Frequently Asked Questions

Mostly by machine time and trucking. HomeBlue's Grand Rapids numbers show an excavator with operator at $200 to $350 per hour, or $1,600 to $2,800 for a day, and $400 to $600 or more for each load of dirt hauled out. HomeAdvisor's national data puts most excavation projects between $1,659 and $6,713. Sand that needs wide cuts, wet till and long hauls raise the total.

In Kent County, a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit is required for any activity within 500 feet of a lake or stream. The Kent County Road Commission enforces this for the county and for East Grand Rapids, Grandville and Wyoming. We check the requirement for your property before work begins.

Much of West Michigan is sandy outwash, and dry or saturated sand will not hold a vertical wall. Trenches in sand need to be sloped or protected with a trench box, especially past about five feet deep.

Yes. We excavate tanks and drain fields to the design approved by the local health department and work alongside the septic installer.

For urgent work like a broken water or sewer line, yes. Frost slows digging and makes compaction harder, so septic fields, grading and driveways are best done after the thaw.

No, we place the locate request. If you do any digging yourself, MISS DIG asks homeowners to request their own locate first.

Yes. Jenison, Hudsonville and Allendale are part of our regular area.

HomeBlue estimates about two and a half days for a typical new-home basement in Grand Rapids. Wet ground, sand that needs wider cuts and hauling distance can stretch that.

In sandy soil, walls must be sloped back for safety and to give foundation crews room to work. That widens the excavation.

Yes. We excavate along the wall to the footing, protect the trench and backfill with drainage stone after the repair.

No. We dig and backfill, and work alongside your foundation contractor.

No. Designs and permits come through a designer and the health department. We excavate to that approved plan.

Where soils drain poorly or the water table is high, a raised system puts the field above native ground. It costs more, which HomeAdvisor puts at $10,000 to $20,000.

It is best avoided. Wet or frozen soils smear and compact, which hurts drainage.

Most residential tank and field digs take a few days once permits and locates are in place.

On sandy soils, often yes. On loamy till that drains slowly, a dry well can fill and stay full, so we usually recommend an outlet instead.

Snowmelt and spring rain on till soils with a seasonal water table 2 to 6 feet down leave little room for water to soak in. Grading and drains help move it off.

Near a lake or stream in Kent County, an SESC permit may be required. Otherwise, small regrades often do not need one. We check for your address.

Yes, with solid pipe to the same outlet, as long as local rules allow the discharge point.

Yes. Both the Kent and Ottawa county road commissions require permits for driveway work in the road right-of-way.

HomeGuide suggests a 3 to 4 inch base plus 2 to 3 inches of top gravel. On soft or wet soils we often build thicker with fabric.

It depends on the ditch and drainage area. The road commission often specifies it with the permit.

Yes. We remove soft material, rebuild the base and crown the surface.

Licensed plumbers, electricians or the utility make connections where required. We dig, bed and backfill, and coordinate with them.

Below the frost depth required by the local code or water utility. We dig to that depth.

Yes. Long trenches for power and water to outbuildings are common on township properties.

In Grand Rapids, work in the right-of-way needs city permits. We check what applies.

Yes. We flag trees to keep and protect their roots as much as the project allows.

Usually, yes, and utility disconnects come first. We check the city or township rules.

We separate concrete, metal and wood for recycling where possible and haul the rest.

Yes, with the SESC permit and erosion controls that Kent County requires within 500 feet of water.