A good excavation contractor in Chicago writes down the scope, the plan for buried debris, the hauling and the restoration, files the DIGGER or JULIE ticket and can show current insurance. These checks work for anyone you hire.
How do I find a reliable excavation contractor in Chicago?
To find a reliable excavation contractor in Chicago, read recent reviews from jobs in your neighborhood, ask for proof of insurance and get a written quote after a site visit. A contractor who knows Chicago will ask about the alley, the sewer, the basement and the neighbor's foundation. Steer clear of anyone who gives a firm price without seeing the lot.
Does an excavation contractor need a license and insurance in Chicago?
Chicago requires a general contractor holding a city license, with insurance, for most building construction, renovation and demolition, and a single-trade job done entirely by a Chicago-licensed trade contractor does not need one. Plumbing anywhere in Illinois must be done by plumbers licensed through the Illinois Department of Public Health, which also licenses private sewage disposal contractors. Ask any excavator which license your job needs, and for a certificate of liability insurance and workers' compensation from the insurer.
What questions should I ask an excavator in Chicago before hiring?
Ask a Chicago excavator these questions before hiring:
- Who files the DIGGER or JULIE ticket, and how will you find private lines?
- How do you price old foundations, brick or concrete found in the ground?
- Is haul-off in the price, and where is the spoil dumped?
- Which permits does this need, including alley or street work, and who gets them?
- How will you keep mud off the street and out of the catch basins?
- How will you protect the neighbor's foundation, the alley and the parkway tree?
- What restoration is included at the end?
How many excavation quotes should I get in Chicago?
Get two or three written excavation quotes in Chicago for a sizable job, each for the same scope. A quote without the alley permit, stone base or restoration is not really comparable.
What should a Chicago excavation estimate include, and what should the contract say?
An excavation estimate should include the dimensions and depth, soil volume, the plan for buried debris, hauling, stone and compaction, erosion control, permits, restoration and the schedule. The contract should repeat it, set payments and say who repairs lawn, alley or walk damage. For home repair work over $1,000, the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act also has the contractor give you the state's consumer rights pamphlet and have you sign an acknowledgment form before the contract is signed.
Does compaction testing belong in a Chicago excavation quote?
Compaction testing belongs in the quote when stone or fill goes under a slab, a footing or a building pad and the engineer or the city requires it, and the quote should say who books the lab and who pays. Lawns and gardens can skip it.
How large a deposit should an excavator ask for in Illinois?
A deposit is set by your written contract, so agree on it before work starts. A modest amount to hold the date is normal; paying most of the job up front is risky. Link payments to work you can see completed.
What are the red flags with an excavating or land clearing contractor in Chicago?
These are the red flags with any excavating or clearing contractor in Chicago:
- A price quoted without visiting the lot.
- No written contract, or nothing about buried debris or restoration.
- Pressure to pay the whole job in cash first.
- Telling you DIGGER, JULIE or a permit is not needed.
- No insurance certificate when asked.
- Offering to take down a parkway tree or fill a wet area without approval.
What can I do in Illinois if the contractor left ruts and mud and won't come back?
When a contractor won't come back to fix ruts and mud, send a written request with photos, the contract and a deadline, and keep a copy. If that fails, you can file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General, whose Consumer Fraud Bureau reports home repair as its most common complaint category in 2024, and small claims court is an option for smaller amounts. This is general information about Illinois, not legal advice.
Do you send a written quote before the work?
Yes. Call or text (872) 201-3760 to set up a visit, and we send a written quote with the scope and the price. We work in Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Cicero, Berwyn, Skokie, Oak Lawn, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Schaumburg, Naperville, Orland Park and Joliet.