What Affects the Cost of Pool Excavation in the Boise Area

If you've called around for pool excavation prices, you've probably noticed that nobody wants to give you a number over the phone. That isn't a dodge. Two pools with the same shape can be very different jobs, depending on what's in the ground and how a machine gets to it.

This guide covers what moves the price of a pool dig around Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Star and the rest of the Treasure Valley, so you can compare estimates fairly and ask better questions. For the basics of how we do the work, see our swimming pool excavation page.

Size and Depth

This is the obvious one. A bigger, deeper pool means more dirt to dig, more dirt to haul and more time on site. A pool with a deep end, a shallow shelf and a spa costs more to dig than a simple rectangle, because the machine has to cut several levels to the pool builder's plan.

The exact shape and depths come from your pool builder. The closer our plan matches theirs, the fewer surprises on dig day.

Access to the Backyard

How the machine gets in matters more than most people expect. A wide side yard with an open gate lets an excavator drive straight to the spot. A narrow gate, a tight side yard or a back lot with no gate means a smaller machine, or digging in stages and moving dirt out by hand and by wheelbarrow. Smaller machines and extra handling add time.

Things that affect access:

• Gate width, and whether a fence section can come down for a day
• Power lines, tree limbs and roof overhangs
• Sprinkler lines, drip lines and landscaping that the machine has to cross
• Whether a truck can park close enough to load dirt

If the machine can't reach the backyard, tell us early. It's one of the first things we ask about.

What's in the Ground

Soil is the biggest unknown. Clean, dry soil digs fast. Clay holds water and sticks to the bucket. Cobble from old river channels slows the dig and can make the pit walls loose. Caliche, the hard cemented layer common around Meridian, Nampa and Kuna, can take real effort, and solid basalt in parts of Southeast Boise and Kuna may need a hydraulic breaker.

Rock doesn't just slow the dig. It means more wear on equipment, more time and sometimes extra hauling. Our rock excavation page explains what that looks like. If you've had other work done on your lot, such as a fence post, a shed footing or a septic tank, tell us what the crew ran into.

Groundwater

In some parts of the valley, the water table sits close to the surface, especially near the river and in parts of Star and Middleton, and during irrigation season when the ground is wet. If a pool hole fills with water, the crew has to pump it out and the schedule can slip. Timing the dig for a drier time of year can help.

Hauling the Dirt

Dirt takes up more room once it's dug. Soil swells, often by a quarter or more, so a pool hole turns into a pile much bigger than the hole it came from. That dirt has to go somewhere.

Options include:

• Hauling it off, which means trucks, drivers and a place to dump it
• Keeping some on site to grade around the pool or fill low spots
• Staging it in the driveway or street until it can be hauled

How much leaves the property is often one of the largest parts of the price. Our dirt hauling page covers how that part works. If you'd like to keep some dirt for the yard, say so when you ask for an estimate.

Permits, HOAs and Neighbors

Pool permits go through the city or county, and your pool builder usually handles them. HOAs often have their own rules on fencing, work hours and truck traffic. A dig on a tight lot also affects neighbors, with noise, dust and trucks on the street. None of this changes the dirt work much, but it can change the schedule, and delays cost money.

Utilities and Obstacles

Before any machine touches the ground, Digline (811) needs to be called so public lines can be marked. Private lines, like sprinkler mains, power to a pool house or a propane line, won't be marked, so show us where they run. Buried tanks, old footings and leftover concrete can turn up too. Anything that has to be moved or broken out first adds time.

Extra Work Around the Pool

Many pool projects include more than the hole. Some common add-ons:

• Grading the yard around the pool so water runs away from it
• A retaining wall on a sloped lot
• Drainage for the new patio or deck
• Backfill and compaction after the pool shell is in
• Trenching for gas, power or plumbing to the equipment pad

It helps to get these in one estimate, so one crew can plan the whole job and the site isn't torn up twice. For larger yard projects, see our site preparation and grading page.

How to Get an Estimate You Can Trust

A good estimate starts with good information. When you call, have these ready:

• The pool plan from your builder, with shape and depths
• Photos of the backyard and the gate or side yard
• Anything you know about the soil, rock or water on your lot
• Whether you want the dirt hauled off, kept or both
• Your builder's schedule, if there is one

We'll want to see the site, too. A short visit tells us more than a long phone call, and the estimate is free.

Questions to Ask Any Excavator

Prices can look very different between companies, and the difference is often in what's included. Ask:

• Is dirt hauling included, and how many loads?
• What happens if we hit rock or water?
• How will the machine get into the yard, and who repairs the fence or landscaping?
• Who handles Digline and what happens with private lines?
• Is the price for a set scope, or by the hour?

Get the answers in writing, so you know what you're comparing.

Planning Your Pool Dig

If you're building a pool in the Boise area, Ultimate Excavation LLC can help you plan the dig and get a clear number. We're an Idaho registered contractor (RCE-65836) based in Caldwell, with a 5.0 rating on Google, and one customer wrote, "They do a fantastic job digging pools for us. Always flexible with schedule, professional, and great communication." Call (208) 697-2429 or request a free estimate.