North Liberty · Coralville · Iowa City · Tiffin · Solon

Excavation &
grading,
done right.

Mini excavator and skid loader work for residential and light commercial sites across the Iowa City corridor. Precision digging, foundation prep, final grading, and yard leveling that drains the way it's supposed to.

Dirt work,
start to finish.

From clearing a rough lot to grading the final yard before seed, we handle every dirt-moving step in between. One crew, one call, no chasing subs.

Mini Excavator Work

Tight-access digging where the big iron can't go. Trenching, stump removal, post holes, utility prep, and small site work. From $150/hr with operator.

Skid Loader Work

Material handling, grading, pad prep, and lot work. Fast and surgical around finished landscapes. From $135/hr with operator.

Foundation & Basement Prep

Excavation for new builds, additions, and walkouts. Backfill and compaction once the foundation is in. Done right so settlement isn't your problem later.

Final Grading

The grade between rough dirt and finished yard. Proper slope away from the foundation, smooth transitions, ready for seed or sod. From $1,200.

Yard Leveling & Resloping

Got a yard that holds water, slopes the wrong way, or sits unevenly? We fix it. Common on older lots and homes built on fill. From $650.

Topsoil Spread & Grade

Bring in topsoil, spread it to a workable depth, and grade it ready for seed. Hauled in our own trucks, no waiting on third parties. From $750.

Driveway Excavation & Regrade

Excavation and base prep for new driveways, or regrading and gravel install on existing ones. Rural driveways are a specialty. From $500.

Retaining Wall Prep

Excavation, base prep, and grade for retaining walls. We get it ready so the wall sits level and lasts. From $750.

Real numbers.
No runaround.

Starting prices for excavation and grading work. Final pricing depends on site access, scope, and material — but you'll never get a vague answer. Free on-site estimate with a written quote within 24 hours.

Mini excavator work (with operator)From $150/hr
Skid loader work (with operator)From $135/hr
Yard leveling / reslopingFrom $650
Drainage correction gradeFrom $850
Final grade (new construction)From $1,200
Topsoil spread & gradeFrom $750
Driveway regrading & gravelFrom $500
Foundation / basement prepFrom $3,500
Lot clearing (light)From $1,200
Retaining wall prepFrom $750
Water service line workFrom $2,200
Sewer line excavationFrom $2,800
Dirt / debris haul-offFrom $225/load
Topsoil delivery & spreadFrom $55/yd
Gravel delivery & spreadFrom $65/yd
Fill dirt (supply & place)From $45/yd

Hourly work has a 2-hour minimum. Hauling done with our own trucks — no waiting on third-party haulers.

More than
a guy with a machine.

Plenty of folks own a mini excavator. Few of them grade for drainage, document the work, or pick up the phone when something comes up.

We grade for water.

Every grade we do is checked for drainage. Slope away from foundations, swales where they need to go, and no low spots that hold water.

Real equipment, real operators.

Mini excavator, skid loader, dump trailer, and grade instruments. We're not renting on the fly. The crew that bids the job is the crew that does the job.

One call covers it.

Excavation, grading, topsoil, seed — we handle the whole sequence. You're not coordinating four different contractors.

Photo updates, always.

Before and after photos on every job. You see exactly what got done, even if you weren't there to watch it happen.

Licensed & insured.

General liability and workers comp on every crew member. Certificate of insurance sent before we start work.

Local crew, local prices.

We're based in North Liberty and we work the corridor. No long-distance markups, no traveling crews charging mileage.

Things people ask
before they call.

Quick answers to what comes up most. Got a question that's not here? Text Craig at (319) 430-6779.

How much does excavation cost in Iowa?

Mini excavator work starts at $150/hr with operator, two-hour minimum. Skid loader is $135/hr. Project pricing varies by scope — a foundation prep runs $3,500+, a small drainage trench might be $850, a yard leveling job starts at $650. Free on-site estimate gets you a written quote within 24 hours.

Do you do small jobs or just big ones?

Both. Plenty of contractors won't touch a half-day job — we do. Drainage trench, post holes, stump removal, a single yard regrade. If it needs a machine, we can probably help.

What's the difference between rough grading and final grading?

Rough grading shapes the dirt to general elevation and drainage. Final grading is the last pass before seed or sod — smooth, even, sloped away from the house, free of rocks and debris. Most builders leave you with rough. We do final.

Can you fix a yard that holds water?

Usually, yes. It's normally a grading problem, a drainage problem, or both. We'll walk the yard, find the low spots and the source, and quote the fix. Sometimes it's a regrade, sometimes it's a French drain, sometimes both.

How fast can you get out there?

Estimates are usually scheduled within 2–3 business days. Once you're scheduled, most residential excavation and grading jobs happen within 2–4 weeks depending on the season. Spring and fall are busiest.

Do you haul dirt away?

Yes. We have our own dump trailer and trucks, so we don't have to wait on third-party haulers. Haul-off starts at $225/load.

Where do you work?

North Liberty, Coralville, Iowa City, Tiffin, Solon, and the surrounding Johnson County corridor. If you're not sure if you're in our area, just ask.

Excavation across
the Iowa City corridor.

North Liberty Coralville Iowa City Tiffin Solon Swisher Shueyville Oxford Hills Johnson County

Need a hole dug,
a yard graded,
or a problem fixed?

Free on-site estimate, written quote within 24 hours, and a real person answering the phone. Tell us what you need.

Get a Free Estimate →