Excavation & Site Work
Our core trade. Foundations, basements, septic beds, grading and full lot clearing, dug right with our own John Deere fleet. From tight backyards to remote northern sites, we mobilize fast and finish clean.
Who We Dig For
Superior Yard Works is a Thunder Bay excavation company with 12+ years in the dirt. We are OBC licensed, fully insured and BCIN qualified, and we dig with our own John Deere fleet.
Homeowners
Basement digs for new homes and additions, foundation excavation for repairs and waterproofing, and grading so water runs away from the house.
Builders and contractors
Site prep, footing digs, trenching for services and hauling, ready on your schedule so the next trade can start.
Rural and remote properties
Septic beds, lot clearing and driveways on cottage, camp and remote northern sites.
Excavation Services
Everything from the first dig to the final grade:
Basement Digs
Full basement and foundation excavation, dug to depth and to the lines your plans call for.
Grading
Rough and final grading that slopes the ground away from buildings and sets up lawns, pads and driveways.
Lot Clearing
Trees, brush, stumps and debris cleared so a bare lot is ready to build on.
Trenching
Trenches for water, sewer, drainage and electrical lines, dug to depth and backfilled.
Septic Beds
Excavation for septic tanks and leaching beds, including shale and bedrock sites.
Hauling
Fill, gravel and topsoil brought in, and spoil hauled away, with our own trucks and trailers.
Our Excavation Process
- 01
Site visit and free estimate
We look at the site, the access and the ground, then give you an honest price. We stick to our original price.
- 02
Locates and permits
Underground utilities are located before any digging starts, and we make sure the permits the job needs are in place.
- 03
Mobilize
We bring the right machine for the job, from a compact excavator for tight backyards to full-size equipment for big digs.
- 04
Dig, grade and haul
The work is done to the lines and depths on the plan, with spoil stockpiled or hauled away as agreed.
- 05
Backfill and clean up
We backfill, compact, grade and leave the site clean and ready for the next step.
Choosing the Right Approach
Every site is different. These are the choices that change how a job runs:
Compact or full-size machine
A compact excavator fits through gates and works close to houses and fences with less damage to the yard. A full-size machine moves far more material in a day, so big digs finish sooner.
Keep the fill or haul it away
Keeping good fill on site for backfill and grading saves trucking. Clay, rock and debris that cannot be reused have to be hauled away, which adds trucking time.
Dig now or wait for the thaw
Excavation can go ahead in winter, but frozen ground is slower to break and frost has to be kept out of footings. Spring and summer digging is usually faster.
What Affects the Cost
Every excavation price comes down to a few things:
- Size of the dig: How much material has to be moved and how deep it goes.
- Ground conditions: Clay, shale and bedrock are slower to dig than sand or loam.
- Access: Tight backyards, slopes and remote sites take more time to reach and work.
- Trucking: How much fill comes in and how much spoil goes out.
- Distance: Travel time to sites outside Thunder Bay.
Honest Quotes
We visit the site and give you a free estimate before any work starts. Honest quotes, and we stick to our original price.
Excavation projects
Service Areas
We are based in Thunder Bay and we travel all over Northwestern Ontario, from tight city lots to remote northern sites. Call us for any questions or for a free estimate!
Remote sites welcome
Our own trucks and trailers move our equipment wherever the job is.
Excavation & Site Work FAQ
How much does excavation cost in Thunder Bay?
The price depends on how much material has to be moved, how deep the dig goes, the ground conditions, the access to the site and how much trucking is needed. We give you a free estimate before any work starts, and we stick to our original price.
Do I need a permit to dig on my property?
Many projects, like new foundations, additions and septic systems, need a building permit before digging starts. Underground utilities also have to be located before any excavation. We will tell you what your project needs.
Can you dig in a tight backyard?
Yes. We use compact equipment for tight backyards and spaces close to houses and fences, and full-size machines when there is room to work.
Do you work outside Thunder Bay?
Yes. We are based in Thunder Bay and travel across Northwestern Ontario, including remote northern sites. Call us to talk about your location.
Can excavation be done in winter?
Yes. Frozen ground is slower to dig and footings have to be protected from frost, but many excavation jobs can go ahead through the winter.
Get a Free Excavation Estimate
Tell us about your project and we will give you an honest price. Call or text 807-355-4954, or send us a message.