The pool builder finished and left the spoil. The landscaper ran out of room. Years of mulch and topsoil have piled up against the siding. We take out the dirt that doesn't belong and haul it away, even from backyards a truck can't reach.
Dirt Removal in Boise When the Pile Isn't Yours
A lot of the dirt removal calls we get have nothing to do with our own digging. Someone else did the work, the job is done, and there's a pile of soil on the side yard that nobody included in the bid. Other calls come from homeowners who never dug anything, but the yard has slowly built up higher than it should be.
We remove dirt from homes and properties in Boise, Meridian, Star, Eagle, Kuna and Nampa. These jobs tend to be smaller and tighter than a haul off a construction site. The dirt is in a finished yard, close to a house, a fence or a patio, and the goal is to get it out without leaving a bigger mess than the one we came for.
Leftover Dirt From Someone Else's Project
You don't need us to have done the digging. We regularly clean up after:
- Pool builders who dig the hole and leave the spoil. For a new pool, see our swimming pool excavation page.
- Landscapers who cut in a patio or paver area and stacked the soil out of the way
- DIY projects like a sunken fire pit, a shed pad, or a trench that made more dirt than expected
- Plumbers and electricians who left a trench pile after the inspection
Tell us who did the work and roughly when. Fresh spoil is loose and loads fast. A pile that's sat through a winter has settled and grown weeds, and it may need to be broken up first. Before you call us, it's worth reading the other contractor's bid. Sometimes hauling the spoil was included and just hasn't been scheduled yet.
When the Grade Is Too High Against the House
This is one of the most common problems we see in older Boise neighborhoods and in subdivisions that are fifteen or twenty years old. Bark, topsoil and new flower beds get added every few years, and the ground creeps up the foundation until it's touching the siding.
Soil against siding holds moisture, invites insects and can let water into the wall or crawlspace. The building code calls for at least 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet away from the house. We dig the grade back down along the foundation, haul off the extra, and reshape the slope so water runs away. If the yard needs more than that, our grading and leveling and drainage solutions pages cover the bigger fixes.
A few signs the grade has crept too high: bark or dirt touching the bottom of the siding, a foundation you can no longer see, window well tops sitting level with the dirt around them, or a damp, musty crawlspace. Planting beds along the house are usually the highest spot, since they get a fresh layer every spring. If you have shrubs there you want to keep, tell us before we start so we can dig around them.
Taking Out Old Berms and Raised Beds
Berms were popular in Meridian and Eagle subdivisions for years. Now a lot of owners want the space back for a flat lawn, a shop or a pickleball court. Old raised garden beds and planter boxes are similar: the frames rot and the soil stays.
A berm has more dirt in it than it looks. We cut it down, pull the shrubs and roots, and haul the soil. Sprinkler lines usually run through berms, so mark what you know about before we start. If you want the area reshaped rather than flattened, see landscape contouring.
Getting Dirt Out of a Tight Backyard
Plenty of Treasure Valley lots have a single side gate and a 5 foot setback between houses. We bring smaller equipment through the gate, move the dirt to the driveway or street, and load the truck there. Sometimes a fence panel has to come off for a day.
We lay out the route ahead of time to stay off septic tanks, sprinkler heads, AC units and soft lawn. Plywood or mats go down over grass we have to cross. In an HOA, check rules on trucks and work hours. If the dirt has to come out by hand to a wheelbarrow in one spot, like under a deck or beside a window well, we'll tell you that up front.
What We Need to Price Dirt Removal
- Photos of the pile or the area that's too high, with something for scale
- A rough size, like length, width and height
- What's in it, such as clean soil, sod, roots, rock or bark
- Gate width and the path to the street
Clean dirt costs less to get rid of than dirt mixed with roots or rock. For large volumes that need to go a long way, see our dirt hauling page. Photos are usually enough for a rough idea. Before giving a firm price, Tanner will want to walk the path from the pile to the street and see where the truck will sit. If you'd like to keep some soil for a garden bed or a low spot, say so, and we'll leave it instead of hauling all of it.
Why Homeowners Call Us
We're an Idaho registered contractor (RCE-65836) with a 5.0 rating on Google. Reviews mention that we value communication and arrive on time, which matters when a crew is working in your backyard. Call (208) 697-2429 or request a free estimate.
