Foundations and basements
Excavation to the engineer’s depth, over-dig for drainage and forming, and backfill once the walls are poured.
Excavation and site prep, dug to grade.
Foundations, driveways, drainage and rock work across the Comox Valley. Locates booked, spoil hauled, site left compacted and clean.
Jobs we take on
Residential and small commercial site work. If it needs a machine and a level, ask.
Driveways and gravel
Strip, sub-base, crusher dust and compaction, with crown and ditching so water leaves the surface.
Trenching and drainage
Perimeter drains, water and power trenches, and French drains for yards that hold water.
Lot clearing
Stumps, brush and topsoil stripped and stockpiled, ready for a builder or a surveyor.
Rock walls and retaining
Stacked boulder walls set on a proper base, with drain rock and filter fabric behind.
Grading and landscaping prep
Final grades that slope away from the house, topsoil spread and ready for planting or seed.
Dig calculator
Enter the size of the hole. We’ll draw the cut and work out how much material comes out and how many loads it takes to haul.
- In the ground
- 259.2 m³
- Once dug out
- 350.0 m³
- Truckloads
- 39
Soil grows when it’s dug. Clay and till bulks up by about 35%. Truck capacities are approximate; real loads are limited by weight.
Equipment
A sample fleet for a business this size. The right machine depends on access, soil and what’s underground.
| Machine | Size | Best for | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini excavator | 3.5 tonne | Trenches, footings, tight backyards | Through a 1.8 m gate |
| Excavator | 21 tonne | Basements, rock, large lots | Needs a lowbed and a clear approach |
| Compact track loader | 4 tonne | Grading, gravel spreading, cleanup | Light on finished surfaces |
| Plate compactor and roller | Walk-behind | Driveway base, trench backfill | Anywhere |
| Tandem dump truck | About 9 m³ | Hauling spoil, delivering gravel | Firm, wide driveway |
No bucket goes in until the locates are back
In British Columbia, buried gas, power and phone lines are marked through BC 1 Call before digging. We submit the request and work around the marks.
From quote to compacted
Every job runs in this order.
Site visit
Walk the lot, check access for the machines and look at the plans.
Quote and locates
A written price per job or per hour, and the locate request sent.
Dig and haul
Cut to depth with a laser level, spoil loaded and hauled the same day.
Grade and compact
Base material placed in lifts and compacted, slopes set for drainage.
Final walk
Check the grades with you and leave the site swept and safe.
Common questions
Do you work in winter?
Yes, with care. Heavy rain can stop work on clay sites to avoid damaging the subgrade, and we’ll tell you before we mobilize.
What do you do with the dirt?
Clean fill can stay on site for backfill or landscaping. The rest is hauled to an approved site, and the cost is in your quote.
Will the machines wreck my lawn or driveway?
We plan the access route first and use mats or plywood over finished surfaces where needed.
Where do you work?
Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland and the surrounding Comox Valley, plus Campbell River for larger jobs.
Request a site visit
On a live site, your calculator numbers go with this request so the estimate starts from your measurements.
Your dig
12 × 9 m, 2.4 m deep, clay and till. About 350 m³ to haul, 39 tandem loads.
Change the numbers