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Avatar for Rock solid construction III llc
Rock solid construction III llc
5.0(
2
)

Serving Damascus, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Guy stayed until the job was completed, he dug out and leveled the ground for a garage. Laid in 25 ton of gravel and poured the concrete. I must say when the concrete was poured he was here until he was satisfied with the job."
Logo
Drit work/land clearing
Drit work/land clearing
Drit work/land clearing
Drit work/land clearing

+5

Response time7 hrs
Response rate88%
Avatar for Allpro Landscape Design
Allpro Landscape Design
3.3(
12
)

Serving Damascus, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 1985

"Average, they required a lot of direction and it took them several visits to complete a small job. They performed what was asked of them; however, I should have requested a firm price bid for the work since they took longer than expected.
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Before
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+4

Recommended by75%of homeowners
Avatar for Christopher Plumbing
Christopher Plumbing
3.7(
3
)

Serving Damascus, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 2000

Emergency services offered

"Christopher is excellent and has very fair prices - he goes out of his way to keep the final price in the homeowners budget. He is always there when you need him, whether it's at night or on the weekend. He's also a master plumber that does excellent work and is very friendly and easy to get along with. Christopher is able to come up with a solution to very complicated problems. We would highly recommend Christopher to anyone."
Recommended by66%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Most states do not require excavation companies to hold specific licenses, but many require at least a contractor’s license. Additionally, heavy equipment operators require a special commercial equipment license to operate machinery required for excavation. You can use Angi’s contractor licensing tool to confirm that an excavation company you’re considering hiring is fully licensed. You should also make sure that the excavation team is fully insured before allowing them to work on your property.

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.

Trenches are typically 12 to 24 inches deep and 8 inches wide. However, the required depth depends on the specific project and local ordinances. For example, a French drain may need to be 18 inches deep, while a water pipe might require a depth of 24 inches and a drainage pipe 36 inches. Your city or county may have specific regulations, so it's wise to consult with an excavation professional to determine the correct depth for your project.

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 best type of soil to build on is a mixture of sand and clay, known as loam soil. Loam soil has the best combination of these soil types to build a foundation on. The clay particles help with water retention, so it won’t erode like sandy soil might, and the sandy particles help with drainage, so you won’t see unsafe soil expansion or have an increased risk of leaks from water sitting against your foundation.

The Damascus, VA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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