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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
148 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

"Matthew was professional, courteous, kept his work space and equipment tidy, and his craftsmanship was outstanding. It was refreshing to find someone that was trustworthy and knowledgeable. In addition to putting in a new sidewalk, he also fixed a crack in my foundation, fixed a sunken downspout, and tree removal. He is an extremely hard worker and cares about the quality of his work. I will gladly hire Matthew for future home improvement projects."
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

"I highly recommend Lawton Land Management! They cleared branches and brush from our yard quickly and did an outstanding job. From the first message, they were incredibly responsive and had us scheduled within 24 hours. The work was completed efficiently, and they were respectful, courteous, and professional throughout the entire process. It’s hard to find a company that’s this reliable and easy to work with. We will definitely use them again for future projects!"
Pre Removal
Post removal
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Tree experts don’t advise against digging through tree roots, but instead encourage caution and consultation with a local arborist to make sure you don’t damage the tree’s structure or interrupt its water or nutrient intake. An arborist can recommend specific practices when digging and help prune the roots or dig a trench for utilities with a tool that can remove soil without touching the tree’s roots.

Depth is not a qualifying component of evacuation. Any human-made cut, cavity, or depression in the earth’s surface is considered excavation. The hole from excavation can be any size, shape, or depth. Excavation is used to create foundations, reservoirs, drainage ditches, and roads. Long, narrow excavations are called trenches and are often used for underground utilities.

In the United States, a depth of 36 inches (three feet) for underground water lines is the accepted industry standard. This depth varies from location to location based on local conditions. In areas with colder winters, they may be buried deeper to prevent frozen well water pipes : This is usually at least six inches below the frost level. The International Plumbing Code calls for a minimum of 12 inches below grade.

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.

After you successfully remove your boulder, you have a few options for what to do to get rid of it. You can rent a dumpster if your yard has many boulders or if you’re planning a larger project. You can even save the boulder and reuse it elsewhere on your property to save on landscaping costs. A few ideas include using the boulder as a natural, abstract statue, breaking it into smaller pieces to line your garden bed, or offering it to a landscaping company that could reuse it for another project.

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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