Excavation and site preparation is the foundation of any new build or addition — literally. We dig footings and basements, grade lots, install drainage, remove topsoil and unsuitable fill, and prepare sites to the specifications your engineer or building designer has provided.
Excavation and site preparation is the foundation of any new build or addition — literally. We dig footings and basements, grade lots, install drainage, remove topsoil and unsuitable fill, and prepare sites to the specifications your engineer or building designer has provided.
Our crews work across Toronto and all 30 GTA municipalities — we know the local permit offices, soil conditions, and site constraints that affect your project.
Ontario One Call (Click Before You Dig) locates are mandatory before any digging. We initiate locates and ensure all buried utilities are marked and respected.
We establish grade benchmarks and excavation boundaries from your survey or engineer's drawings before any machine breaks ground.
Existing topsoil and vegetation is stripped and stockpiled or hauled, depending on your site's soil management plan.
Excavators and loaders remove the bulk of material to the required depth — basement, footings, or grade as specified.
Sub-grade is fine-graded to the specified elevation, compacted with a plate compactor or roller, and tested where required by your engineer.
Weeping tile, gravel drainage courses, and window wells are installed before backfill, which is placed in compacted lifts to prevent settlement.
Excavation for a new foundation or basement requires a Building Permit (granted as part of the full new build permit). Standalone grading and excavation for landscaping may not require a permit, but fill or grade changes near lot lines may require a Grading Certificate in some municipalities. We'll advise based on your scope.
Permit requirements vary by municipality and scope. We'll identify what's required during the site visit and advise on expected timelines.
Prices below are typical ranges for work in the Toronto and GTA market. Actual costs depend on site conditions, access, scope, and permit requirements. All quotes are provided in writing after a site visit.
| Scope | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Footing excavation (small addition) | $3,500 – $8,000 |
| Full basement excavation (avg Toronto lot) | $12,000 – $28,000 |
| Lot grading & topsoil strip | $4,000 – $12,000 |
| Trench excavation (per linear foot) | $45 – $110/lf |
| Large commercial excavation | Call for pricing |
All prices exclude HST, permits, and hazmat abatement (if required). Site conditions affect final cost.
"Professional crew, clean site, finished on schedule. Couldn't ask for more from a demo company. Highly recommend."
"Straight talk, fair price, solid work. They showed up when they said they would and left the site cleaner than they found it."
We respond within 2 hours on business days. No pressure, no obligation.
We'll review your request and call you within 2 hours to discuss the project. Most quotes are completed on-site within 24–48 hours.
Prefer to call? (343) 314-7555