Frequently Asked Questions

They dig, move and shape soil for construction and repairs: basements and footings, trenches for sewer and water lines, drainage, retaining wall cuts, grading, demolition and hauling. On a home project, the excavator usually works before and alongside the concrete, plumbing and landscape crews.

HomeBlue puts a machine with operator in Salt Lake City at about $200 to $350 an hour, roughly $1,600 to $2,800 for a full day, with hauling at $400 to $600 or more per truckload. A new-home basement dig-out runs about $3,900 to $6,900 by its estimate. Access, depth, groundwater and hauling change the total.

Salt Lake City's design criteria list a 30-inch frost line. Many neighboring cities, such as West Jordan and Riverton, publish the same depth.

Yes. Blue Stakes of Utah 811 asks for at least three business days notice, and marks stay valid for 21 calendar days. We place the request on our jobs.

For most yard and utility work it does not change much. For new foundations and additions, especially in mapped high-liquefaction areas like much of Murray, the engineer or soils report sets the requirements, and we excavate and compact to them.

Often, between storms. Frozen ground slows work, and frozen soil cannot be used as backfill. Emergency sewer and water repairs happen year-round.

Yes. Remodelers, pool companies, plumbers and landscapers hire us for the excavating part of their projects, and we work to their plans and schedules.

It can be done, but it needs an engineered plan for underpinning and support. We do the excavation in the sequence the engineer sets.

HomeBlue estimates about 2.5 days of machine time for a new-home basement in normal soil. Water, hauling and access can stretch that.

Near the Jordan River and in flat, low areas it is more likely. We look at the site and nearby conditions and plan pumps when needed.

Some is kept for backfill and grading; the rest is hauled. Hauling usually runs $400 to $600 or more per truckload in Salt Lake City, per HomeBlue.

Usually water pressure behind it, too little drainage stone, or a weak base. Rebuilding with proper drainage fixes the cause.

Many cities require one for walls over 3 to 4 feet or walls that carry extra load. We check with your city.

We handle the excavation, base, drainage and backfill and work alongside the wall builder or mason.

Often. Terracing spreads the load and can avoid an engineered wall, if the yard has room.

Not always. Trenchless lining or bursting avoids a long trench, but it is not suited to collapsed, badly sagging or misaligned pipe. Your plumber decides; we dig what is needed.

It depends on the utility. We confirm the rules for your address before quoting.

Not if backfill is compacted in lifts. We compact as we go and top-dress with soil.

Most residential lateral jobs take one to three days, depending on depth, length and inspection timing.

If water is surface runoff, regrading and downspout lines often solve it. If water moves underground or comes from uphill seepage, a drain is usually needed.

Yes, if it has a real outlet. The stone and pipe collect water that clay would otherwise hold against the house.

To a lower part of the lot, a dry well where soil allows, or another outlet the city approves.

Late summer and fall, before snow, so the system is in place for spring melt.

Usually yes. Cities generally require a demolition permit, and utilities must be disconnected first.

Older buildings may contain it. A survey comes first, and any abatement is done by certified specialists before we demolish.

Yes. We remove footings, fill and compact holes, and rough grade the area.

Clean concrete often goes to a recycler. We separate it from other debris when we can.

Compact excavators fit through openings about 5 to 6 feet wide. Narrower access may mean removing a fence panel.

A lot. Even a modest pool fills many truckloads. We plan how much to reuse on site before we start.

Yes. We work to the builder's layout and schedule.

Yes. We shape shelves and depths to your plan.