Excavation & Site Preparation
Excavation and Site Prep for North Idaho’s Custom Homes, Lake Cabins, and Commercial Sites
From foundation excavation on flat valley lots to lakefront cabin tear-downs and small commercial pads, we prep the ground across Kootenai and Bonner Counties.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
BBB Accredited
Family & Veteran Owned
Who We Serve
Property owners, custom builders, and developers building from scratch on residential or small commercial sites.
Problems we solve
We prep house sites and small commercial pads from clearing to finish grade, set up so the concrete, framing, and finish trades have a clean foundation to land on.
More Than 70% of Kootenai County Jobs Are Tied to Construction
From custom homes in Hayden Lake to lake cabin tear-downs in Bayview, North Idaho’s growth runs on what happens beneath the slab. Quality has to start from the ground up. We’ve spent 35+ years on civil construction sites making sure what’s underneath supports what’s built on top, residential or commercial.
How Our Site Prep Work Breaks Down
From a single pole barn pad to a full custom home site, here’s the work we handle most.
Custom Home Site Prep
Full site preparation for residential custom builds, from clearing to finish grade.
Foundation excavation and dig-outs
Grading, pad prep, and rough-in
Utility trenching coordinated with the build schedule
Lake Cabin Teardown & Rebuild
Demolition, haul-off, and site prep for property owners replacing older lake cabins with new builds.
Existing structure demolition and removal
Septic location assessment and rework where needed
Tilt rotator precision for steep lakefront lots
Outbuilding & Pole Barn Pads
Pad and grade work for shops, pole barns, and outbuildings on rural and residential properties.
Compacted pad construction to engineering specs
Site drainage and grading
Coordination with framing or steel crew schedules
Small Commercial Site Work
Site prep for small commercial pads, contractor yards, and light industrial builds.
Pad and grade work for retail, office, or light industrial
Public works licensed for permitted commercial sites
Utility trenching for new commercial connections
We Work Across North Idaho
We’re based in Athol and serve Kootenai and Bonner Counties, with regular projects in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Bayview, Spirit Lake, and the smaller communities between. For projects outside our usual coverage area, give us a call and we’ll talk through it.
Most Excavation Calls Sound Like One of These
Most excavation calls fall into one of these situations. If yours does, we’ve handled it before.
You’re Building a Custom Home and Need a Reliable Site Prep Crew
The architect’s done, the plans are stamped, and the build schedule is set. You need a site prep crew that shows up when scheduled, finishes to the standard the next trade can land on, and doesn’t leave your foundation guy waiting on a Monday morning.
You’re Tearing Down an Old Lake Cabin to Build New
Your property has the lake. The 1960s cabin is past saving. You need someone who can demo, haul off, prep the new site, and think through septic location all in one engagement.
You’re a Builder Looking for a Reliable Sub
You need a site prep crew that holds the build schedule, hands off a clean foundation, and communicates when something on the property changes the plan. We’ve worked behind enough builders to know what makes their job easier.
You’re Adding a Shop, Barn, or Outbuilding
You’re done sharing your garage with three projects and a tractor. You’ve got the building plans and the location. You need the pad work, the drainage, and the access road handled right.
You Have a Steep, Tight, or Lakefront Lot
Your lot has a slope, a setback, or a shoreline that calls for specialized equipment and careful access. The tilt rotator on our excavator is built for this kind of terrain.
You’re Planning a Small Commercial Build
A retail pad, contractor yard, or light industrial site that needs proper site prep, utilities, and grading. We bid on small commercial work and hold a public works license for permitted jobs.
What Others Say About Us
Excavation Questions We Hear on Every First Call
How long does a typical site prep take?
Standard residential site prep takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on lot conditions, scope, and how much utility work is involved. Lakefront and steep lots usually take longer because of access and grading complexity. You’ll get a clear timeline in the written quote.
Do you handle utility trenching as part of the site prep?
Yes. Water, electrical, and sewer trenching for new builds is part of most site prep packages. We coordinate with the builder’s schedule so the trades following us aren’t waiting on open trenches.
Can you handle steep, tight, or lakefront lots?
Yes. Our excavator runs a tilt rotator, which makes precision work possible on steep slopes and tight lakefront properties. We’ve built our residential capability around the lots that need careful access and finish.
What's actually included in a custom home site prep?
A typical custom home site prep includes clearing, foundation excavation, grading and pad prep, utility trenching, and finish grade. We can also coordinate the septic install if it’s part of the project. Specifics vary by lot and build, and we spell everything out in the written quote.
Do you do small commercial site work?
Yes. We hold a public works license and bid on small commercial sites including retail pads, contractor yards, and light industrial builds. Send us your drawings and we’ll put together a quote.
Can you do demolition and haul-off too?
Yes, when it’s part of a larger site prep job. Most of our demo work is lake cabin tear-downs where the property owner is rebuilding new. Standalone demo isn’t a service we run separately.
Got a Build, a Tear-Down, or a Site That Needs Prep?
Let’s Talk.
Tell us what you’re building, where the property is, and the timeline you’re working against. We’ll get back to you within one business day, schedule a site visit if it makes sense, and give you a written quote you can compare against any other bid.