Top-rated excavation pros.

Get matched with top excavation pros in Thornton, PA

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your excavation project in Thornton, PA?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

TRUSTED BY THORNTON, PA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.9
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon40
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Thornton

Avatar for Pierce L Shallis Landscaping & Design
Pierce L Shallis Landscaping & Design
4.9(
326
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Thornton, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We contacted Pierce L. Shallis Landscaping after doing some research and reading online reviews. We needed landscape remediation as water was building up in the front side of our house (during heavy rain) and wanted a new flower bed as well. I contacted them and they got back to me right away. Pierce came out to take a look and after talking to him, I was confident he had the expertise to do the work. To no surprise, he and his crew did a fantastic job. I defaulted to his opinion about what plants would look great in the flower bed. My only request was a small Japanese maple. The communication was great from start to finish. I would highly recommend this company to anyone as they are both knowledgeable and professional. When hiring Pierce L. Shallis, you will have peace of mind that they will get the job done right."
Outdoor Living
Outdoor Living
Outoor Living
Flagstone
Walkway Steps

+46

17 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by93%of homeowners
Avatar for Fabiano's Construction
Fabiano's Construction
4.8(
76
)
Building Site - Preparation and Clearing

Serving Thornton, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I highly recommend Fabiano's Construction. Our experience with him was fantastic from beginning to end. The project was to restore and replace the exterior window frames of our 1830 Trinity. The previous owners had installed new windows on the inside but left the old ones outside for beauty. Many of these old windows were completely rotten at the bottom, barely holding the small panes of glass together. We got three estimates. One builder wanted to replace the old windows with a second set of new ones. Another was going to patch them up with wood filler. Fabiano was the only one who was willing to actually restore them, using green wood for the parts that were beyond salvaging. It was precision carpentry work requiring problem-solving ingenuity. The new frames and sills are green wood plus Azek (PVC), so they should last forever. Although more major restoration was necessary than foreseen, Fabiano and his crew—his son Will and assistant Simon—still finished the job in the predicted time. They were careful, focused, hard-working, and also really nice, honest people. It was a pleasure to meet them, and the result is a stunning improvement to our house both inside and out. Fabiano is responsive and friendly, an expert who takes pride in his work. Incredibly, his price was the lowest the three. We plan to hire him for another project."
decks
decks
decks
decks
decks

+6

Response time4 days
Response rate100%
6 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Three Mountains Landscaping and Snow Removal, LLC
Three Mountains Landscaping and Snow Removal, LLC
4.4(
72
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Thornton, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2006

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Mike responded immediately and his crew of 5 guys showed up within 2 days. They did an amazing job of removing trees, brush, leaves, and overall yard maintenance. I will be using them for all of our future needs. Very courteous and thankful too."
Response time2 days
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by86%of homeowners
Avatar for TerravationPro
TerravationPro
5.0(
6
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+1 more

Serving Thornton, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2025

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We hired Terravation Pro to complete major regrading work on our yard to address long-standing water diversion and drainage issues—and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, Max (the owner) was the definition of professionalism: courteous, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain his plan in detail and made thoughtful recommendations tailored to our property’s unique challenges. The quality of the work exceeded every expectation. Max completed the job himself, showing an incredible level of care and precision. He managed to preserve much of our existing landscaping, which was no small feat, and he prioritized safety at every stage. His attention to detail and commitment to doing things right the first time truly set him apart. Max showed up exactly when he said he would and charged us a very fair price - wouldn’t hesitate to use again and recommend!"
After
After
Before
After
My jobs

+15

Response time11 hrs
Response rate100%
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Davis Home Remodel and Flips
Davis Home Remodel and Flips
5.0(
6
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business

Serving Thornton, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We hired the Davis remodeling company in June to rid our property of a tremendous amount of yard debris. Larnell was quick to respond and came out promptly for an estimate. He did an amazing job, which was not easy on an extremely hot day! Estimate was reasonable and would definitely recommend! He is also a very nice and professional person!"
Response time4 hrs
Response rate100%
10 neighbors recently requested a quote
...
Showing 1-10 of 141
Excavating questions, answered by experts

Directional drilling is complex and requires training to use the advanced machinery. It can be challenging to monitor the position of the drill since there’s no direct line of sight. Directional drilling can also be more expensive with a cost of $10 to $30 per linear foot compared to $5 to $12 per linear foot for trenching. 

The average cost of excavation is approximately $3,200, with typical projects ranging from $500 to $15,000. Depending on the contractor, you may be charged between $50 and $200 per cubic yard or an hourly rate of $40 to $180 for an excavation specialist. The total cost is influenced by several factors, including the project size, the amount of soil to be removed, and the soil's condition. Hard soil, tree roots, or excessive rocks and clay can increase the price, potentially adding $200 to $1,200 to the final bill. Other factors that can drive up costs include the presence of nearby structures that complicate the work or tight spaces that require manual excavation instead of heavy machinery.

Excavation is priced in cubic yards, so you’ll need to find the volume of the area in order to calculate costs. Multiply the length, width, and proposed depth of your excavation site, then convert it into yards to get the volume. Multiply this figure by the price per cubic yard.

Most homeowners can measure by hand to get a rough estimate, even if it’s tedious. You may want to pull out a tape measure or use a string to help mark the area.

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.

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.

The Thornton, PA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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