Excavation contractor for Canandaigua and the Finger Lakes
Site prep, cut and fill, rough and finish grading, hauling — the dirt work that has to be right before anything else on the job can be.
Most projects in Ontario County start the same way: somebody needs a slope turned into a flat spot, a hole dug to the right depth, or a few hundred yards of material moved from where it is to where it needs to be. That is excavation, and it is what we do every working day between the lake and the Thruway.
We run compact and mid-size excavators, a tracked skid steer with a grading bucket, and dump trucks for hauling spoils out and stone in. That equipment mix matters here — a lot of lots around Canandaigua Lake are steep, tight, or both, and a 40,000-pound machine that can't fit down the driveway does you no good. We size the machine to the site.
Every job gets a Dig Safely New York (811) locate before a bucket goes in the ground, a conversation about where the spoils are going, and a clear number before we start.
What's included
- Site preparationStripping topsoil, cutting to grade, and building pads for homes, garages, pole barns, and additions.
- Cut and fillBalancing a sloped lot so you keep as much material on site as possible instead of paying to haul it twice.
- Rough and finish gradingLaser-checked grades that drain away from structures — the single biggest thing we can do to keep your basement dry.
- Hauling and material deliverySpoils out, crusher run, screened topsoil, and stone in. We work with quarries in Ontario and Livingston counties.
- Erosion controlSilt fence, straw wattles, and stabilized construction entrances where the town or the lake watershed requires them.
- Backfill and compactionProper lifts and compaction around foundations and trenches so nothing settles later.
What excavating around Canandaigua Lake actually involves
The ground here is glacial. Most of Ontario County sits on till — a dense, unsorted mix of clay, silt, gravel, and the occasional boulder that the last ice sheet left behind. It holds a slope well once it's compacted, but it drains slowly, which is why so many basements between Canandaigua and Victor take on water in April. When we grade a site we're thinking about where that water is going to go in mud season, not just in July.
Closer to the lake the picture changes. The east and west shores drop off fast — some lots in Middlesex, Gorham, and the south end near Naples are steep enough that the towns regulate them as protected slopes, and the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council reviews anything that disturbs more than a small area near the water. We've worked under those rules and we plan the erosion control before we plan the dig.
Frost depth runs about 42 to 48 inches in this part of New York, which drives the depth of footings, water lines, and anything else that can't be allowed to heave. It also means the real excavation season is roughly April through early December. Frozen ground can be dug, but it costs more and the finished grade is never as clean, so if you're planning a spring build, get on the schedule in winter.
What moves the price
- Cubic yards of material to move, and whether it stays on site or gets hauled.
- Access — a lakeside lot with a 12% driveway and no turnaround takes longer than a flat farm field.
- Rock. Shale bedrock is shallow in parts of Bristol and the lake's east side and it slows everything down.
- Erosion-control requirements from the town or the watershed council.
- Season. Wet spring ground and frozen winter ground both add time.
Excavation & Site Work: questions we get
Do I need a permit for excavation in Ontario County?
It depends on what the excavation is for. Grading alone usually doesn't need one, but anything tied to a building, a septic system, or a driveway onto a town or county road does, and the Town of Canandaigua, Victor, and several lake towns have stormwater and erosion-control rules that kick in above a certain disturbed area. We'll tell you which permits apply to your job and pull the ones we're responsible for.
How much does excavation cost in the Finger Lakes?
Small residential jobs — a garage pad, a short trench, a yard regrade — typically land in the low thousands. Full site prep for a new home runs higher and depends on the lot. We give firm written quotes after a site visit; see our excavation cost guide for typical ranges.
Can you work on steep lakefront lots?
Yes, and it's a big part of what we do. Steep sites need smaller machines, careful staging of spoils, and erosion control that's installed before the first cut. We've worked on the east and west shores of Canandaigua Lake and on Keuka and Honeoye.
What's the earliest you can dig in the spring?
Usually mid-April, once the frost is out and the ground has drained enough to hold equipment without rutting. Hillside and well-drained gravel sites open up earlier than flat clay lots.
Do you call 811 before digging?
Every time. Dig Safely New York requires it and it protects your gas, electric, and water lines. It's free and takes a couple of business days, which we build into the schedule.
Site work across the Finger Lakes
We do excavation & site work in every town below. Pick yours for the local details.
Ontario County
- Canandaigua
- Victor
- Farmington
- Bristol & South Bristol
- Naples
- Gorham
- Hopewell
- Manchester & Shortsville
- Clifton Springs
- Phelps
- Honeoye & Richmond
- East Bloomfield
- West Bloomfield
Finger Lakes
- Geneva
- Penn Yan & Keuka Lake
- Middlesex & Vine Valley
- Rushville & Potter
- Seneca Falls & Waterloo
- Lima & Livonia
Rochester Area
Syracuse Area
Get a quote
Call, or send the form and we'll get back to you — usually the same business day. Tell us the town and what you're trying to do; a photo or two never hurts.
(585) 575-0567Serving Canandaigua, Ontario County, the Finger Lakes, and the Rochester area. Larger Syracuse-area projects by arrangement.