Excavation & site work FAQs

What does excavation and site work actually include?

Site work is everything that happens to the ground before anything gets built on it: clearing, digging, trenching, cutting and filling to grade, compacting pads, and backfilling when the underground work is done. If a project starts with dirt, this is that part.

How much does excavation cost in the Lubbock area?

It depends on how much dirt is moving, how deep, what the soil is like, and how easy the site is to get equipment into. Caliche and rock cost more to dig than sandy loam. We come out, look at the site, and give you a free estimate based on the actual conditions rather than a phone guess.

Do you call 811 before you dig?

Always. Texas law requires notifying 811 before excavation so utility lines get located and marked, and it protects you as much as us. Hitting a gas or fiber line is expensive and dangerous. We don’t skip it and you shouldn’t hire anyone who does.

Can you dig in caliche?

Yes. Caliche is a fact of life out here and it’s why some jobs take longer than people expect. It takes the right machine and the right approach. We’ll tell you up front if we hit conditions that change the timeline instead of surprising you with it later.

How deep can you trench?

Depth depends on the job, the soil, and safety requirements. Water lines, sewer lines, electrical conduit, and footings all have different depth needs, and trenches past a certain depth require shoring or benching for safety. We work to the depth your project and code require.

Do I need a permit for excavation work?

It depends on what you’re doing and where. Digging on your own property for a foundation or utility line often doesn’t require a standalone excavation permit, but the project it supports usually does, and work in an easement or right-of-way does. We check what applies before we start.

Can you prepare a building pad for a house or shop?

Yes. We cut, fill, and compact pads to the elevation and dimensions your builder specifies. Proper compaction is the part people don’t see and the part that matters most: a pad that settles will crack the slab poured on it.

What’s the difference between cut and fill?

Cut is dirt removed from high spots; fill is dirt added to low spots. Balancing them on site means less material hauled in or out, which saves you money. When a site can’t balance, we’ll tell you what needs to be imported or removed and what that costs.

Do you haul off the dirt you dig out?

We can. Sometimes excess soil gets used elsewhere on the property, which saves you hauling costs. When it can’t be, we haul it off. We’ll talk through which makes sense for your site.

Can you excavate around an existing septic system?

Yes, and it’s worth hiring someone who installs septic systems to do it. Running heavy equipment over a drain field compacts the soil and can crush the lines, ruining a system worth thousands. We locate what’s underground before we start moving equipment across it.

Can you dig footings for a foundation?

Yes. We dig footings and foundation trenches to the dimensions and depth your plans call for, and we can handle the backfill once the concrete work is done.

How long does site work take?

It depends on the size of the job and the weather. You can’t do good dirt work in mud, and a wet week can push a schedule. We give you a realistic timeline with the estimate, and we tell you if something changes.

Do you do storm damage or drainage repair work?

Yes. Regrading to move water away from structures, repairing washouts, and reshaping ground that isn’t draining right are all regular work for us. Standing water next to a foundation is a problem worth fixing before it becomes a bigger one.

Can you handle the excavation, septic, concrete, and utilities together?

Yes, and that’s the real advantage. One crew doing the dirt work, the septic system, the utility lines, and the concrete means one schedule and one person accountable, instead of four contractors pointing at each other when something doesn’t line up.

How do I get an estimate for excavation or site work?

Call (806) 782-5800. We’ll come out, walk the site, and give you a clear, no-pressure estimate based on what’s actually there.