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Avatar for Adkins Plumbing & Contracting, LLC
Adkins Plumbing & Contracting, LLC
4.5(
94
)

Serving Athens, WV and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Had a water leak in my front yard from a broken pipe. ADKINS plumbing was the only company that could come out the day we discovered the leak. Jarrod and his helper worked until 10:00 at night putting in a new water line so we could have water service restored the same day. They came back the next day and filled in the hole they dug the previous day and did their best to put the sod back in its place. Jarrod and his helper were both courteous and considerate of my property and concerns when they did the work. Their price was reasonable."
My jobs
My jobs
My jobs
My jobs
My jobs

+47

4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by57%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

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

Call 811 to locate and mark the gas lines at least three days before digging. In many areas, you can dig within 18 inches of the lines, though in some locations, the distance may be further. Check local regulations, as you may need a utility company representative onsite when digging. Document your calls to 811 and precautions taken to avoid gas lines. A homeowner can be held liable for hitting a gas line in some cases, but contacting the proper authorities and following all guidelines can offer protection.

You should dig 3 to 6 inches deep for plastic edging. Dig as wide as you need to fit your plastic edging into it—2 inches is usually sufficient.

A walk-behind trencher can cut through roots as long as they’re not too thick, making a project much easier than digging with a shovel and other hand tools. Assess your terrain and the number of trees in the surrounding area to determine if a walk-behind trencher will ease the job. Digging a trench by hand is much more time-consuming and labor-intensive. 

Most residential basements are 8 to 10 feet deep. You can dig deeper depending on building codes, but it does become more difficult. You’ll likely need to install stronger foundation walls and additional supports to handle the increased load. Depending on the water table, you may also need a water management system. Clay soil can support a deeper foundation than sandy soil. A structural engineer will be able to tell you the maximum, feasible depth.

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

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