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Best excavation pros near Cortland, NY

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Verified Reviews for Excavation pros in Cortland, NY

*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Cortland, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Excavation companies in Cortland, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

Last update on August 28, 2026

Top-Rated Excavation pros in Cortland - Updated Nov 2026

Avatar for Miller Construction Group
Miller Construction Group
5.0(
32
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"????? Great Experience with Miller Concrete & Excavation We hired Miller Concrete & Excavation for a residential concrete project and couldn?t be happier with the results. Ian and his crew were professional, on time, and did excellent work. The concrete looks great and the job site was left clean. If you want quality work from a contractor you can trust, I highly recommend Miller Concrete & Excavation / Miller Construction Group."
Syracuse university
Syracuse university
Syracuse university
Syracuse university
Syracuse university

+1

82 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by44%of homeowners
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Avatar for B&D Demolition and clearing services
B&D Demolition and clearing services
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Offers commercial services

"Very professional, hardworking and productive!"
B&D Demolition
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Avatar for WoodRock Construction
WoodRock Construction
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Matt did a full septic installation on a new build house. He did a great job with the system, and gave flatter and more yard space after the system was put in. The grading and shaping of the land was superb"
Residential concrete
Residential concrete
Residential concrete
Residential concrete
Residential concrete

+16

Response time1 day
Response rate100%
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Avatar for MODERN BUILDING & CONTRACTING
MODERN BUILDING & CONTRACTING
4.0(
4
)
Excavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2025

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Mike and his team did an amazing job tearing down a couple barns on my property. They handled everything. Cleaned up great. My husband and I are beyond satisfied. 10 out of 10 highly recommend!"
6 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Lucas Excavation
3.0(
2
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"Lucas Excavation did a great job. I had a five star experience using this company. Jeff was very easy to work with. All aspects of project were done to my exact specifications."
Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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CNY Landscapes and Hardscape
5.0(
2
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"It a was a pleasure working with Jeff. He responded quickly and then came to assess the job soon after. He suggested very good options such as laying down decorative stones instead mulch. He scheduled us in and was here to do the work later. Trees were trimmed and bushes and he removed a few small trees that were not doing well. At his suggestion, we he put decorative stones instead of mulch on a large area around our house. We were delighted with his work and the finished result greatly enhances our property. Our neighbours complimented us on the look. We would definitely recommend Jeff and his company!"
Response time3 hrs
Response rate99%
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating FAQs, answered by experts

Trenching is a specific kind of digging. Trenching means digging a depression in the earth that’s deeper than it is wide, often with heavy machinery. Digging refers to any kind of removal of earth in order to create a human-made depression, hole, or cut in the earth’s surface. You can dig with big tools or even with just a hand shovel.

Most states do not require excavation companies to hold specific licenses, but many require at least a contractor’s license. Additionally, heavy equipment operators require a special commercial equipment license to operate machinery required for excavation. You can use Angi’s contractor licensing tool to confirm that an excavation company you’re considering hiring is fully licensed. You should also make sure that the excavation team is fully insured before allowing them to work on your property.

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 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.

As a general rule, the protected area should be about 1½ times as wide as the canopy of the tree’s leaves. This digging measurement can vary by tree species and the age of the tree. Of course, that can be a lot of fencing for larger trees, which is why our first step is about making difficult decisions on which trees to save.

The Cortland, NY homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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

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