Excavation Services in Boise & the Treasure Valley
Site development, building pads, utility trenching, grading and land clearing for residential and commercial projects, done with accuracy, safety and results that last.
Site Work / 01
Professional Excavation for Any Size Project
Shamrock Construction & Excavation offers complete excavation and site work in Boise and across the Treasure Valley, built to support new construction, utilities, grading and land improvement. Every project starts with a solid foundation, and our crew makes sure your site is properly prepared from the ground up.
- Residential and commercial excavation
- Full site preparation, development and layout
- Building pad prep and foundation excavation
- Basement and swimming pool excavation
- Parking lot excavation and prep
Utilities / 02
Safe, Accurate Utility Trenching
Installing underground utilities takes accuracy, proper equipment and a clear understanding of how each system affects the property as a whole. We trench and install to code, then backfill and compact so nothing settles later.
- Sewer line trenching and installation
- Water line trenching and installation
- Septic system excavation
- Irrigation line trenching
- Storm drainage system installation
Related: sewer line installation in Boise and water line installation.
Grading & Materials / 03
Grading, Dozer Work & Material Hauling
From rough grading to final shaping, we move dirt with intent: driveways that drain, pads that hold and lots cleared clean. We also haul and place the material your project needs.
- Rough and final grading
- Dozer work and earthmoving
- Lot clearing and land clearing
- Driveway grading and prep
- Rock hauling and placement
- Gravel, fill dirt, base materials and recycled asphalt
Demolition / 04
Demolition & Lot Clearing
When a structure has to come down before something better goes up, we handle demolition, haul-off and the grading that leaves the site ready to build.
- Home and mobile home demolition
- Commercial building demolition
- Debris removal and site cleanup
- Post-demolition grading
How It Works / 05
What to Expect When You Hire Shamrock for Excavation
Every excavation job in the Treasure Valley runs through the same four steps. You know what is happening at each stage, and there are no surprises when the equipment shows up.
1. Call and Site Visit
Call (208) 919-4260 or send a request through our contact page. We walk the site with you and look at equipment access, slope, existing structures and what the ground is likely to hold. On larger jobs we review your plans, engineered grades and any soils report before we price anything.
2. Free Written Estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out scope, materials, hauling and what is excluded. Estimates are free. If we hit rock or cobble that changes the plan, we tell you before we keep digging, not after the invoice.
3. Locates, Permits and the Dig
We call Dig Line 811 for utility locates before any bucket goes in the ground, pull any grading or demolition permits the city or county requires, then excavate to the engineered lines and grades. Building pads and trenches are cut, checked and inspected as the job requires.
4. Backfill, Compaction and Cleanup
Trenches and over-dig areas are backfilled in lifts and compacted so nothing settles under your slab or driveway later. We finish grade the site, haul off spoils or place them where you want them, and leave the property ready for the next trade.
Pricing / 06
What Affects the Cost of Excavation in Boise
Excavation is priced on the work in front of us: how much material has to move, how hard it is to move, and where it has to go. Two lots in the same Boise subdivision can price very differently once you get below the topsoil, which is why we do not quote from a phone description.
Every excavation job starts with a free site visit and a written estimate. We look at the ground, the access and your plans, then give you a clear number with the scope spelled out. Projects in Meridian, Eagle and across Ada and Canyon County get the same treatment: no guesswork, no surprises. Avoiding the common excavation mistakes up front is usually where the real savings are.
- Volume of material to cut, fill or haul
- Depth of the excavation: shallow pad prep vs a full basement or pool dig
- Soil conditions: clay, sand, river cobble or solid rock under the topsoil
- Equipment access and working room on the lot
- Haul distance and disposal of spoils or demolition debris
- Import material: gravel, structural fill, base rock or recycled asphalt
- Permits, inspections and engineering the city or county requires
- Restoration of driveways, landscaping and irrigation lines disturbed by the work
Common Questions / 07
Excavation Questions, Answered
Do I need a permit to excavate on my property in Boise or Ada County?
It depends on the scope. Digging a garden bed does not need a permit, but foundation excavation, building pads, demolition and significant grading usually do, whether the job is in the City of Boise, unincorporated Ada County or Canyon County. We identify what your project requires during the site visit and handle the permitting and inspections as part of the work. Read our guide to questions to ask before hiring an excavation contractor for more on what a licensed contractor should take care of.
What is the soil like in the Treasure Valley, and does it change the job?
Yes, more than most people expect. Boise Bench and foothills lots often hide hardpan clay or cobble, while properties near the river run to sand and gravel with a shallow water table. Each one changes the equipment, the shoring and the time a dig takes. We have worked this ground for over 30 years, and we plan for it. See how soil type in Idaho affects excavation projects and the excavation challenges in Treasure Valley soil.
Do you call for utility locates before you dig?
Always. We contact Dig Line 811 before every excavation so buried gas, power, water, sewer, fiber and irrigation lines are marked. Private lines the utility does not own, such as the run from the meter to the house or a septic lateral, are located separately before we dig near them. Hitting a line is dangerous and expensive, and it is avoidable. Our post on the signs of underground utility damage explains what to watch for.
How long does site excavation take?
A basic building pad or short utility trench can be done in a day. A full basement dig, a lot that needs demolition first, or a site with rock and long hauls can run several days to a week or more. Weather matters too: frozen ground in winter and saturated clay in spring both slow the work. We give you a realistic schedule in the estimate and keep you updated if conditions change.
Can you excavate in winter or when the ground is frozen?
We work year round across Boise, Meridian, Nampa and the rest of the valley. Frost in the top layer of soil slows digging and can make compaction harder, so some jobs are better scheduled around it. For utility work and emergencies we dig through frost when needed. If your timing is flexible, we will tell you honestly whether waiting a few weeks will save you money or produce a better result.
What happens to the dirt, and do you restore the yard afterward?
That is up to you. We can stockpile spoils on site for later use, spread them for grading, or haul them off. Backfill is compacted in lifts so it does not settle, and the site is rough or finish graded to your plan. If the job crossed a driveway, lawn or irrigation lines, we tell you up front what restoration is included. Browse our gallery of finished excavation projects to see how jobs are left.
Free Estimate
Start Your Project With a Strong Foundation
Request a free excavation estimate anywhere in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell or the surrounding Treasure Valley. See everywhere we work on the excavation service area page.