CANBERRA EXCAVATING

Residential Excavation

Do you service all suburbs across Canberra and the ACT for residential excavation?

Yes—our crews cover Canberra and surrounding ACT regions for driveways, house pads, pools, and landscaping cuts.

What’s involved in preparing a house pad?

Survey to levels, site cut, compaction of subgrade, base import if needed, proof roll, and certification where required.

Can you work on narrow suburban blocks with tight access?

We run mini excavators and posi-tracks for tight sites, plus hand work where necessary to protect fences and services.

Will you remove and dispose of spoil from my backyard dig?

Yes—cart-away, tipping fees and recycling are itemised in your quote so you know the full cost up front.

Do you coordinate with my builder or landscaper?

Absolutely. We align dates, levels and scope so the site is build-ready when other trades arrive.

Commercial Excavation

What commercial projects do you handle in Canberra?

Car parks, retail/industrial pads, bulk earthworks, services trenching, and civil packages for new builds.

Can you meet strict programme milestones and night works?

Yes—we plan shifts, traffic control and staging to hit milestones while minimising disruption.

Do you provide method statements and SWMS?

We supply site-specific SWMS, environmental plans, and QA documentation before works commence.

Can you scale up for larger excavations?

We deploy multiple machines, truck fleets and operators to meet volume and timeline targets.

How do you manage on-site coordination with other contractors?

A dedicated site supervisor runs daily pre-starts, coordinates interfaces and keeps the programme on track.

Land Clearing & Grubbing

Do you offer land clearing in Canberra and the ACT?

Yes—vegetation clearing, stump/root grubbing, mulching and haul-off with erosion controls in place.

How do you handle stumps and root systems?

We grub to required depth, backfill/compact, and dispose or mulch biomass per environmental guidelines.

Can you chip or mulch cleared vegetation on site?

Where suitable, we mulch and either remove material or stockpile for your landscaping use.

Will you obtain permits for tree removal?

We guide you on ACT approvals; if permits are needed, we can assist with documentation and timing.

How do you protect neighbouring properties during clearing?

Exclusion zones, spotters, sediment fencing, and dust suppression keep neighbours safe and clean.

Can land clearing be bundled with demolition and site cuts?

Yes—packaging services often reduces total cost and shortens your project timeline.

Demolition & Site Preparation

Do you provide small-scale residential demolition?

Yes—sheds, garages, slabs and minor structures with waste segregation and licensed disposal.

How do you ensure safe demolition near existing homes?

Isolation of services, protective hoardings, machine selection for reach, and staged dismantling.

Will you remove old concrete driveways?

We saw-cut, break, load out and recycle concrete where possible; then prepare the subgrade for replacement.

Can you handle asbestos if discovered?

If suspect materials appear, we pause, arrange testing and coordinate licensed removal before works resume.

What’s included in site prep after demo?

Debris removal, rough and final trim to levels, compaction, and sediment controls ready for the next trade.

Site Cuts, Excavating & Grading

What’s a site cut and why is it important?

A site cut shapes the block to design levels for slabs, drainage and access—getting this right prevents future issues.

How do you maintain accurate levels?

GPS/laser guidance, string lines and checks by a competent operator ensure design tolerances are met.

Do you handle cut-and-fill balancing?

Yes—we optimise on-site material to minimise cart-away/import and reduce project costs.

Can you create benched levels on sloping sites?

We bench, batter and compact to engineered specs, including retaining interfaces if required.

What finish do you leave after grading?

A clean, compacted surface to plan levels with smooth transitions to adjoining areas.

Drainage, Stormwater & Utilities

Do you install stormwater pits and pipes?

Yes—trenching, pit installation, pipe laying to grade, backfill, compaction and surface reinstatement.

Can you dig trenches for power, water, gas and comms?

We trench to specified depths, separations and warning tapes, then backfill and compact to spec.

How do you set falls to ensure proper drainage?

Laser levels and grade stakes ensure compliant falls from hardstands, roofs and paved areas.

Will you manage sediment and silt control?

We install silt fences, inlet protections and stabilised entries per site conditions and ACT requirements.

Can drainage be completed before slab works?

Yes—early drainage ensures a dry, stable platform and reduces weather delays.

Trenching & Civil Works

Do you provide service trenching for new builds?

Absolutely—single and multi-service trenches with marker tapes and as-built records if required.

How do you cross driveways or roads?

Saw-cut, excavate, sleeve/pipe, backfill to compaction specs and reinstate pavement to council standards.

Can you install culverts or headwalls?

Yes—civil drainage structures, culverts and headwalls with formwork, pour and finishing.

Do you offer backfill compaction testing?

We can arrange density tests and provide compaction certificates.

How are unknown services managed during trenching?

Dial Before You Dig, service plans, potholing and hand-digging near known/unknown utilities.

Rock Excavation & Soil Management

What if you hit rock on my Canberra site?

We assess hardness and choose rock breaker, ripper or saw. Variations are discussed before proceeding.

Do rock conditions change pricing?

Yes—rock excavation is billed by method/time. We outline rates and triggers in your quote.

How is spoil classified and disposed?

Clean fill, VENM/ENM and contaminated materials are separated and taken to licensed facilities.

Can you reuse excavated soil on site?

Where suitable, we regrade and compact on site to reduce import costs and truck movements.

Do you provide import of select fill or road base?

Yes—supply and place to engineering specs with proof rolling.

Erosion, Sediment & Environmental Compliance

What environmental controls do you put in place?

Silt fences, check dams, stabilised site entries, dust control, and waste segregation.

How do you manage dust in dry, windy conditions?

Water carts, misting, stockpile covers and staged excavation reduce airborne dust.

Do you handle contaminated soils?

We arrange testing, containment and removal via licensed facilities, with tracking documentation.

Can you work near waterways or sensitive areas?

Yes—with additional controls and monitoring to meet environmental approvals.

Will you provide environmental plans if needed?

We can supply site-specific environmental management plans on request.

Access, Traffic & Logistics

How do you manage site access on tight streets?

Smaller plant, spotters, timed deliveries and traffic control to keep neighbours safe and happy.

Can heavy vehicles access my property?

We assess pavements, verge strength and turning radii; if needed we lay temporary mats or ramps.

What about parking and laydown areas?

We designate loading zones, stockpile areas and haul routes to keep works efficient and tidy.

Do you provide traffic control in Canberra?

Yes—plans, signage and accredited controllers where required by council or road authorities.

How do you protect driveways and kerbs?

Edge protection, timber mats and careful machine selection prevent damage during movements.

Pricing, Quotes & Contracts

Are quotes free?

Yes—free, no-obligation quotes with clear inclusions/exclusions and optional alternates.

What affects excavation pricing most?

Access, soil/rock conditions, volume, cart-away, service relocations, drainage scope and program.

Do you offer fixed-price or hourly rates?

We provide both; fixed where scope is defined, hourly/dayworks for variable conditions.

How do variations get handled?

Identified early, priced transparently, and approved in writing before extra work proceeds.

What payment terms do you offer?

Milestone or progress claims for larger jobs; standard terms outlined in your proposal.

Scheduling, Permits & Timelines

How soon can you start my excavation?

After site assessment and approvals, small jobs can begin within typical lead times—weather permitting.

Do you help with ACT permits and approvals?

We guide you on required approvals and coordinate with your certifier, builder or designer.

What if weather delays occur?

We resequence tasks, protect the site, and keep you updated with a revised programme.

Can you work to builder-critical dates?

Yes—our supervisors coordinate labour and plant to meet slab, frame and services milestones.

How long do typical residential digs take?

1–3 days for small trenches/cuts; larger pads or combined scopes may run several days to two weeks.

Safety, Insurance & Quality Assurance

Are you fully insured for excavation works?

Yes—public liability and plant insurance, with certificates available on request.

What safety processes do you follow on site?

Daily pre-starts, SWMS, utility locates, exclusion zones, and competent operators on every machine.

Do you provide quality documentation?

On request we deliver compaction results, as-builts and completion photos for your records.

How do you protect existing services?

Dial Before You Dig, potholing, and hand-digging near services; non-destructive vacuum where needed.

Who is my main contact during the job?

A dedicated site supervisor or project manager provides daily updates and is your single point of contact.

Customer Experience & Aftercare

Will you leave my site tidy?

Yes—we remove debris, trim surfaces and clean haul routes so the area is usable for the next trade.

Do you offer advice for the next construction stage?

We provide handover notes on levels, compaction, drainage and access to help your builder hit the ground running.

Can you return for minor touch-ups?

If settlement or access changes occur, we can revisit to rectify agreed items.

How do I book a quote?

Call our Canberra team or submit your details online; we’ll arrange a site visit and itemised proposal.

Do you work Saturdays?

Saturday work is available by arrangement, subject to local noise regulations and site access.