Excavating contractor in Salt Lake City, UT

The deep clay on Salt Lake City's west side — Rose Park, Glendale, Poplar Grove — swells when wet and shrinks in dry conditions, which means it moves seasonally. Foundation excavation in these areas requires careful moisture management during digging and backfill, and grading must direct water away from the foundation to prevent clay from pressing against the wall. Ignoring the clay behavior leads to settling and water intrusion over time.

The Avenues and Capitol Hill have a mix of clay and rocky fill that varies by block, with some areas hitting rocky material at relatively shallow depth. This is different from the deep clay on the valley floor and requires different equipment and digging approaches. A site assessment before excavation begins helps identify what the ground will present on a specific lot.

Yes. Driveway removal and concrete breaking and hauling are standard services for Salt Lake City properties where existing flatwork has settled, cracked, or needs to come out before regrading. The broken material is loaded and hauled off site so the area is clear for new grading or construction. This is common on older Sugar House and Central City lots.

Yes. Clay-heavy soil excavated from a foundation dig on the valley floor cannot simply be spread across the lot without creating drainage problems. We load and haul the excavated material off site so the grading around the new foundation can be done with the right material and the correct slope. Dirt removal is included in the scope on most valley-floor foundation projects.

Yes. Landscaping grading is part of the work we do across Salt Lake City, shaping yards for drainage, establishing level areas, and preparing ground for hardscape or planting. On clay-heavy lots, proper grading slope is especially important to keep water moving away from the house rather than pooling near the foundation or in low spots in the yard.