Equipment across our typical earthwork scope
Most Sacramento-area earthwork jobs need a mix of machines — something compact enough to get through a gate, something with the reach to load a truck, and something to move material off the site. Our typical fleet includes skid steers, compact track loaders, mini and full-size excavators, dozers, and dump trucks, paired with the attachments each task needs. The goal is to bring the smallest equipment that can finish the job safely, not the biggest equipment we can mobilize.
Compact equipment for tight residential access
- Mini-excavators (1.5–6 ton) — fit through 36-inch to 48-inch side gates for backyard pool, shed, and trench work
- Compact track loaders — low ground pressure for finished yards, lawns, and soft soil
- Skid steers — pavement, driveways, and harder surfaces where rubber tracks are not required
- Walk-behind breakers and concrete saws — used where machine swing room is limited
- Hand tools and small dumpsters — the final 10% of any tight-access job
Larger equipment for open sites and acreage
- Full-size excavators — house demolition, deep utility trenching, larger pool removals, big tree work
- Dozers — cut/fill, rough grading, building pads, foothill access roads
- Articulated loaders — moving cleared brush, debris stockpiles, and bulk material
- Dump trucks — concrete, dirt, vegetation, and demolition debris hauled off in single mobilizations
- Water trucks — dust control on dry-season demolition and grading work
Attachments and use cases
| Attachment | Used For | Common Pairing |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic breaker | Concrete demo, pool shell, slabs, footings | Mini and full-size excavators |
| Grapple | Brush, demo debris, tree stacks, mixed material loading | Skid steer, compact track loader, excavator |
| Brush mower / mulcher | Tall grass, light brush, fire-fuel reduction | Skid steer, compact track loader |
| Auger | Fence posts, pier holes, sign and bollard footings | Skid steer, mini-excavator |
| Thumb (on excavator) | Picking debris, sorting concrete from steel, demo cleanup | Mini and full-size excavators |
| Bucket variants | Trenching, ditch cleanout, fine grading, loading | All excavator and loader classes |
How access, soil, and scope decide the equipment list
Two visually similar yards can need very different equipment. A 36-inch side gate puts a hard ceiling on excavator size. Wet Sacramento Valley clay forces tracked equipment over wheels. A long foothill driveway changes haul logistics and may require a smaller dump truck instead of a transfer. Pool removal in a finished lawn benefits from ground protection mats and compact equipment, while a vacant-lot tear-down lets us bring the full-size machines and finish faster. We walk every job before quoting so the equipment plan matches what the site actually allows.
Frequently asked questions
- What size excavator is needed for a backyard pool removal?
- Most residential pool removals run with a 3–6 ton mini-excavator paired with a hydraulic breaker and thumb. Pools with wider gate access or full deck removal often justify a larger excavator for faster break-out and loading. Very tight side yards (32–36 inches) drop the machine size further and add hand demo to the scope.
- Can you work in a yard with a 36-inch gate?
- Yes. A 36-inch gate is the working minimum for most compact equipment. We bring a mini-excavator or compact track loader and plan the work in smaller passes, with debris carried back to the street or driveway for loading. If the gate is narrower than 32 inches, we walk it before quoting to decide whether temporary fence removal is the cleaner path.
- What is the difference between a skid steer and a compact track loader?
- A skid steer rides on wheels and is faster on hard surfaces, but it tears up turf and struggles on wet soil. A compact track loader rides on rubber tracks, spreads weight over a larger footprint, and is the better choice for lawns, soft ground, and finish-sensitive yards. Most residential demo and clearing jobs lean toward the track loader.
- Do you bring your own dump trucks?
- Yes. We haul our own debris, concrete, dirt, and vegetation on most jobs, which keeps scheduling tight and avoids waiting on a third-party trucking call. Very large grading or demo jobs may add transfer trucks to keep the dig crew loaded without idle time.
- How is equipment selected for a job?
- Access width, soil condition, debris type, haul distance, and finish quality drive the equipment list. We walk the site, confirm the smallest machine that can do the work safely, and bring backup attachments rather than oversize machines that damage the yard or block neighbors.
Related planning resources
Excavation service
Trenches, footings, pool shells, utility runs, and general dig work.
Land clearing service
Brush, trees, and overgrowth cleared with the right machine for the access.
Grading service
Rough and finish grading for pads, drainage, and driveways.
Land clearing cost calculator
Estimate clearing cost from acreage, density, and access.
Sacramento demolition and land clearing
Local service area context for equipment access and haul routes.