Mike Zarlingo, Durango Excavation Contractor and Founder of Animas Excavating
Mike Zarlingo is the founder and owner of Animas Excavating, a licensed and insured excavating company in Durango, Colorado.
He started the company in 2018 and has stayed hands-on ever since. When you call us, you're calling Mike.
The origin
From A Corporate Desk to the Seat of an Excavator
Mike spent 20 years at Oracle Corporation before he started Animas Excavating in 2018. He left the corporate desk behind, bought a dump trailer and a mini excavator, and drove around Durango taking every job he could find.
He cut his teeth doing sewer line repair and built the business from the ground up.
That sewer work is still near and dear to him, even now that the company handles full site development across the region.
5.0 Star on Google
7+ Years Serving the Four Corners
Certified OWTS Installer
Site Preparation
Excavation
Underground Utilities
Septic Systems
Sewer Line Repair
Demolition
Retaining Walls
Road Construction
Land Clearing
Grading
Local Roots
Roots in the Four Corners
Mike's family has roots in the Four Corners area going back to 1939, a real connection to this region that an out-of-area competitor can't match.
Durango isn't flat, easy dirt. The work means rocky San Juan terrain and the hard rock that's common here and has to be hammered out, and Mike knows how to read this ground. That's what makes Animas a dependable Durango site preparation contractor and Four Corners excavation company, not just an excavation company in Southwest Colorado figuring it out on your property.
We Serve
- Durango
- Bayfield
- Hesperus
- Mancos
- Cortez
- Pagosa Springs
A Teacher, Not A Salesman
Mike's communication style is that of a teacher. He explains plainly why a cost is what it is, walks you through permitting and the local process, and connects new landowners with the builders, plumbers, and electricians they'll need next. For someone buying raw land from out of town, he's usually the first call and the guide through the whole thing.
As he puts it, "I'm 100% a teacher and I enjoy that. I like to help people."
He values honesty most, and he wants you to walk away thinking that guy is really honest, professional, and timely.
The Oracle Advantage Where Most Contractors Walk Away
Those 20 years at Oracle left Mike comfortable with the paperwork side of the business in a way most contractors aren't. Government and commercial projects come with certified payroll, Davis-Bacon wage requirements, and a mountain of forms, the kind of red tape that makes other companies walk away.
Mike is comfortable with that paperwork, which is a big reason Animas can take on government and CDOT work that other companies pass on.
Technology That Keeps the Work Precise
Mike brought 3D smart grade GPS satellite technology into the operation, and most excavation contractors in this area still haven't. Instead of setting wooden grade stakes and string line by hand, GPS-guided machine control guides the cut and fill in real time. That makes the work more precise, faster, and more cost-effective.
On larger commercial jobs it can cut roughly $90,000 in surveying costs, because we're effectively doing the surveying ourselves with the same equipment a survey crew uses. The payoff from 3D smart grade excavation in Durango shows up where it counts, in the timeline and the final invoice.
The Crew Mike Built
Mike’s crew reflects his values. His foreman, Ben Keil, started with zero experience, worked his way up from laborer to operator, and now runs crews, a direct result of Mike’s teaching approach. When Animas is on your property, you know who’s there and that they answer to Mike.
Easy To Reach, Quick to Respond
Mike built the company's process around being responsive. We get back to you fast, get out to your site soon after, and turn around a written bid without making you wait.
Free estimates are standard, and Mike takes that first call himself.
200
+
Projects Completed
Our Clients Testimonials
What Clients Say
Animas Excavating holds a 5.0-star rating across Google reviews, and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau with zero complaints.
We're also a certified OWTS (onsite wastewater treatment system) installer listed on La Plata County Public Health's roster, and we're a local excavating contractor Durango property owners and builders can verify before they call.
100
%
Customers Satisfaction
Request a Free Estimate
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Let’s Work
Reach Mike Directly
When you work with Animas Excavating, you're working with the person whose name is on the company. If you've bought land, you're planning a build, or you just want a straight answer about your project, reach out to Mike, the Animas Excavating founder.
Address:
2942 E 4th Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone Number:
(970) 403-2787
Email Address:
mike@animasexcavating.com