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TRUSTED BY DES MOINES, WA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon69
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Des Moines

Triton Excavation INC
4.6(
41
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping - For Business

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They came to look at some work on a Saturday and just did it rite then. I wasn't expecting that so was thrilled. Did a great job on a totally miserable project, got it done quickly, cleaned up and cost was very fair. I'd recommend them in a heartbeat"
Response time2 days
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Mount Olive Landscape & Constr
Mount Olive Landscape & Constr
4.8(
59
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"I needed to stabilize a slope. Norberto presented a plan for a retaining wall and drainage that was both functional and attractive. He provided a detailed bid for labor and materials that was competitive with several other companies He and his crew completed the job efficiently while taking care not to damage existing shrubbery and ornamentals. Norberto is professional and easy to work with. He was very good about coordinating with me. I have and will continue to use his company for other projects."
vinyl fence 3
Vinyl Fence Project
Vinyl Fence Project
Flagstone Patio
Flagstone Patio

+46

Response time8 hrs
Response rate98%
67 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Gaston Bros. Excavating, Inc.
Gaston Bros. Excavating, Inc.
4.4(
20
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business+1 more

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1980

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"I hired Gary Gaston to clear my severely overgrown backyard. He showed up when he said he would to look at the job and give me a bid. I decided to go with Gaston Brothers and we set up a day and time to start the project. Gary said he could do it in one day. Again he showed up on time and started the work. I was impressed at Gary's skill operating the backhoe. That is truly a lost art. He cleared enough to fill 2 full sized dump trucks. Gary went the extra mile by leveling out the yard. It's ready for me to rake it smooth and plant grass. Thank you Gary!"
Wall project
Wall project
Retaining Wall
Parking lot
Parking lot

+52

Response time1 day
Response rate88%
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Seattle Rockeries
Seattle Rockeries
4.8(
62
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2016

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Scope of project was removal of existing concrete pavers and hemlock stump, then installing 7-9 rockery flat steps made of natural basalt rockery rocks. We were thoroughly happy with the work from Seattle Rockeries. Harry and his crew were very knowledgeable, fast and friendly. Sharing pics of before and after."
206-960-9003
Glory
after
after
after

+138

Response time10 hrs
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by94%of homeowners
Avatar for NestEx LLC
NestEx LLC
5.0(
6
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing+2 more

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

Offers commercial services

"NestEx provided a quick response for our inquiry for getting our yard graded. He provided a quality job at a reasonable price. I can’t recommend him enough. We are super satisfied with the project and will be using him in the future for any upcoming projects. 11 out of 10."
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Northern Horizons Land and Yard Restoration
Northern Horizons Land and Yard Restoration
4.5(
6
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+1 more

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Jesse is an incredibly hard worker. He removed around 1000sq ft of blackberry bushes, which uncovered lots of junk left over from previous homeowners. He was generous enough to remove the junk along with the bushes, cleaning up our yard to make it safe for the kids to play."
Before
Before
After
After
Response time5 hrs
Response rate100%
Recommended by66%of homeowners
Avatar for Kay & JM, LLC
Kay & JM, LLC
4.0(
9
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Des Moines, WA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Why can we only leave a 5 star rating? Christopher and crew exceeded our expectations for our restoration project. Our project was to replace the decorative wrap on the 16 foot support columns on the entrance porch at the front of our house. The original wrap was 20 years old and parts had begun to rot. During the bid process Christopher suggested that we replace the wooden wrap with a Hardy plank type material that would last longer than wood. (the original wood wrap was painted). During the removal of the original wrap we noticed that the wrap framing was fairly lightweight, just enough to give the wrap something to be nailed to. Christopher removed the lightweight framing and installed a stronger frame. The new wrap that was installed looks considerably better and richer. The attention to detail, down to the router work on decorative panels, is impressive. Christopher was very responsive to our questions and every day they left the worksite spotlessly clean."
siding
siding
siding
siding
columns

+28

Response time1 day
Recommended by80%of homeowners
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

The digging depth will depend on the size of the trencher you use. Even smaller units can dig up to 4 feet deep, which is plenty for a DIY job. However, much larger trenchers can reach a depth of 18 feet and are better used by a team of pro contractors, not a single DIYer. As with all home improvement projects, use the right tool for the job and proceed with caution.

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. 

No, you typically cannot use metal detectors to find your sewer line. Most sewer lines are made of non-metallic materials such as PVC, clay, or cast iron, which are not detectable by standard metal detectors. Metal detectors are designed to locate metallic objects, so they won't be effective for identifying the path of a non-metallic sewer line. To locate your sewer line accurately, it's best to use other methods.

Underground downspouts refer to the sections of downspout extensions that lead away from your home and gutter system. While they cost more than traditional extensions, they can provide several benefits, such as less frequent damage and no need to move them for lawn care tasks. Whether they're worth it or not depends on your budget at installation time and how much convenience they'll add to your situation.

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 Des Moines, WA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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