Frequently Asked Questions
We’re Animas Excavating, a licensed and insured excavation contractor serving La Plata County and the Four Corners region since 2018.
Call us at (970) 403-2787 or request a free estimate and we’ll get back to you promptly.
General Questions About Hiring an Excavation Contractor In Durango
Is Animas Excavating licensed and insured to work in Colorado?
Yes. We’re a licensed excavation contractor, fully insured and bonded. We’re also a certified OWTS (septic) installer listed on the La Plata County Public Health roster.
Licensing and insurance matter because they protect you from liability if something goes wrong on your property. Hiring an unlicensed contractor puts that risk on you as the property owner.
For more on our credentials and history, visit about Animas Excavating
What areas do you serve?
We serve Durango, Bayfield, Hesperus, Mancos, Cortez, and Pagosa Springs, along with surrounding communities throughout La Plata County, Montezuma County, and Archuleta County.
The Four Corners region covers a wide range of terrain and local permitting rules, and that variation is exactly why local knowledge matters. A contractor who only works the Front Range won’t know the soil conditions, local codes, or inspection processes the way we do out here.
How do I know if an excavation contractor is qualified for my project?
Ask about licensing, insurance, and direct experience with your type of project. Septic installation, sewer repair, grading, and raw land development each call for different equipment and skills.
Review a contractor’s past work before you commit. You can view our completed projects to see what we’ve done across the Four Corners region, and ask for references from past clients on similar terrain.
Excavation Costs In Colorado
There's no flat rate for excavation work. The cost depends on the job, and here's what drives the number.
What factors affect excavation costs in the Durango area?
A few things push costs up or down on a project in La Plata County and the surrounding region:
- Project size and scope: A small building pad costs less than a full raw land development with road construction and utility trenching.
- Soil and rock conditions: Southwest Colorado is not the Front Range. We frequently hit hard rock, dense clay, or unstable soils that call for different equipment or techniques.
- Site access and slope: Steep grades or limited equipment access add time and complexity.
- Depth of dig: Deeper excavations for foundations or utility lines take more time and generate more spoils to haul.
- Demolition or spoils removal: If existing structures need to come out, or if excavated material has to be hauled off-site, that affects the final number.
How do I get an accurate estimate for my excavation project?
The most reliable way to get an accurate bid is an on-site visit. We can look at your property, assess soil conditions, check equipment access, and identify anything that might affect scope before we put numbers on paper.
What causes unexpected costs during an excavation project?
The biggest surprises we see are hidden rock, underground utilities that weren’t on any plan, and unstable soil that needs work before building can happen. Weather delays are real in Southwest Colorado too, especially in spring and early winter.
The best protection is a detailed bid and a clear conversation about potential conditions before we break ground, so nothing blindsides you.
Permitting And Safety For Excavation In Durango And La Plata County
Permit rules differ depending on whether you're inside Durango city limits or in unincorporated La Plata County.
Do I need a permit for excavation work in Durango or La Plata County?
Most excavation projects do require permits. Inside Durango city limits, grading or excavating more than 10 cubic yards on a property means you need an excavation permit through the City’s Engineering Department, and construction projects need a building permit before any ground disturbance. Properties in unincorporated areas go through La Plata County.
Work in a public right-of-way comes with stricter rules. Under City of Durango Code Section 21-51, you need written permission before you dig in or leave an excavation in any street, alley, or sidewalk, and doing that work without permission is unlawful and subject to fines.
We work in both jurisdictions all the time, so we’ll tell you exactly which permits your project needs.
Do I need to call 811 before excavation begins?
Yes. Colorado law requires contacting 811 before any digging. The 811 service sends out utility locators who mark underground gas, water, electric, and communication lines so crews know exactly where not to dig.
Hitting an unmarked utility line creates safety hazards, legal liability, and costly repairs. We call 811 on every project before a single bucket goes in the ground.
Who pulls the permits, the contractor or the homeowner?
In most cases, we pull the permits on your behalf as part of the project. The exact process varies by project type and jurisdiction, but you shouldn’t have to figure out permit applications on your own.
We handle the paperwork, coordinate with city or county staff, and keep the project moving. It’s one less thing for you to manage.
Site Preparation and Grading In Durango, Colorado
What is included in site preparation services?
Site prep covers everything that needs to happen before construction can start. That usually includes:
- Clearing vegetation, brush, and debris from the build area
- Rough grading to establish the right elevations across the site
- Building pad preparation, including compaction to support a structure
- Drainage planning so water moves away from the building and doesn’t pool
- Access road or driveway grading if vehicles need to reach the site
We handle site preparation and grading as part of our full service list, including 3D smart grade GPS grading. Good site prep is what keeps a building level, dry, and stable for the life of the structure.
What is 3D smart grade GPS grading, and why does it matter?
3D smart grade GPS technology uses satellites to guide our grading equipment to exact elevation targets across the entire site. Instead of relying on grade stakes and string line, the machine knows precisely where it is and where the grade needs to be at every point.
That means a more precise, level site, less do-over work, and water that drains the way it should. Most excavation contractors in the Durango area don’t work this way. They still rely on old-school grade stakes and string line, which means a surveyor has to keep coming out to reset stakes that get knocked over during the job.
We’re effectively our own surveyors. That lets us hit grade faster and more accurately, and it usually saves you money along the way.
Septic System Installation In La Plata County
If your property isn't on municipal sewer, you'll need a permitted septic system, also called an OWTS.
Does Animas Excavating install septic systems in La Plata County?
Yes. Septic installation is a core service across La Plata County and throughout the Four Corners region. We’re a certified OWTS installer listed on the La Plata County Public Health roster, and we handle both standard and engineered systems, including mounded systems and advanced treatment units for difficult terrain.
Permitting for septic systems in unincorporated areas runs through the county. We’re familiar with the requirements and work through the permit and inspection process as part of every installation. Learn more about septic system installation.
What do I need before installing a septic system on my property?
Before installation can begin, you’ll generally need:
- A soil analysis to determine the best system for your property
- A site evaluation to determine placement on your lot
- A permit from the county
- An approved system design based on your lot size, soil type, and household size
Soil conditions can vary a lot across a single property. Rocky ground or dense clay affects which system type fits and how it’s designed. We handle each of these steps as part of the project.
Questions about septic, sewer, or site prep? Request a free estimate.
Sewer Line Repair and Underground Utilities In Durango
What are the signs that I need sewer line repair?
Watch for these warning signs:
- Multiple drains backing up or draining slowly throughout the house
- Sewage odors in your yard or near your foundation
- Wet or sunken patches of ground above the sewer line
- Unusually green or lush grass running along the line’s path
- Fixtures backing up when water runs elsewhere in the house
In Durango, older properties often have aging clay or cast iron lines that are prone to root intrusion and cracking. If you’re seeing more than one of these signs at once, it’s worth having a contractor assess the line.
Why hire an excavation contractor for sewer line repair instead of a plumber?
A plumber can diagnose the problem, but a full sewer line repair is excavation work. We do all types of sewer line repairs, from the main in the street all the way to the house. That includes cutting the asphalt, finding the sewer line, tapping into the main, backfilling with special flow fills and backfills, and then patching the asphalt, the sidewalk, and the curb and gutter when we’re done.
It’s where our owner cut his teeth in this business, and it’s still work that’s near and dear to us. One contractor handles the entire repair and all the surface restoration, so you’re not coordinating between a plumber, an excavator, and a paving crew.
Does sewer line repair in Durango require a permit?
Most sewer line repair or replacement work in Durango does require a permit, especially when the work happens in the public right-of-way under the city’s right-of-way rules. Skipping the permit can mean fines, and it can create headaches if problems surface later. We know Durango’s requirements and handle the permit process as part of the repair.
Raw Land Development Across the Four Corners Region
Developing raw land takes more groundwork than building on a prepared lot.
What excavation services are needed for raw land development?
Raw land development usually calls for several services working together:
- Land clearing to remove vegetation, rocks, and obstacles
- Access road and driveway construction
- Building pad grading, compacted and ready for a foundation
- Septic system installation if no municipal sewer is available
- Underground utility trenching for water, electric, and communications
- Retaining walls if the terrain requires cut-and-fill work
- Drainage planning to manage runoff across the site
Properties in the Four Corners region often come with steep grades, rocky slopes, and unstable soils that take real local experience to work through. We’ve handled these conditions on properties across La Plata County and Montezuma County.
We’re often the first call after someone buys a raw piece of land, especially out-of-town buyers who don’t know the local process yet. We put all the infrastructure in, and we can connect you with builders, plumbers, electricians, and the other trades you’ll need.
Explore our full service list for everything we offer.
How long does site preparation take for a raw land project?
Timeline depends on project scope, site conditions, permit approval, and weather. Southwest Colorado’s terrain, including rocky soil, winter conditions, and spring mud season, can stretch a schedule out.
Our 5-day bid turnaround gives you a realistic starting point, and we’ll walk through the full timeline during the estimate.
Request a Free Estimate
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you within two hours.
Let’s Work
Ready to Get Your Sewer Line Sorted Out?
Tell us what you're dealing with. We'll call you back within two hours, get out to the site within two to three days, and have an estimate in your hands within five days.
Free estimate standard. No deposit required on most repair work.
Address:
2942 E 4th Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone Number:
(970) 403-2787
Email Address:
mike@animasexcavating.com