Foundations, Basements & Building Pads in Port Alberni

What an excavation job includes

On a full job, we handle the digging, move or haul away spoil, and grade your lot when finished. We call BC 1 Call before digging on your property. We also pull any permits your work requires.

Permits for excavation work

Most structural excavation requires a permit. Inside Port Alberni, the City issues permits under Building Bylaw No. 5077. At Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek or Cherry Creek it's the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Read our permits guide to review local fees and exemptions. We submit the application your project requires.

Moving soil off your property

The City regulates soil, sand, gravel and rock removal. We review soil rules before hauling material off your Port Alberni lot. We price disposal separately on your quote.

What dig day looks like for a foundation or basement

On dig day for a new foundation or basement, we arrive early with our excavator and unload equipment right at your site boundary. We start by stripping away the soft topsoil and vegetation, placing it in a neat stockpile so you can reuse it later for landscaping. Next, we begin digging down into the hard subsoil according to the exact line stakes set by your surveyor or builder. As the bucket bites into the ground, we check the soil consistency, watching for soft pockets, groundwater seepage, or hidden rock ledges. We trim the excavation banks to a safe angle so the dirt walls stay stable while work is underway. The bottom of the hole is dug clean and level, creating a solid bench of undisturbed ground for the concrete footings to sit on. Extra dirt and rock are loaded straight into dump trucks and hauled off your lot to keep the work zone wide open. We carve out perimeter drainage trenches along the outside edges so rainwater drains away from the work area. By the time we shut off the engine, your foundation hole is clean, level, safe, well-drained, and completely ready for the concrete crews to set formwork.

What's included

• Foundation & basement excavation

  Digging to grade for a new foundation or basement, with spoil hauled off or moved on site.

• Land clearing & site excavation

  Clearing and excavating a lot for a new building pad or small commercial site.

How an excavation job runs

1. 1

   On-site visit — we look at access, soil and what the dig needs.

2. 2

   Written quote — the machine class and time for the job, itemized.

3. 3

   Locate and permits — we call BC 1 Call and pull any permit the work needs.

4. 4

   Dig and grade — we excavate, haul off spoil, and grade the site before we leave.

How ground conditions affect your excavation

We evaluate site access and soil conditions on your lot before choosing machinery. We check both on site before we quote every job.

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