Home projects come with their own challenges: tight side yards, sprinkler lines, fences, finished landscaping and neighbors close by. We do residential excavation with that in mind, from new home sites to backyard regrades and emergency water line repairs.
Residential Excavation in Boise
Digging at a home isn't the same as digging on an open commercial lot. There's a lawn you want to keep, a fence that's in the way, a sprinkler system nobody mapped, and a neighbor's driveway three feet from the property line. Residential excavation takes the right size equipment, a careful operator and a crew that treats your place with respect.
Our reviews say we have "the upmost respect for you and your property." That's how we try to work on every job. We do residential excavation in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, Kuna, Star, Middleton, Caldwell, Parma and Homedale.
Residential Excavation Services
New home sites
Clearing, the building pad, foundation cut, utility trenches, backfill and rough grade for custom homes and builders. A new home brings the excavator back several times during the build, so it helps to have one crew that knows the lot from the first stake to final grade. See site excavation and foundation excavation.
Additions, shops and garages
Footings and pads for additions, detached garages, shops, ADUs and pole barns. An addition usually means digging right next to the house, so we pay attention to the existing footing, the downspouts and any water, gas or power lines that leave that wall.
Pools
In-ground pool digs for homeowners and pool builders. In most backyards, access is the hard part. Before the dig date, we look at gate width, the side yard, overhead lines and where the dirt pile can sit without burying the patio. See swimming pool excavation.
Water and sewer lines
Replacing a broken or old water line or sewer lateral. A leaking service line or a sewer that keeps backing up usually means digging along the line from the house toward the street or main. We dig carefully around other buried lines and leave the trench open for the plumber and the inspector. See water line excavation and sewer line excavation.
Septic systems
New septic systems and drainfield replacements for homes outside city sewer. The work follows the layout on the health district permit. Driving heavy equipment over a drainfield can damage it, so access routes get planned around the field. See septic system installation.
Drainage and grading
Fixing yards that hold water, regrading around the foundation, French drains and retaining walls. Wet crawlspaces often trace back to short downspouts and soil that slopes toward the house, which is usually simpler to fix than people expect. See site preparation and grading and drainage excavation.
Utility trenches
Power to a shop or hot tub, water to a barn, gas lines and conduit. Your electrician, plumber or the utility sets the depth and route, and we dig to it so the line passes inspection. See utility excavation.
Removal
Old driveways, patios, sheds and dirt piles. Concrete gets broken up and loaded out, and the area is left ready for new concrete, gravel or sod. See concrete breaking and hauling and dirt hauling.
How a Residential Job Works
Estimate
You call or send a request and we come look at the job. We talk through what you want, what's in the way and what it will take. Estimates are free, and on some jobs we'll give you a few options at different price points.
Planning access
We figure out how to get equipment in and out with the least damage. That can mean taking down a fence panel, laying down mats over the lawn or using smaller machines through a side yard.
Locates
We call Digline (811) at least two business days before digging, as Idaho law requires. Locators don't mark private lines like sprinklers, landscape lighting or power to a shed, so tell us about anything like that.
The work
We dig, keep the site safe and keep you in the loop. Any trench or hole 5 feet or deeper that someone will work in gets sloped, benched or shored to OSHA standards. If a hole has to stay open overnight, we'll talk with you about kids, pets and keeping the area blocked off.
Backfill and cleanup
We backfill, compact, grade and clean up. Lawn, sprinklers and concrete restoration can be planned before we start so nothing is a surprise. Backfill goes in layers so the trench doesn't leave a dip in the yard.
Permits for Home Excavation
Small yard projects usually don't need a permit. Most other residential digging does, and the permit often sets inspection points where the work has to stay open until it's checked:
- New homes, additions, pools and shops are covered under the building permit from the city or county.
- Septic systems need a permit from Central District Health in Ada County or Southwest District Health in Canyon and Owyhee counties.
- Water and sewer line repairs often need a plumbing permit and inspection.
- Big regrades can need a grading permit.
- HOAs in Meridian, Eagle and Star often need approval before work starts.
Local Conditions We Plan For
Every part of the valley digs differently. Caliche sits under a lot of Meridian, Nampa and Kuna. Basalt shows up in Southeast Boise and Kuna. Homes near the river in Eagle and Garden City can hit groundwater and cobble. Older neighborhoods in Boise's North End, East End and the Bench have mature trees with big roots, older pipe and tight lots. Foothills homes come with slopes. We plan for whatever your lot is likely to have before we give you a price.
What Residential Excavation Costs
Cost depends on the size and type of job, the soil, access, how much hauling is needed and what has to be restored afterward. A small trench in an open yard is a few hours. A new home site happens over weeks of the build. We give free estimates in writing and explain what's included.
Why Homeowners Hire Ultimate Excavation LLC
We're an Idaho registered contractor (RCE-65836) based in Caldwell, and we have a 5.0 rating on Google. Our reviews mention Tanner's communication, quick bids, on-time crews and fair prices. Call (208) 697-2429 or request a free estimate.
