Get matched with top excavation pros in Dornsife, PA

Q: How long does an excavation project take?

• <div><p>Excavations take a few days or up to a few weeks. The time it takes to excavate an area depends on the size of the area, the type of soil, the type of excavator, and even the time of year, since winter can make digging up the ground more difficult.</p></div>

Q: Will a walk-behind trencher cut through roots?

• <div><p>A walk-behind <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/will-a-trencher-cut-through-roots.htm">trencher can cut through roots</a> as long as they&rsquo;re not too thick, making a project much easier than digging with a shovel and other hand tools. Assess your terrain and the number of trees in the surrounding area to determine if a walk-behind trencher will ease the job. Digging a trench by hand is much more time-consuming and labor-intensive. </p></div>

Q: How do you cut through roots when digging?

• <div><p>There are many ways to cut through roots when digging, especially if your trencher doesn&rsquo;t seem to be removing the roots. First, use a shovel to expose the roots. Then, use gardening shears to clear out smaller roots or a reciprocating saw to remove larger plant roots. If you plan on keeping the plant, avoid cutting any roots over 2 inches thick.</p></div>

Q: Should I install an above-ground or underground wine cellar?

• <div><p>Almost any kind of home can have a wine cellar or cabinet installed. You&rsquo;ll need an area where a concrete floor can be put in, along with the necessary insulation, climate control, and ventilation systems. If you think of yourself as an aspiring sommelier, an underground wine cellar may be ideal, but it will cost significantly more. </p><p>What you choose to install really depends on your budget and how many bottles you&rsquo;re looking to store.</p></div>

Q: Why is slab more affordable than a crawl space?

• <div><p>Slab foundations are more affordable than crawl spaces because they require minimal excavation, as the slab sits directly on the ground or on footers that only sink a few feet into the ground. Crawl spaces require excavation of the entire footprint of the home to several feet below the surface. Not only does that mean higher labor costs, but more materials are necessary for the concrete foundation walls. </p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Excavation pros in Dornsife, PA

*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Dornsife, PA 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 Dornsife, PA 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 April 14, 2026

Reviewed in April 2026
Jaron and Luke did an absolutely amazing job remodeling our kitchen. They walked us through every step and were able to help with options and input when we felt unsure. If we have any other projects we will be hiring Spruce and Ember again. Attached are 8photos of our new kitchen and 1 photo of...
Spruce Ember Construction
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Reviewed in February 2026
Cory and his team removed heavy log siding and replaced it with vinyl siding transposing my home into a show piece with a backwoods setting.
Union Fence And Construction
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Reviewed in December 2025
Wes did a great job is very experienced in all types of excavation equipment. Will definitely recommend him to others.
KW Excavation LLC
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Reviewed in November 2025
New roof and gutters. They did a great job. Looks great and cleaned up very well. I would recommend them to anyone
Home Genius Exteriors
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Reviewed in November 2024
Anthracite did a great job. The floor looks great. I would recommend
Anthracite Home Renovations
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Reviewed in October 2024
Rosamber, Edwin and crew were great to work with. They took the time to thoroughly prep the home by pressure washing, scraping and sanding. They went over and above in so many ways to insure the job was done well. It’s an old house so there were certainly surprises but they fixed them and kept...
Five Brothers 1 LLC
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Reviewed in September 2024
We appreciated the wonderful environment they brought with them. They always cleaned up at the end of the work day. Got everything done fast, and the quality is amazing!
Creative Builds LLC
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Reviewed in June 2024
Ryan made my deck look like new. My house had green algae growing on 3 sides and old stains from clogged gutters. Ryan used gentle safe cleaning solution that I trust. What a relief to come home to a clean-looking house again. My old aluminum white siding was refreshed. Ryan took extra time...
Packs Pressure Washing
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Reviewed in September 2022
The men who did the work were great. They completed the job in a short amount of time and cleaned everything up. We are very pleased with the metal roof installed.
Hoosier Construction
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Reviewed in August 2022
installed leaf guards on existing gutters, Did an excellent job at a good price.
Drip Free Seamless Gutters LLC
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Find Excavation pros in Dornsife

Stemler Services LLC

5.0(

)

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Went way above and beyond! Helped finish work that was being done in our living room. Cleaned up every piece of material that was utilized and made sure that everything was 100 percent to our satisfaction. Highly recommend for any job you need accomplished as he truly does go above and beyond!"

+24

Response time2 hrs

Response rate95%

4 neighbors recently requested a quote

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2005

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I got a very efficient and professional job done. I was very happy and highly recommend them. My home caught fire. The structure was removed in less than two days."

3 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by40%of homeowners

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They are really trustworthy and they really go above and beyond to make you happy."

Response time5 hrs

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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Parmer Construction

New to Angi

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2005

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

We have been servicing central pa home and business owners since 1995. From concrete work, sewer and water lines, excavation and grading we cover it all. No job is to big or small.

6 neighbors recently requested a quote

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E&M land services

New to Angi

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

Hello All,\n\nWe'd like to welcome you to the E&M family. \n\nWe are a small Christian family owned company, we strive to not only serve our customers but also our community.\n\nHere at E&M we specialize in a wide variety of services like, brush mowing/land clearing, driveway repair and grading, excavation, and snow removal.\n\nWe thank for checking us out and we look forward to serving you!

+13

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Very responsive and quick to get quotes and work scheduled. They did a great job in not disturbing areas of property where work was not being performed. Great work with fair prices, highly recommend Dirt Life excavating"

Response time3 days

Response rate95%

Recommended by62%of homeowners

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M A S Excavating & Construction

4.9(

)

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Great service, and customer service-oriented."

Response time5 hrs

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 2003

Credit card accepted

"The crew arrived on time and finished the job in one day. The work site was left clean and I was able to begin construction on my new shed the following week.
"

+14

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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Clark Chimney & Masonry

4.8(

)

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Had this company clean/inspect our wood burning stove when we bought our house a year ago. After the huge wind storm the cap for the chimney fell off. Called around 11am to get it repairs… Chris had his crew around our area was literally there in less than 20 minutes and everything was fixed! Awesome company. Will be using them for everything."

+36

Recommended by96%of homeowners

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Rice Excavating Services (RES)

5.0(

)

Serving Dornsife, PA and surrounding areas

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"Outstanding workmanship. All work accomplished with no dilemma or delays. We will definitely use their services on our next project. To the RES. Team thank you for your dedication. Awesome work results."

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Request Quote

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Showing 1-10 of 58

Excavating questions, answered by experts

Excavations take a few days or up to a few weeks. The time it takes to excavate an area depends on the size of the area, the type of soil, the type of excavator, and even the time of year, since winter can make digging up the ground more difficult.

A walk-behind trencher can cut through roots as long as they’re not too thick, making a project much easier than digging with a shovel and other hand tools. Assess your terrain and the number of trees in the surrounding area to determine if a walk-behind trencher will ease the job. Digging a trench by hand is much more time-consuming and labor-intensive.

There are many ways to cut through roots when digging, especially if your trencher doesn’t seem to be removing the roots. First, use a shovel to expose the roots. Then, use gardening shears to clear out smaller roots or a reciprocating saw to remove larger plant roots. If you plan on keeping the plant, avoid cutting any roots over 2 inches thick.

Almost any kind of home can have a wine cellar or cabinet installed. You’ll need an area where a concrete floor can be put in, along with the necessary insulation, climate control, and ventilation systems. If you think of yourself as an aspiring sommelier, an underground wine cellar may be ideal, but it will cost significantly more.

What you choose to install really depends on your budget and how many bottles you’re looking to store.

Slab foundations are more affordable than crawl spaces because they require minimal excavation, as the slab sits directly on the ground or on footers that only sink a few feet into the ground. Crawl spaces require excavation of the entire footprint of the home to several feet below the surface. Not only does that mean higher labor costs, but more materials are necessary for the concrete foundation walls.

The Dornsife, PA 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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