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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

Find Excavation pros in Cortland

Avatar for Miller Concrete and Excavation
Miller Concrete and Excavation
5.0(
28
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingLandscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major 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."
Concrete
156 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by52%of homeowners
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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%
2 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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Avatar for MODERN BUILDING & CONTRACTING
MODERN BUILDING & CONTRACTING
3.7(
3
)
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!"
10 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Avatar for Lawton Land Management
Lawton Land Management
5.0(
1
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

Credit card accepted

At Lawton Land Management, we specialize in professional forestry mulching and land clearing services for residential, commercial, agricultural, and recreational properties. Whether you're reclaiming overgrown land, clearing brush and small trees, creating trails, improving hunting property, or preparing a site for future use, we have the equipment and experience to get the job done right.\nAs a veteran-owned and operated business, we take pride in providing dependable service, honest communication, and quality workmanship on every project. Our forestry mulching process efficiently clears unwanted vegetation while leaving behind a natural layer of mulch, eliminating the need for burning or large debris piles.\n\n

Pre Removal
Post removal
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Avatar for Storanini Property Services
Storanini Property Services
3.0(
2
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Cortland, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Mr. Stornini got rid of a medium sized tree in my backyard. He was easy to communicate with and did a good job ??"
Seasonal Clean up
Seasonal Clean up
Bush Trimming
Bush Trimming
Bush Trimming

+10

12 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Excavation and grading are both generally necessary for designing your foundation, and leveling the ground where your foundation will go. These steps can also prepare the area by removing vegetation and anything else that could interfere with your home’s foundation.

It can take several weeks for the ground to settle after removing a tree, and the soil under larger, more mature trees can take months. The deeper the tree has been ground under the soil, the longer it will take to settle. However, this extra depth can help you plant new landscaping sooner because you’ll have more space for fresh soil.

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.

If you don’t wish to dig it out and convert it into a finished basement, you can still encapsulate your crawl space to protect it from damage for an average cost of $5,500. Finishing a crawl space beyond this isn’t really worthwhile, as the low ceilings mean you won’t be able to use the area as living space.

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 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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