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 Fabiano's Construction
Fabiano's Construction
4.8(
75
)
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

"They did excellent work , they were reliable knowledgeable professionals and were very punctual and were easy to contact throughout the entire process from quote to finish . I would absolutely recommend them to anyone needing home repairs"
decks
decks
decks
decks
decks

+6

Response time4 days
Response rate100%
6 neighbors recently requested a quote
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

Trenching is a specific kind of digging. Trenching means digging a depression in the earth that’s deeper than it is wide, often with heavy machinery. Digging refers to any kind of removal of earth in order to create a human-made depression, hole, or cut in the earth’s surface. You can dig with big tools or even with just a hand shovel.

A perc test can take anywhere from one to eight hours to complete. The total time depends on factors like the amount of excavation required, the depth and width of the holes, and whether multiple test holes are needed. For a single hole, the process of filling it with water and monitoring the drainage rate usually takes less than an hour. Professionals can often complete the entire test in a single day. While it's possible to get results the same day, some companies may take a few days to provide the official report.

Depth is not a qualifying component of evacuation. Any human-made cut, cavity, or depression in the earth’s surface is considered excavation. The hole from excavation can be any size, shape, or depth. Excavation is used to create foundations, reservoirs, drainage ditches, and roads. Long, narrow excavations are called trenches and are often used for underground utilities.

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.

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 Thornton, PA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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