Excavation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering excavation

Excavation is a trust-based trade, because customers hand you the ground under their house and their utilities. Win the job by showing that you locate lines first, plan the spoil and protect the trench, and then the customer can see the work is controlled.

What customers ask

  • Will you hit any of my buried lines?
  • What will happen to my topsoil and the dirt you dig out?
  • How do you keep the trench safe?
  • Will the area be compacted and ready for my build?
  • How do you protect my sprinklers, plants and fence?
  • How long will the dig take, and how much noise and traffic will there be?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what is being built or fixed, what depth is needed and where the buried lines are believed to run.
  • On site, confirm the utility locate has been completed, and walk the route with the customer, marking the cut lines and the staging area.
  • In the quote, list the depth, the volume, the spoil plan and the trench safety method, so the customer sees the whole dig.
  • Explain how you will stockpile topsoil and where the subsoil will go, and show the spoil area on a sketch.
  • Set the compaction plan for the backfill and the finished grade in writing, so the next crew starts on solid ground.
  • Photograph the cut and the grades before backfilling, and share them with the customer as a record.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of the dig in progress, with the grade stakes, the trench support and the spoil piles visible
  • Equipment you run, such as mini excavators, loaders and dump trucks
  • Types of excavation you do, such as foundations, trenches, pools, drainage and grading
  • Your service area and whether you also do grading, backfill and site prep for other trades

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a settling check on the backfill after the first rainy season, explained as protection for the next build
  • Suggest a drainage or grading review once the excavation is complete, if water is a concern near the work
  • Mention the next phase of the job, such as slab or footing work, as information once the site is ready

Licenses and permits

Excavation is commonly done under a contractor license in many areas, and foundation, trench and grading work often needs a permit. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, keep your insurance current and confirm the utility locate rules that apply on each dig.

Questions

What do I do when I find an unmarked line during the dig?

Stop digging in that area, keep the machine clear of the line, and contact the utility owner before continuing. Document the stop and the time it cost so the schedule change is on record.

Should I keep the excavated soil on site?

It depends on the soil and the plan for the finished grade. Ask the customer where they want the spoil, and show the stockpile location before the work starts so the site stays organized.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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