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GCA Excavating & Land Clearing
5.0(
9
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing+2 more

Serving Potsdam, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"We purchased a property that had just had a new septic tank installed by another company. GCA fixed their mess and did a fantastic job!"
Response time30 mins
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Drain Cleaners Sewer & Septic Professionals of Canton, Syracuse and Utica
3.5(
36
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Potsdam, 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
Showing 1-10 of 31
Excavating questions, answered by experts

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. 

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.

Sewer lines can be buried anywhere from 18 inches to 8 feet deep, with a common average depth between 18 and 30 inches. The exact depth depends on local factors like climate and soil type. In colder regions, pipes must be buried deeper (below the frost line) to prevent freezing, sometimes as deep as 8 feet. The digging depth can also impact the cost of sewer line replacement. To find the specific depth for your property, you can check the building plans for your system, which should be on file with your city or local sanitation department since permits are required for installation.

Whether you grind or dig up and remove your tree stump depends on your landscaping goals. Using a stump grinder leaves the root system in place for it to decompose over time, whereas digging up the tree stump removes the roots and the stump. Overall, stump grinding is a far simpler process since you won’t need to deal with the roots. Stump removal will make your yard look like a demolition site, but you’ll have an easier time replanting in the same place as your former tree.

Digging out a basement takes anywhere from a few days to a few months. Most projects take at least two to five weeks, but it could take several months if you encounter obstacles. This project takes longer if you need to brace or raise your home before the excavation. Digging out a basement in new construction can take as little as three days.

The Potsdam, NY homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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