Basement Excavation in Kingston
and Surrounding Area
M. Riddle Excavating is a family-run excavation contractor based in Kingston, Ontario. We dig basements and foundations for new homes, additions and crawl space conversions, and handle the site prep that comes before them, across Kingston, Greater Napanee, Frontenac County and nearby towns.
Basement Excavation Services in Kingston, Ontario
A basement dig sets up everything that follows: the footings, the walls and the drainage around them. For more than 20 years we have handled every phase of the excavation, from layout and digging to spoil removal, grading the base and backfilling once your foundation is in.
We work for homeowners and with builders on new builds, additions and structural upgrades. You can see examples in our excavation projects. Get a free quote or call 613-545-7955.
What a Basement Dig Involves
Most residential basement excavations follow the same stages. Our basement excavation timeline guide covers each one in more detail.
- Planning and permits. We review the plans and grades, and utility locates are booked before any digging starts.
- Site prep and layout. The footprint and depth are marked to your builder’s plans.
- Digging. On open ground with workable soil, the dig itself often takes one to four days.
- Grading the base and hauling spoil. The base is levelled for your foundation crew and extra material is trucked out.
- Backfill. Once the foundation walls are poured and cured, we backfill and grade.
What Affects the Time and Cost of a Basement Dig
No two lots dig the same. These are the factors that change the schedule and the price most around Kingston:
- Bedrock. Shallow limestone is common in Frontenac County. Breaking rock adds time and equipment.
- Soil. Sandy and loamy soil digs fast. Heavy clay is slower, especially when wet.
- Access. Tight urban lots, steep driveways, fences, trees and nearby buildings limit machine size and slow the work.
- Water. A high water table can mean pumping during the dig.
- Weather. Heavy rain and frozen ground both slow excavation.
We assess the soil and probe for rock before we quote. For the numbers behind a budget, read our guide to the cost to dig a basement in Kingston.
Basement and Foundation Excavation Projects Around Kingston
Recent work includes a home addition excavation on Leyton Avenue in Kingston, where we dug to the layout for the new foundation, removed excess material and graded a stable base, and a wet basement excavation in Westbrook, where we dug around the foundation to expose the problem area and prepare it for waterproofing and drainage work.
From tight lots to sloped backyards, we plan the dig around your site before the machines arrive.
Lowering an Existing Basement
Adding headroom under a house that is already standing is different from digging for a new build. The floor is lowered either by underpinning the existing footings or by building a bench footing, and both need an engineer’s design and a building permit.
Our guide to basement underpinning vs bench footing explains how each method works and when each makes sense, and underpinning in Ontario covers when underpinning is required. Call us to talk through the excavation side of your project.
Drainage, Waterproofing and Septic on the Same Dig
An open excavation is the best time to deal with water. We install weeping tile and French drains, and we can prepare the foundation for waterproofing while the walls are exposed. See our drainage and waterproofing projects and our guide to weeping tile replacement in Kingston.
On rural lots, a new basement or addition can affect a private septic system. We also offer septic system design and installation, so one crew can plan both.
We keep you and your builder informed at each step and explain what we are doing and why.
Get a Free Quote for Your Basement Excavation
Tell us where the property is, what you are building and anything you know about the soil or access. We will look at the site and give you a free quote. Call 613-545-7955, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm, or fill out the form below. M. Riddle Excavating is rated 5.0 from 41 Google reviews.
Office Hours
- Monday - Friday: 7AM - 5PM
Speak to Our Team Today
- Phone: 613-545-7955
- Email: mriddleexcavating@outlook.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Basement Excavations
On open ground with workable soil, the dig itself often takes one to four days. Bedrock, shoring, tight access and wet weather add time, and backfill waits until your foundation walls are poured and cured.
It depends on the size of the dig, the soil, whether there is rock, site access and whether the house is already standing. Our guide to the cost to dig a basement in Kingston walks through the factors, and we give a free quote after seeing the site.
Yes. In the city, City of Kingston Building Services issues the building permit; in the townships, the township building department does. Your builder often applies, and we review the plans with them so the dig meets the layout and setbacks.
Shallow limestone is common around Kingston and in Frontenac County, and heavy clay digs slower, especially when wet. We assess the soil and probe for rock before we quote, so the schedule and price reflect your ground.
Yes. We dig to the depth, clearance and layout your foundation contractor needs, then backfill and grade once the walls are set. We keep your builder informed so the schedule stays on track.