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  • Verified reviews icon14
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Princeton

Avatar for D's Fencing, LLC
D's Fencing, LLC
4.8(
53
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Princeton, NJ and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Amazing job installing wood fence. Quick response. Hard workers. Very impressed with this company, if you need a fence this is the company you should call. No talking to machines! JiI called Sunday job completed Wednesday 5 stars!!!"
  Fence
Chain Link Fences
Chain Link Fences
Aluminum Fence
Aluminum Fence

+36

1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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 N and J Hardscaping Landscaping, LLC
N and J Hardscaping Landscaping, LLC
4.8(
14
)
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 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%
11 neighbors recently requested a quote
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

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

A mini excavator can dig between 5 and 11 feet deep, depending on the type and size of the mini excavator. Mini hydraulic excavators are more powerful and can reach deeper into the earth, but electric models have a more limited range. Mini excavators over two tons in size are also more powerful and able to dig as deep as 11 feet.

To drill a shallow well, you may be able to use a drive well point. This is a tapered point that is driven into the ground. A drill bit at the end of PVC pipe may be another option to consider. A lot of the cost depends on what tools are available near you.

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.

You can dig 60 to 80 linear feet by hand per day depending on the depth. Digging a 100-foot trench by hand will take you two work days, but it can take longer if you have heavy or rocky soil. If you’re digging a deep trench or one that’s over 100 feet, consider renting a mechanical trencher, such as a walk-behind or ride-on, or calling a pro for help. 

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.

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.