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The 5 Best Excavation Services in Portland

The 5 Best Excavation Services in Portland

How We Picked

Service

Based on the types of excavation services offered and the overall quality of work. 

Equipment

Based on the types and range of machinery, as well as advanced tools available from the company.

Staff

Based on whether staff members are experienced, licensed, and insured.

Contract inclusion

Based on the terms and conditions outlined per contract.

Testimonials

Based on aggregated online reviews and the number of successfully completed projects.

Cost

Based on the company’s price structure and free quotation (if any).

1. Western Oregon Builders

Western Oregon Builders' Homepage

Services: Excavation and foundations, ADU and additions, siding, paint, railing, masonry

Website: https://westernoregonbuilders.com/ 

Address: 128 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232, United States

Contact Details: (503) 382-9621

Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:000 AM – 5:00 PM

Google Reviews4/5
Yelp5/5
Total reviews3/5
Score consistency4/5
Service5/5
Types of excavation service5/5
Equipment5/5
Range of machinery5/5
Advancement of tools5/5
Credentials of staff4/5
Testimonials3/5
Cost4/5
Price structure3/5
Free quotations5/5

Pros

  • Established in 1995
  • Has a separate division for their excavation service
  • Full-service residential and commercial excavation
  • Everything is in house from excavation to haul away
  • Has a variety of equipment
  • Assess every project for health, safety and environmental impact
  • Free quotation

Cons

  • No price structure available

Western Oregon Builders’ excavation team provides full-service excavation for both residential and commercial construction jobs. This means that they not only dig and remove all of the dirt and debris for you, but they also provide much more.

Speaking of which, their job description includes site preparation, shaping, trenching, foundation holes, sewer and storm lines, and so on. So, whatever the scope of work involved in the excavation you require for your project, it’s safe to say they can handle the scale.

The variety of equipment they have is also a plus in our book. We appreciate the fact that they own all types of excavating equipment – from heavy machinery and vehicles to small tools like rakes and shovels (which is the bare minimum anyway).

WOB also provides clients with reassurance about the safety and environmental impact of their work. We’ve learned that their every move is communicated with general contractors and government institutions to ensure the project is completed on time and according to spec.

There’s just one hiccup, at least for us, as it’s difficult to reach past clients, particularly for their excavation service. Nonetheless, we’re confident in our own observations and will simply keep in touch with future clients and their thoughts. 

In fact, we took the initiative to contact them, and we found them to be very polite when speaking with potential clients. They even won us over by taking the time to explain everything we needed to know about their excavation service.

2. River City Environmental

River City Environmental' Homepage

Services: Excavation, decontamination, septic, and disinfection services

Website: https://rivercityusa.com/ 

Address: 5410 NE 109th Ave, Portland, OR 97220, United States

Contact Details: 503-252-6144

Operating Hours: Open 24 hours

Google Reviews4/5
Yelp3/5
Total reviews5/5
Score consistency4/5
Service5/5
Types of excavation service5/5
Equipment4/5
Range of machinery4/5
Advancement of tools5/5
Credentials of staff4/5
Testimonials5/5
Cost5/5
Price structure4/5
Free quotations5/5

Pros

  • Over 25 years of experience
  • Uses the most popular method of digging
  • Provides a generally safe service
  • Experienced operators
  • 24/7 service
  • Low minimum costs with high productivity

Cons

  • Few complaints regarding staff’s irresponsibility

From small areas to large, under foundations to major earth moving projects, River City Environmental is ready for any excavation project. They’ve been doing this for over 25 years, so there’s little doubt about their expertise.

What we like about them is that they don’t just offer the usual earth moving, they also service hydro excavation. We see this as a significant advantage for them because it provides better damage and safety control when compared to mechanical methods.

On top of it all, it’s the most popular method of digging due to its efficient and accurate results, which speaks volumes about how up-to-date they are with the latest in the field.

Since it is accurate, it reduces accidents and injuries to workers and other people – a plus for safety.

Of course, we’re not surprised to learn that they hire experienced operators to operate their equipment. Unfortunately, there are a few complaints about them being irresponsible for faulty work, which just screams unprofessionalism.

They do, however, impress us with their availability 24/7, which simply means they can be of assistance in emergency situations. So, whether you’re a single homeowner, a multi-property owner, or a business owner in need of immediate excavation, consider them out.

Lastly, they offer their clients low minimum costs with high productivity, which is, by the way, evidenced by the reviews. However, there is a minor issue with some sort of material cost error on their part, so keep an eye out for that.

3. Superior Underground, LLC

Superior Underground, LLC' Homepage

Services: Excavation, drainage and sewer repair, inspections

Website: https://www.superiorunderground.net/ 

Address: 6400 SE 101st Ave UNIT 3, Portland, OR 97266, United States

Contact Details: (503) 744-6905

Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 AM | Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Google Reviews5/5
Angi5/5
Total reviews3/5
Score consistency5/5
Service5/5
Types of excavation service4/5
Equipment4/5
Range of machinery5/5
Advancement of tools4/5
Credentials of staff4/5
Testimonials5/5
Cost4/5
Price structure4/5
Free quotations4/5

Pros

  • Residential excavation
  • Popular for their trench-less options
  • Trustworthy in cleaning up after work
  • Estimates project on-sie
  • No hidden cost

Cons

  • Excavation service for commercial spaces is subject on agreement

Superior Underground is a top local choice for professional excavation services. Indeed, they have provided excavation services and quality customer service to the residents of Portland and SW Washington for over 15 years.

They are superior for a number of reasons. For starters, they provide a number of different services in regard to meeting different excavation needs. 

This includes trenchless options to address existing obstacles and preserve lawns and landscapes.

As previously stated, they primarily provide services for residential properties, ranging from thorough inspections to full repairs and replacements. So, if you’re looking for an excavation contractor for your commercial construction project, they won’t be much of a help for that.

However, they could make an exception in some cases, such as when providing construction dig-outs for ADUs, shops, and small commercial buildings. But then again, this is still subject to contract agreement.

Next, we like that they’re very trustworthy when they say they clean up after themselves. Clients, as they’ve shared, praise them for doing an excellent job from start to finish, including debris removal and hauling.

Finally, they estimate your project on-site rather than over the phone, as is customary. This is a significant advantage for us because it may result in no hidden costs, which is very convenient for those clients on a tight budget.

4. Teal’s Land Clearing and Excavation

Teal’s Land Clearing and Excavation' Homepage

Services: Excavation and clearing

Website: https://tlcexcavation.com/ 

Address:  8044 SE Malden St, Portland, OR 97206, United States

Contact Details: (541) 254-3561

Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Google Reviews4/5
Total reviews3/5
Score consistency4/5
Service5/5
Types of excavation service4/5
Equipment5/5
Range of machinery4/5
Advancement of tools4/5
Credentials of staff5/5
Testimonials5/5
Cost5/5
Price structure4/5
Free quotations3/5

Pros

  • Staff members are fully licensed, insured, and bonded
  • Consistent communications
  • Completes tasks on agreed time
  • Wide range of excavation service
  • Charge at competitive rates

Cons

  • Potential delay in going to the project site
  • No free estimates

We ran some background checks on Teal’s Land Clearing and Excavation’s team and, thankfully, they passed. Their team of operators is fully licensed, insured, and bonded, so there’s nothing to worry about if an accident occurs unexpectedly.

Their consistent communication with their clients is what we like most about them. They’re pretty much solid in digging (pun intended) into what their clients would like to accomplish with their services before starting a particular project.

Similarly to what we discovered about their staff, the majority of their reviews were about how pleased their previous clients were with their professionalism. We were actually struck by one comment about how they were able to complete all of the requested tasks on time.

They also succeeded in exceeding our service expectations. Most of the time, they were hired for foundation excavation, backfilling, footing drainage, driveway construction, and tree removal –  all demonstrating their versatility.

However, there were some minor complaints about their work, mostly about the time it took to get to the project site. On the other hand, they were praised for their responsiveness, which often compensates for the delays.

On the plus side, they charge competitive rates, and we found that they can rival the median average in the city. They also provide quotations on their website for those who want to avoid meeting personally, though there are no free estimates.

5. Axiom Sewers & Plumbing

Axiom Sewers & Plumbing' Homepage

Services: Sewer line excavation

Website: https://www.axiompdx.com/ 

Address: 6792 SW Florence Ln, Portland, OR 97223, United States 

Contact Details: +1 503-907-6044 | [email protected] 

Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Google Reviews4/5
Yelp4/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Service4/5
Types of excavation service4/5
Equipment4/5
Range of machinery5/5
Advancement of tools4/5
Credentials of staff5/5
Testimonials5/5
Cost4/5
Price structure3/5
Free quotations5/5

Pros

  • Specializes in sewer line excavation
  • Thorough and precise planning
  • Offers pipe bursting and open-top excavation method
  • Reputable excavators
  • Free estimates

Cons

  • Unknown price structure
  • Minor issues with their plumbing service

If you’re in need of an excavator to replace and repair your sewer line, then consider Axiom Sewers & Plumbing for the job. They have a team of highly trained excavating contractors and journeyman plumbers specializing in the said work.

About that, we’ve heard they’re really meticulous in their service from start to finish, making sure not to even cause more damage to the sewer. 

In fact, before the real work begins, their excavators begin by marking all utility lines as part of their thorough and precise planning.

On top of it all is their expertise when executing the sewer line excavation process. They can offer both pipe bursting and open-top excavation, giving us the impression that they can address any potential sewer problem you may have.

All of this is made possible by their staff, which is led by an experienced crew foreman. When discussing the overall service provided by the company, their clients specifically mentioned him, commenting on how kind, courteous, and helpful he is on the job site.

Sewer line excavation methods can be expensive, so we appreciate that Axiom Sewers & Plumbing provides free estimates to prospective clients. However, they don’t publicly disclose their price structure, so clients can still feel a slight concern in their budgeting

Regardless, our assessment finds them to be the best choice for sewer line excavation, especially if you don’t have any financial constraints. If you ask us, their solid four-star online rating is a good place to start to gauge their skills.

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