Answers
Excavation Questions, Answered
The questions CT property owners ask us most about excavation, grading, drainage, and septic work — with straight answers from our team.
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Absolutely. Roberts Excavations holds Connecticut License #123456 and carries both general liability and workers' compensation coverage on every job. Ask and we'll email you a current certificate of insurance before we ever put a machine on your property, so you know exactly who's working on your land.
- How do I get a free estimate?
- Reach out at (401) 479-1472 or drop your details in the contact form and DJ or Trevor will pick a time to walk the site with you. After we've seen the ground, the grade, and the access, you'll get a written estimate that spells out the scope line by line, typically back in your hands within a day or two.
- What areas do you serve in Connecticut?
- Our home base is right here in Plainfield, so Windham County is our backyard and where most of our work happens. From there we reach into New London, Tolland, and Hartford counties as well. If your project sits farther out in Connecticut, call and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right crew for it.
- Do you offer emergency excavation services?
- We do. Burst drainage, a septic system that's given out, washouts after a storm — these don't wait for business hours, and neither do we. Call (401) 479-1472 whenever it happens and we'll get moving. After-hours emergency work is billed at a different rate, and we'll be upfront about that when you call.
- Do you charge extra for travel?
- Inside our core territory of Windham, New London, and Tolland counties, travel is baked into the price and there's no separate line for it. Reach into Hartford, New Haven, or Fairfield counties and we may add a modest mobilization charge to cover hauling the equipment out there. Either way it's written into your estimate, never sprung on you later.
- How quickly can you respond to projects?
- It comes down to how far you are from Plainfield and what's already on the calendar. Neighbors close by can often see us break ground within a few days. Sites farther out usually land one to two weeks into the schedule. Genuine emergencies jump the line no matter where you are, day or night.
- Do you know the permit requirements in my town?
- We've pulled permits in towns all across Connecticut, and the rules genuinely differ from one town hall to the next — some flag any digging, others only certain jobs. We'll tell you what your town expects during the estimate and can file the paperwork on your behalf so nothing stalls the project.
- Have you done excavation work in my area before?
- More than likely, yes. Two decades of work across eastern Connecticut means we've dug in most of these towns and learned how the ground behaves, what the local offices ask for, and how the terrain shifts field to field. That familiarity keeps our estimates honest and our schedules realistic.
- What soil conditions should I expect?
- It really varies lot to lot around here — sandy loam in one spot, glacial till or ledge a mile away. Because we've dug so much of this ground, we can usually read what's likely under your site and build that into the price up front, which keeps mid-dig surprises to a minimum.
- How are excavation projects priced?
- Wherever we can, we hand you a fixed price tied to the scope rather than running a meter, so the number you agree to is the number you pay. When something unpredictable is in play, like buried rock, we may quote time and materials, but we cap it so the cost can't run away from you.
- Do you require a deposit?
- Yes. To hold your spot on the schedule we take a deposit, generally somewhere between a quarter and half of the total depending on how big the job is, with the rest owed once the work is finished. On larger jobs we can set up payments tied to milestones along the way.
Still have a question?
Call and talk it through with DJ & Trevor Roberts. Estimates are always free.