A machine trencher is the better option for longer trenches (over 100 feet), deeper ones, or when dealing with difficult soil conditions, such as rocky or hard ground, or obstructions like tree roots. A machine can save significant time and energy in these situations.

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. 

The best type of soil to build on is a mixture of sand and clay, known as loam soil. Loam soil has the best combination of these soil types to build a foundation on. The clay particles help with water retention, so it won’t erode like sandy soil might, and the sandy particles help with drainage, so you won’t see unsafe soil expansion or have an increased risk of leaks from water sitting against your foundation.

The Princeton, NJ homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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