Residential Excavation

Whether you're building new, adding on, or prepping a site for a future project, residential excavation is the step that has to happen right before anything else can. We work directly with homeowners and residential builders across Marathon, Clark, and Wood counties to get sites dug, graded, and ready — and we won't rush a step that causes problems later.

ERE Excavation | 233119 Co Rd F, Abbotsford, WI 54405 | (715) 613-0011

Residential Excavation Services We Offer

No two excavation jobs look the same — a homeowner digging a basement, a business developing a commercial site, and a township managing a public works project all need different equipment, timelines, and coordination. That's why we treat excavation as three distinct services rather than one generic offering.

Digging for new home foundations and basements, sized and graded to the plans your builder or architect has provided. This includes excavating below Central Wisconsin's typical 42-48 inch frost line so footings aren't at risk of frost heave.

Clearing, grading, and prepping a building site before construction begins — including rough grading for driveways, septic systems, and utility runs.

Excavation for home additions, garages, pole barns, sheds, and other outbuildings, coordinated around the existing structure, septic system, and property layout so nothing gets disturbed that shouldn't be.

Excavation work to prepare for water, sewer, and electrical line installation before the utility crews come in — dug to the depth those trades need.

Site prep and excavation for septic tank and drain field installation, coordinated with your septic installer's design and county sanitary permit requirements.

Excavation and rough grading to prep for new driveways or to correct yard grading that's causing water to pool near the house.

Our Residential Excavation Process

Site Walk

811 locate request

Staking to plan

Excavation

Grading and backfill

Cleanup and handoff

What Affects Cost and Timeline

Soil type — clay-heavy lots (common across this area) excavate and drain differently than sandy ground.

Depth required — a basement dig goes well below a utility trench or driveway prep job.

Site access — a wooded lot with a narrow driveway takes more time to get equipment into position than an open lot.

Season — frost depth and spring thaw both affect what's feasible and when.

Spoil handling — whether excavated soil gets reused on-site or hauled away.


A standard basement dig or site prep job often takes 1-3 days once we're on site, though larger or more complex lots take longer — we'll give you a real timeline after the site walk, not a guess.

Common Questions About Residential Excavation

  • Do I need a permit for residential excavation?

    Most municipalities require a permit for new construction or additions — this is typically pulled by your builder or general contractor, but check with your local building office if you're managing the project yourself.

  • How long does residential excavation take?

    A standard basement dig or site prep job often takes 1-3 days depending on soil conditions, size, and access to the property. Larger or more complex sites take longer.

  • Can you excavate around existing landscaping or structures?

    In most cases, yes — we can work around what's already there, though some disturbance near the work area is unavoidable.

  • How deep do you need to dig for a basement in Wisconsin?

    Foundation footings need to sit below the local frost line, which typically runs 42-48 inches in Central Wisconsin — digging shallower than that risks frost heave cracking the foundation over time.

  • Do you coordinate with my builder or septic installer?

    Yes — for new construction and septic projects, we work from the plans your builder, architect, or septic designer provides, and coordinate timing with their schedule.

  • What's the difference between excavation and grading?

    Excavation is digging to create a space (a basement, a trench, a footing); grading is shaping the surrounding ground to the right slope and elevation, usually the step that follows excavation to control drainage.

  • Can you fix a yard that's already causing water problems near my foundation?

    Often, yes — regrading around an existing foundation to correct negative slope is a common residential request. If the issue is more about subsurface drainage than surface grade, we may recommend pairing it with drain tile or a French drain.

Have a Project in Mind?

Planning a build or addition? Call (715) 613-0011 for a site walk and estimate.