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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

19 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by92%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
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Professional installers often include a deep layer of crushed gravel under permeable pavers to allow more runoff to soak through into the soil below. Many installations will include multiple layers of gravel, with coarser aggregate at the base and finer aggregate that sits on top of that bottom layer. Above the gravel, you’ll often find coarse sand that helps reduce paver shifting over time. Some permeable paver designs include a water collection system set into the gravel layer to route runoff to a safe area for disposal.

Yes, you can excavate in the winter, but it might make the job harder. Frozen ground is harder to dig, and snow or ice can make the work site more hazardous. A contractor may need special equipment and techniques, such as ground-thawing methods, to break through frozen soil. Although winter excavation is possible, it may take longer and be more costly than excavating during warmer months.

Completion time ranges from days to weeks, contingent on project size, environmental conditions, and regulatory approvals.

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.

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.