A few months ago I was working for someone who needed some basic land preparation in Sharon. We laughed about the Steelers, praised PennDOT for putting up with bad drivers and talked about the weather – a lot.

After all, the Spring is the time of year in Western Pennsylvania that is garbage. One day it is 72 degrees out and the sun is shining. The next day the high temperature is 24 and there is sleet and snow on the ground!

One thing that he pointed out was that this is the time of year when he ignores national weather reports. He ONLY listens to local news, radio and newspapers for weather reports.

Why?

Because he knows the same thing most people in the area know – local means you know local.

This is a huge reason why choosing the right excavating company matters. Local excavating companies in and around Hermitage mean that they know the lay of the land, soil needs, drainage needs and more.

So, how do you pick the right excavator in Hermitage? How does one excavation company differ from another in Western Pennsylvania? And why would a lifelong excavating company from Mercer County and Lawrence County know your land better than another from Ohio, New York, or even Erie PA?

Let’s talk about it!

Laying the Groundwork for Your Project

Understanding what you need for your next residential excavating project is important in who you select. A company that is smaller might only deal with hand tools and rented equipment that they are unfamiliar with. Conversely, a company that specializes in larger projects might not even respond.

For Stengel Excavating, we specialize in ONLY residential excavating because 1) we know that our services have been refined over the last decades of work and 2) we own the equipment that we use.

The Critical Role of Residential Excavating In Western PA

In laymen’s terms, residential excavating services are nothing more than “digging” into the Earth. This might mean we can level or grade properties, dig new foundations, remove Earth for utilities and also create dug bodies for drainage and water control.

For Stengel Excavating, we believe that residential excavating means a lot more than simply digging into the ground.

After all, this is your home. This is where your kids and grandkids laugh and play. This is where you and your spouse spend hours and hours.

This is all why the quality of the excavation is important.

Choosing a local excavating company has a direct impact on the longevity and safety of your home’s property.

Choosing a ‘fast’ company that does not value reinforcing work, using the right equipment for the size of the project or cutting corners means that your family is at risk. To a similar extent, this also means that your property value might sink because future fixes and repairs will be needed.

Choosing a professional and trusted local excavating company like Stengel Excavating means that your project is complete. Your next excavation project is done right. That excavating service is done for a good price, and it is completed in realistic timing.

The Hermitage Advantage (and Challenge)

I have always worked in the area. In fact, I grew up working on excavators, front loaders and other heavy machinery in Volant, New Wilmington and Hermitage.

Mercer County, and Hermitage specifically, holds special considerations for the geography.

For instance, I’ve dealt with my homeowners who started their dream properties from farmland. The soil is usually moderate to difficult for drainage – which is why we see flooding in the regions during late Fall and early Spring. I also can say that I’ve run into clay and heavy silt deposits more times than not in many areas of Mercer County.

With cold, cold Winters and hot Summers, saturated Springs and Falls, along with the soil types, this could make a mess out of your beautiful landscape.

Hiring a local expert becomes crucial in navigating these logistics and needs without the guessing.

Core Excavating Services Defined

When you work with your property’s soil and choose different residential excavating services, it is always a good thing to be able to define them. Otherwise, you are overpaying for work and the company might underperform the results.

Residential Excavating

Residential excavating is an overall term meaning “comprehensive excavating site work”. We could literally list every excavating service under this one main category and it would mean the same.

Land Clearing & Brush Clearing

Land clearing, as well as brush clearing, is the process of preparing raw land for development. Usually, the difference lies in what is specifically being cleared.

Leveling and Grading

During leveling and grading, we ensure proper slopes and drainage. This may mean using all of your property, or focusing only on the areas of your property that are most important.

Soil Preparation

Just like it reads, soil preparation is nothing more than getting the ground ready for construction or planting. In many cases, we use this term to directly speak of preparation for soil usage, as in pastures.

Evaluating the Essential Service Offerings

So you are in Hermitage and you have decided that you need residential excavating this season for your next project?

How do you evaluate your needs? How do we, at Stengel Excavating, use our professional expertise to guide you in a successfully completed project?

Let’s break it all down!

Comprehensive Site Preparation

Site preparation for any project means planning, initial action and making sure that the foundation is solid. For any residential projects, this becomes even more important – it’s your home!

With foundation excavation, we look at and work on the ‘base’. We can dig basements, plan and prep crawl spaces and excavate footers.

When we dig trenching, we do this specifically for the installation of utility lines (sewer, water, electric). This can also mean digging for water lines, future drainage and more.

Land Management Solutions

Our land management solutions focus on removing Mother Earth’s attempts to take everything back. We know that overgrown brush, trees and other materials can and will build up in the region – we can also take care of those things.

During land clearing, we focus on handling living and growing trees as well as rock and debris. This also is where we handle stump removal and boulder removal.

With brush clearing, we scale back smaller growth. This includes brush, shrubs, small trees, weedbeds and more. Our goal is to increase usability and site tidiness.

Water Management and Drainage

Water management is so important for homeowners in Western Pennsylvania. You’ve likely experienced it or seen it yourself – a yard filled with rain water that just never seems to go anywhere. Or, a damaged or ruined driveway, walkway or structural damage from poor drainage.

Leveling and grading is a recommended service for achieving precise slopes for optimal water runoff. These services also allow for the base for other future building and erected structures in the short or long term.

One thing that Stengel Excavating specializes in is in the installation of drainage systems in Hermitage and Sharon (e.g., French drains, catch basins) to prevent erosion and basement flooding. We know how devastating poor drainage and water control solutions can be to a property – and we are here to help!

Finish Work and Landscaping Base

Building the right foundation to grow on is an essential checkmark for success in a quality excavating company. At Stengel Excavating, we believe that every single property and project we work on with every Hermitage excavating client means the basics are the most important.

Driveway and hardscape base preparation can be varied. We can help clear and prepare a long, “middle of the woods” driveway. As well, we can prepare ground for your next waterfall, retaining wall or block project.

Clay and silt are not friendly soil types. With our soil preparation services, you can ensure appropriate compaction and composition for landscaping or construction. We also make sure that you are building on something solid, not on something that leads to a mess and fixes in 24 months’ time.

Building Confidence from the Ground Up

So, what should you be looking for in a Hermitage excavating company?

First, confirm local experience. For Stengel Excavating, and myself specifically, I’ve been running some form of excavating equipment for 3+ decades. I’ve helped hundreds of homeowners, Amish communities and property managers to realize their goals.

Verify insurance, licensing and credentials. At Stengel Excavating, we don’t play with compliance, safety and licensing. We do everything by the book – something our clients have trusted for years.

Ensure all necessary services are included. While every project is different and unique, for the most part, excavating projects need certain specific services. At Stengel Excavating, we handle residential excavating in Hermitage that includes leveling, grading, water control, drainage services, soil preparation, small demolition, brush clearing, land clearing and more. We don’t guess at what we can do, we do everything that we know how to do!

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Hermitage excavating company in the area is the most important step in any successful residential construction or major landscaping project.

When you are ready to choose one of the best residential excavating companies around Hermitage, call Stengel Excavating at (412)973-9327. You can also fill out the form below in your free time, and we will get back with you ASAP about your needs!