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Avatar for Adkins Plumbing & Contracting, LLC
Adkins Plumbing & Contracting, LLC
4.5(
92
)

Serving Athens, WV and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Our water main broke on a holiday weekend and flooded the yard. we were were sure we wouldn't be able to get anyone out to look at it right away. He actually came on the holiday to get a plan together and was back as soon as the store opened on Monday to get materials. Did an excellent job running an eighth of a mile water line in a day at an extremely reasonable rate. I'd highly recommend them!"
My jobs
My jobs
My jobs
My jobs
My jobs

+47

3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by59%of homeowners
Helton Grading, Inc.
New to Angi

Serving Athens, WV and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1981

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

HELTON GRADING INC is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests and make their concerns the basis of our business.

Avatar for Adkins Plumbing & Contracting, LLC
Adkins Plumbing & Contracting, LLC
4.5(
90
)

Serving Athens, WV and surrounding areas

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We called so many plumbers and one “professional” company showed up and didn’t even bring exploratory tools. We found Adkins and they showed up with an excavator and shovels ready to find the problem in this frigid cold. They gave us a quote and started working at 4pm and stayed until 8pm to find the source of the sewer leak. They gave us a plan to fix it and a full price to which we agreed and they left for the evening to get parts and return the next day to finish the job. Couldn’t ask for a better group of guys. They were fully committed to fixing the problem and they even listened to us when we told them where and what we thought it might be. (If you’re a homeowner you know how that usually goes) They were a pleasure to work with on this repair and we will be calling them back to tackle a few more building projects. I might also add they didn’t try to gouge us and charge us for a complete sewer pipe install, like the big plumbing company tried to do."
Retaining wall and reclaim on property.
Retaining wall & Road Addition
Plumbing Project
Plumbing project -2
Patio addition

+57

4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by61%of homeowners
J&S Excavating
New to Angi

Serving Athens, WV and surrounding areas

In business since 2025

Free estimates

We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service provided to meet your needs. It is our mission to exhibit excellent workmanship and supreme dedication from start to finish of a project. We understand the needs and expectations of our customers, and take great care to work and communicate with them in a courteous and professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.\n

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Excavating questions, answered by experts

Because decomposed granite is a durable material, a crushed rock or gravel base is optional as long as the DG is properly installed and compacted. However, installing a base is a good idea because it will ensure proper drainage and stability and act as a weed suppressant (although you may still occasionally have to pull weeds). Installing an adequate base can also increase the durability of driveways and walkways. If you forego the paver base or gravel underneath, line the area with landscaping fabric to avoid weeds.

In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even for projects that only involve grading or yard leveling. Permit requirements depend on your local government and the scope of the project, but they are especially common for significant digging or work that could affect utilities or public property. These permits help protect the local topography and prevent drainage issues. An experienced excavation company will typically know whether permits are needed and can often handle the process of pulling and closing them for you. You can also verify permit requirements by contacting your local building department and describing your project.

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.

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.

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 Athens, WV homeowners’ guide to excavation services

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