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  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.5
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon91
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Pittsburgh

Avatar for Fazio Excavating LLC
Fazio Excavating LLC
5.0(
6
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Warranties offered

"Fazio excavating is remarkable. Incredibly responsive and conscientious about doing things right. This team goes above and beyond. Easy to see they take pride in their work. Very courteous and efficient. Highly recommend!"
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+19

Response time4 days
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Premier Innovation Contracting
4.6(
32
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

We are dedicated to providing our clients with the very best in excavation and grading services. We specialize in residential and commercial services and take pride in the attention to detail put into each of the projects we are involved with. We are known for our quality work and the integrity of our business. We look forward to building long-term relationships with our clients, and guarantee your satisfaction.

Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Zingrone Landscaping
Zingrone Landscaping
4.4(
167
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 1993

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"We hired Zingrone Landscaping to remove very old, large bushes from our front yard and plant new shrubs and trees. From start to finish, they far exceeded our expectations, and we cannot recommend them highly enough! Joe and the crew were professional, patient, kind, and incredibly accommodating. They moved plants around multiple times until we found the perfect layout and never once made us feel like our questions or requests were an inconvenience. They genuinely cared about doing the job right and making sure we were happy with the result. Throughout the entire process, Joe was always responsive to our messages. When we reached out after the project was complete with concerns about watering, Joe stopped by the house to answer our questions and make sure we felt confident caring for our new plants. We've worked with a lot of contractors over the past two years, and there are very few we'd call back for future work. Zingrone Landscaping is absolutely one of them!"
Response time9 hrs
Response rate100%
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for VP Excavating Services LLC
VP Excavating Services LLC
4.4(
7
)
Building Site - Preparation and Clearing

Serving Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"VP Excavating did an outstanding job on our property! From start to finish, their preparation and clearing work was done with precision, efficiency, and professionalism. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was done right, and it truly shows. Highly recommend them for anyone needing quality excavation work!"
Site prep
Culvert pipe install
Culvert pipe install
 New Parking pad
 New Parking pad

+1

7 neighbors recently requested a quote
NTK Excavation LLC
5.0(
5
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing+2 more

Serving Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Customers say: True professional

"Owner showed up with a small crew and a crazy new piece of equipment. Excavated down below my foundation and to the septic tank. Came into the basement and jackhammered the floor. Removed all the old terracotta pipe inside and out. Installed all new PVC pipe all the way down to the septic tank. Put gravel down to protect the new pipe. Poured concrete in the basement to close the floor back up. Only took one day to get the new pipe in. Came back the next to close the ground and floor up. Great experience, basement no longer smell like sewage."
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+21

6 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by60%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

It takes one hour to dig a 10-foot trench by hand. Use a trenching shovel with a sharp tip and a long head. Plan for more time if your soil is heavy or rocky. Consider renting a trencher if you’re digging a long or deep trench or if you have challenging soil or terrain. 

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.

Trenching and boring are two distinct methods for installing underground utilities. Trenching involves digging a channel using equipment like an excavator, trencher, backhoe, or shovel. While it is a simpler process, it causes significant disruption to the surface, landscaping, and surrounding ecosystems.

Boring, also known as directional boring, is a less invasive alternative that uses a drill to create a tunnel for utility lines without disturbing the surface. This method is more precise and is ideal for installations that need to go underneath buildings, roads, or bodies of water. Although boring is less disruptive, it is generally more expensive than trenching.

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.

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. 

The Pittsburgh, PA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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