Since 1965, Grimshaw Drilling has been the name Salt Lake City homeowners and contractors call for site preparation, foundation digging, trenching, and dirt removal. We are a family-owned crew with over 50 years in the ground, running heavy-duty machinery ourselves so your project stays on schedule and on budget.
Call (435) 586-2332 or Request A Free Estimate
Why Salt Lake City’s Soil Changes How We Dig
Most excavation problems here trace back to what is underfoot. Salt Lake Valley sits on ancient Lake Bonneville sediment, which means clay-heavy soil in the valley floor around Rose Park, Glendale, and Poplar Grove that holds water and swells and shrinks with the seasons. Move east toward the benches near the Avenues, Federal Heights, or the foothills below Wasatch Boulevard, and crews hit rockier, more compact ground left behind by old shoreline terraces. We adjust our approach, machinery, and shoring plan based on which side of the valley your lot sits on, not a one-size-fits-all method.
Salt Lake City also sees a real freeze-thaw cycle each winter, with frost depths that can shift shallow trenching plans if timing isn’t accounted for. We factor local frost lines into every utility and septic trench so lines are set at a depth that will hold up through a Utah winter.
Our Excavation Services for Salt Lake City Properties
Site Preparation and Grading
Before any foundation goes in, we handle precise dimensional staking and ground leveling so your builder starts on a surface that is graded correctly for drainage. This matters in a valley where clay soil can pool water against a foundation if grading is off by even a small margin.
Basement and Structure Digging
Salt Lake City’s housing stock includes a large number of homes built well before modern basement codes, especially in older neighborhoods like Sugar House, Liberty Wells, and the Avenues. When homeowners in these areas add a basement or dig out for a major renovation, our crews account for older foundation conditions and shallow existing footings that newer subdivisions in Millcreek or South Salt Lake typically won’t have.
Utility and Septic Trenching
Most in-city lots run on Salt Lake City Public Utilities water and sewer lines, while Rocky Mountain Power and Dominion Energy service electric and gas. We coordinate trenching depth and routing around these existing utility lines, and where septic work is still relevant on the valley’s outer edges, we dig to meet Salt Lake County Health Department standards.
Dirt Removal and Haul-Away
Clay-heavy spoil from a Salt Lake City dig doesn’t compact or reuse the way sandier soil does elsewhere, so we haul it off site completely rather than leaving piles for a property owner to deal with. Every job includes full removal and proper disposal.
Request A Free Estimate Today!
Residential and Commercial Excavation Across the Valley
We work on both sides of the excavation business: homeowners adding basements or additions in neighborhoods like Sugar House and Rose Park, and commercial site work for new builds and renovations near Salt Lake County’s growing business corridors. Whether it’s a single residential lot or a multi-phase commercial pad, our crews show up with the right equipment for the job and finish on schedule.
Why Salt Lake City Property Owners Choose Grimshaw Drilling
- Family-owned and operated since 1965, with more than 50 years of hands-on excavation and drilling experience in Utah.
- Heavy-duty machinery operated by trained, licensed professionals, not subcontracted out to whoever is available.
- Fair, transparent pricing on both residential and commercial jobs.
- Complete dirt removal and haul-away included, not left as an extra step for the property owner.
- Local knowledge of Salt Lake Valley’s clay soil, bench-area rock, and seasonal frost depth built from decades of digging here.
Related Services from Grimshaw Drilling
Beyond excavation, we also provide water well drilling, geothermal drilling, and well pump services throughout Utah. If your project involves both site excavation and a new well or septic system, our crews can coordinate both under one team.
Common Questions About Excavation in Salt Lake City
How much does excavation cost in Salt Lake City?
Excavation cost in Salt Lake City depends on soil type, dig depth, and dirt haul-away volume, since clay soil common in the valley often takes longer to move than sandier ground. We provide a free, project-specific estimate after walking the site rather than a flat per-project number, because valley-floor clay and bench-area rock price out differently.
Do I need a permit for excavation work in Salt Lake City?
Most basement digs, additions, and new construction excavation in Salt Lake City require a permit through Salt Lake City Building Services, and septic-related trenching outside city limits typically falls under Salt Lake County Health Department review. We can walk you through what your specific project will need before work starts.
How deep do utility trenches need to be in this area?
Utility trenches in Salt Lake City generally need to sit below the local frost line to prevent freeze damage, and our crews set that depth based on current Wasatch Front winter data rather than a generic statewide number. Lines that are set too shallow are one of the most common callbacks we see from other contractors’ work.
Can you excavate around an existing older foundation?
Yes, we regularly dig near older foundations in neighborhoods like the Avenues and Sugar House where homes predate modern basement codes. We assess the existing footing depth and soil condition on site first so the dig doesn’t undermine what’s already standing.
Do you handle both residential and commercial excavation?
Yes, we take on residential basement and addition digs as well as commercial site preparation across Salt Lake County. Equipment and crew size are scaled to the project, whether that’s a single backyard lot or a larger commercial pad.
Get A Free Excavation Estimate in Salt Lake City
Whether you’re preparing a site, digging a basement, trenching for utilities, or need dirt hauled away, our crew has been doing this work in the Salt Lake Valley since 1965. Call us or request an estimate below.
Call (435) 586-2332 or Request A Free Estimate