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Drain Cleaners Sewer & Septic Professionals of Canton, Syracuse and Utica
3.5(
36
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Norfolk, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We made initial phone contact and scheduled cleanout for the following Monday. I realized that was Labor Day and called them back to see if that appointment was a mistake. They realized it was and said they would contact me back to reschedule. They never returned my repeated phone calls to reschedule. I got the impression they did not want to be bothered with my septic cleanout."
Response time7 hrs
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Avatar for Twin Tier Flooring & Construction
Twin Tier Flooring & Construction
3.8(
9
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Norfolk, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Darren the owner pays close attention to the quality of work him and his crew do he's always checking everything and making his guys fox even things that aren't wrong but it's gotta be perfect and his timleyness and price are also very good and competitive"
Bedroom walls
Bathroom
Bathroom
Window Trim
Bathroom

+4

Response time1 day
Recommended by71%of homeowners
Showing 1-10 of 27
Excavating questions, answered by experts

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.

Septic drain lines (or leach lines) are typically buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and should be at least 6 inches below the surface. These pipes are perforated and surrounded by filtering materials like sand or gravel. Burying the lines at this depth helps minimize odors and allows bacteria and other biological processes in the soil to effectively treat the wastewater. Burying lines too close to the surface can cause issues unless the soil is very compact and stable.

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. 

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.

In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even for projects that only involve grading or yard leveling. Permit requirements depend on your local government and the scope of the project, but they are especially common for significant digging or work that could affect utilities or public property. These permits help protect the local topography and prevent drainage issues. An experienced excavation company will typically know whether permits are needed and can often handle the process of pulling and closing them for you. You can also verify permit requirements by contacting your local building department and describing your project.

The Norfolk, NY homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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