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Top-Rated Excavation pros in Clayton - Updated Nov 2026

Avatar for EMC Property and Excavation
EMC Property and Excavation
4.6(
9
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Clayton, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1996

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Chris is the best contractor we have ever worked with. He removed my fathers harbor and kept us informed on progress daily. You could not ask for a more honest businessman. What he thought would only take a few days turned into many days, he never complained and we know he absorbed some of the extra cost. He and his team are the Best in the business! I would never hesitate to hire him and his ethics were outstanding. He worked hard and God bless him he got the job done .I would recommend him highly. You won't be dissapointed."
Response time1 day
17 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by87%of homeowners
Shannon Adams
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and Clearing

Serving Clayton, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

Offers commercial services

"Shannon was nice enough to fit my job in on short notice. He was great with communication beforehand, showed up on time, was very knowledgeable and made sure he knew exactly what we wanted and then delivered! He was reasonably priced, worked quickly, was friendly and helped me with guidance to plan some other projects. Highly recommended!!!"
37 neighbors recently requested a quote
Horton's Services, Inc.
New to Angi
Building Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Clayton, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumer's needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

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Response time1 day
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

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.

The rules for trenching and excavation include setting up and following safety protocols, learning how to use tools and machines properly, and ensuring there is a safe exit for all workers. Keep heavy equipment and materials away from the edge of the hole or trench. Call the 811 dig line before starting any excavation or trenching project to ensure you don’t hit any electrical or gas lines.

Prior to excavation, you should prepare the dig site and call 311 before you sign anything.

To get your site ready for excavation, you should move anything in the area that isn’t affixed to the land. You can save money on the excavation by removing hardscaping, including walkways, decks, concrete patios, and paver patios.

Before you carry out any digging, you should call 311 to confirm that there are no utility lines running through your excavation site. Skipping this step could lead to severe injury and property damage if your excavator hits a water, sewage, or gas line.

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.

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 Clayton, NY homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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