What to Expect During Excavation | Construction Guide

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1. What to Expect During Excavation

Construction Process

What to Expect During Excavation

Understanding the most disruptive phase of outdoor construction

Remodel Your Vibe Design Team February 15, 20266 min read

Image: Excavator working on pool dig in California backyard

In this article

1. The Excavation Process

1. Site Access Requirements

1. What Gets Disrupted

1. Utility Considerations

Excavation transforms your yard into a construction zone. Understanding this phase helps you prepare mentally and practically for what's coming.

In this article

1. The Excavation Process

1. Site Access Requirements

1. What Gets Disrupted

1. Utility Considerations

The Excavation Process

Equipment arrives (skid steer, excavator, or manual labor depending on access). Soil is removed to design specifications. Spoils are either hauled away or used on-site for grading.

Site Access Requirements

We need equipment access to your backyard. Side yard access of 36+ inches works for small equipment. Crane lifts or hand excavation may be needed for limited access sites.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Schedule a free consultation with our design team.

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What Gets Disrupted

Excavation is noisy (wear ear protection). Dust is significant. Lawn, sprinklers, and some landscaping in the work zone will be removed. Plan for 1-5 days of intensive activity.

Utility Considerations

We call USA Underground (811) before digging. Existing irrigation, gas, electric, and plumbing lines may need relocation. We identify these during design.

Final Thoughts

Excavation is temporary but transformative. The mess is followed by visible progress as your new outdoor space takes shape.

Where we build

Build this at your home

We build from Santa Clarita to Long Beach, Thousand Oaks to Riverside, and Orange County down to Mission Viejo. Start with your city:

• Pool & Spa Remodeling in Altadena

• Pool & Spa Remodeling in Newport Beach

• Pool & Spa Remodeling in Irvine

• Pool & Spa Remodeling in Huntington Beach

• Pool & Spa Remodeling in Los Angeles

• Pool & Spa Remodeling in Northridge

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Frequently Asked Questions

How deep will you dig?

Depends on the project. Pool shallow ends: 3-4 feet. Deep ends: 6-8 feet. Patio base: 8-12 inches. Retaining wall foundations: varies by height.

What happens to the dirt?

Excavated soil is either hauled off-site (additional cost) or used for backfill and grading elsewhere on your property.

Topics

• excavation

• construction

• process

• pool construction

About the author

Remodel Your Vibe Design Team

Written by the design team at Remodel Your Vibe, a licensed ( CSLB #1119054 ), bonded and insured, veteran-owned and family-operated design-build company based in Los Angeles. Our own crews design, permit and build pools, backyards, ADUs and interiors across Greater Los Angeles and Orange County.

How we work

Who builds it

• CSLB License #1119054

• Veteran-owned and family-operated

• Years of experience building across Southern California

• Our own crews build it. One team designs, permits and builds.

Related services

• Swimming Pool & SpaBuild a new pool and spa, or give yours fresh tile and plaster.

• Backyard & Outdoor LivingWe build patios, outdoor kitchens and fire pits for long evenings outside.

Talk it through with us

Discuss your project with our design team and get expert advice. We call you back within one business day.

Book a Consultation 818-300-2393

Ready to Transform Your Space?

Let's discuss your vision. Schedule a free consultation with our design team and see how we can bring your project to life.

Book a Consultation 818-300-2393

We call you back within one business day.

Continue Reading

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• Construction Process Backyard Remodel Timeline: What to Expect 8 min read

• Construction Process What Is California Title 24? The Homeowner's Guide 9 min read

Further Reading

Process Guide

• Whole-Home Remodel Sequencing: What to Do FirstA whole-home remodel done in the wrong order costs 15 to 25 percent more. Here is the correct sequence, from structural and roof through to paint, and why each stage has to precede the next.

• Backyard Remodel Contractor: What to Check FirstFull backyard transformations in Southern California run $50,000 to $250,000 and involve six trades. Here is exactly what to verify before signing, from CSLB status to lien waivers.

• Baseline Hillside Ordinance: Building on LA SlopesLos Angeles hillside lots are governed by the Baseline Hillside Ordinance. It controls how much you can build, how much dirt you can move, and how you get that dirt off the hill.

• Pool Construction Week by Week: What to ExpectBuilding a pool takes 3-6 months. Here's exactly what happens each week so you know what to expect and can plan accordingly.

Educational

• Backyard Drainage Design: Why Systems FailTwo percent slope away from the house, solid pipe at one percent minimum, and somewhere legal for the water to go. Most failed backyard drains miss at least one of those three.

Material Guide

• Wood Coping for Pools: Natural Elegance & MaintenanceWood pool coping adds warmth and elegance. Here's how to choose wood species and manage maintenance.

All Construction Process guides

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