What do builders ask us to do?
- Footing and stem wall excavation per structural drawings
- Utility trench prep for water, sewer, gas, and electrical service
- Rough grading to plan with drainage shaping
- Driveway and access excavation with base rock prep
- Retaining wall excavation, footings, and backdrain trenches
- ADU pad cut, compaction, and base rock placement
- Spoil management, export, and import fill
How do we coordinate with the framing and foundation timeline?
Footing excavation is one of the most time-sensitive tasks on a residential build. We schedule the cut to land within the concrete crew's forming window so trenches do not collapse, soften, or fill with water. On rainy-season jobs we plan tarping, dewatering, or rapid backfill if the forming date slips. The earthwork sub should be making the foundation crew's job easier, not creating extra rework.
How does multi-lot scheduling work?
| Builder Type | What They Need | How We Support It |
|---|---|---|
| Production builder, multi-lot | Predictable cadence, repeatable scope, lot-by-lot pricing | Lump sum per lot with defined exclusions and a fixed mobilization slot |
| Custom home builder | Lot-specific quoting, geotech-aware scope, owner walk participation | Detailed walkthrough quote plus T&M only for genuine unknowns |
| ADU specialist | Tight backyard access, compaction documentation, fast turn | Small-equipment crews and pad-ready handoff with compaction notes |
| Remodel/addition builder | Surgical excavation around existing finishes | Hand-dig and small-machine scope with protection of existing site |
How do we price builder work?
Most builder work is lump sum on a defined scope. T&M is reserved for true unknowns (unexpected rock, buried structures, unsuitable material below a known elevation). A clear scope plus a clear exclusions list beats an open-ended T&M arrangement on almost every project. Multi-lot production work usually gets a per-lot price with a documented mobilization cadence so the builder can sequence their crews.
How do we work around the builder's preferred crews?
Builders almost always have a preferred concrete crew, framing crew, and utility sub. We work around their schedule rather than around ours. That means hitting the date the foundation crew expects, communicating any slip immediately, and leaving the site in the condition the next trade actually wants — not the condition that is most convenient for us.
Who pulls grading permits?
On most residential and ADU work, the builder or property owner pulls the grading permit when one is required, since they hold the project permit and contract. We can support permit application by providing scope documentation, cut/fill estimates, and BMP plans. On larger or commercial work, the GC or civil engineer typically owns the permit path. Verify the permit ownership before scheduling so nobody is waiting on the wrong party.
Frequently asked questions
- How reliable is your scheduling for multi-lot work?
- Predictable scheduling is the whole point of working with a dedicated earthwork sub. We commit to a mobilization cadence in writing, flag conflicts early, and avoid overbooking. The trade-off is that we will say no to work we cannot reliably hit.
- How do you price multi-lot production work?
- Per-lot lump sum with a defined exclusions list and a documented mobilization cadence. Across many lots with similar scope, that pricing gets sharper than a one-off bid because the variability shrinks.
- Can you work around our preferred concrete crew?
- Yes. The footing date the concrete crew gives us is the footing date we hit. Communication runs through the builder unless they tell us to coordinate directly with the sub.
- Who pulls the grading permit?
- Usually the builder or property owner, since they hold the project permit. We can support the application with cut/fill estimates, scope documentation, and BMP notes, but we do not pull the permit ourselves on residential and ADU work.
- Can you handle tight ADU backyard access?
- Yes. We use smaller equipment, plan haul paths to protect existing landscape, and document compaction so the builder and engineer have what they need for inspection.
Related planning pages
Light Commercial Excavation
Commercial Excavation in Sacramento, CA
Commercial excavation work covers trenching, footings, pad cuts, retention basin shaping, utility trench prep, and mass cut and fill on light commercial builds. Our scope ends where licensed utility tie-ins begin, so coordination with the civil engineer, geotech, and utility crews drives the schedule.
Builder Earthwork Sub
Builder Excavation Support in Sacramento, CA
Builders do not need a hero earthworks crew. They need predictable scheduling, clean handoffs, and a sub who can hit a footing date without drama. Footing excavation, utility trench prep, rough grading, driveway excavation, retaining wall scope — across single-lot custom homes, ADUs, and multi-lot production runs.
Trenching & Excavation
Utility Trenching in Sacramento, CA
We excavate the trench. The licensed utility contractor or utility provider does the tie-in. That clean division of scope keeps everyone in their lane and keeps the permit chain straight. Before any of it starts, USA 811 has to mark the underground utilities.
Fleet & Capability
Earthwork Equipment & Capabilities
The right machine on the right job is the difference between a 2-day clean finish and a torn-up yard. Here is the equipment we deploy and how access, soil, and scope decide what shows up on site.
Related planning resources
Excavation service
Footings, trenching, pad cuts, and residential earthwork scope.
Trenching service
Utility trench prep depth, slope, and safety requirements.
Pad preparation service
Pad cut, compaction, and base rock for residential and ADU builds.
Driveway and access work
Access excavation and base prep for new builds and ADUs.
ADU pad preparation guide
Compaction, drainage, and pad sequencing for accessory dwelling units.
Contractor site preparation
Packaged demo plus clearing plus grading scope for GCs.