Let's talk about your project in Cobleskill

Common reasons people contact MSL Excavation

Most calls and form submissions fall into a few categories. If your situation matches any of these, send the form or call (631) 681-8526. We'll talk through what's involved and let you know whether it's a fit for us or whether another trade should be involved first.

• New home, addition, garage, or outbuilding foundation excavation
• Driveway install, rebuild, regrade, or culvert work
• Septic excavation — tank and field per approved design
• Concrete slabs, pads, and footings on prepped subgrade
• Land clearing, stump removal, and pasture or lot prep
• Site grading and drainage to control water around buildings
• Trenching for water, sewer, electric, or drainage runs
• Commercial site development, pads, and access roads

Read about the work first

If you'd rather understand the work before you call, each service page has detail on scope, process, cost factors, and what to expect. They're written for real customers, not for marketing fluff.

What to include when you request an estimate

The more we know up front, the more useful the first conversation is. You don't need a perfect description — just enough detail that we can picture the site and the work. A few sentences and a rough location go a long way toward an accurate estimate.

• Project address or town, and rough lot size if you know it
• What you're trying to build or fix — foundation, driveway, septic, grading, drainage
• Approximate dimensions or square footage if you have plans
• Site access notes — narrow road, steep grade, overhead wires, neighboring structures
• Timing — are you ready to dig, waiting on permits, or planning months out
• Any engineer drawings, septic design, or permit packet already in hand
• Photos of the area if you can text or email a couple

Best reasons to call before digging

A short call before a shovel hits the ground can save weeks of rework and real money. Excavation projects in Schoharie County are shaped by soil, slope, water, frost depth, and utility layout. Talking through scope early lets us flag problems while they're still cheap to fix and line up the right equipment for the job.

• You're planning a build and want the foundation excavation sequenced correctly
• You've had standing water, washouts, or a wet basement and need real drainage
• Your driveway is rutted, soft, or failing and you're not sure if it's base or surface
• A septic design is approved and you need experienced excavation for tank and field
• You're clearing a wooded or rough lot and want it left actually build-ready
• A previous contractor left grading or backfill that's causing issues now
• You need utility trenching coordinated with other trades on a tight schedule

We work across Cobleskill, Schoharie, Richmondville, Middleburgh, Sharon Springs, Howes Cave, Esperance, Gallupville, Carlisle, Jefferson, Worcester, and nearby Upstate New York communities. If your town isn't on the list, call (631) 681-8526 — most of Schoharie County and the surrounding region is within our regular working radius.

Common questions