By Absolute Excavating LLC · October 2, 2026 · Colorado Springs, CO

How to Choose an Excavation Company in Colorado Springs

Pick the excavation company that diagnoses before it digs, puts the price in writing before a shovel moves, handles the permits and utility locates, and includes yard restoration in the quote. In Colorado Springs that means a camera inspection for any sewer job, the City permit for sewer replacements, a licensed installer for any septic work in El Paso County, and a Colorado 811 locate before digging. Ask the seven questions below of every contractor you call, including us.

Question to ask	What a good answer sounds like
How do you diagnose it?	Camera or locate first; no quote from a guess
Is the price in writing?	A written number before work starts, with what it includes
Who pulls the permits?	The contractor does, and closes them out
Who calls 811?	The contractor requests the utility locate before digging
Is restoration included?	Backfill, compaction and yard repair are in the quote
Who is on site?	A named person who answers for the job
Do you verify the work?	A camera check or test after the repair

Why does the first question matter most?

Because excavation is expensive in proportion to how much ground gets opened, and the ground in El Paso County is hard work. Dense clay and decomposed granite make every extra foot of trench slower than in sandy-soil markets. A contractor who finds the exact problem first digs one hole in the right place. A contractor who guesses digs until they find it, and you pay for every hole. For sewer work, the right first step is a sewer camera inspection that locates the break and its depth on the surface before anyone quotes.

What should a written estimate include?

The scope (spot repair, lining or full replacement, and why), the price, the permit, the restoration, and what happens if conditions underground change the job. Our published ranges give you a sense of scale: sewer line repair and replacement typically runs $1,500 to $8,000+, and water line repair $1,000 to $6,000+, but the only number that matters is the one written down for your property. If an estimate says only "sewer repair" and a total, ask what is actually being fixed.

Who handles permits and utility locates?

Sewer replacement in the city: a permit with the City of Colorado Springs, closed out after inspection. We handle it on every sewer line repair job.
Septic work in El Paso County: since January 1, 2024, El Paso County Public Health requires septic permit applications to be submitted by a licensed installer. Ask any septic contractor to confirm that before you sign.
Every dig: buried gas, power and communication lines have to be located through Colorado 811 before excavation starts. A professional contractor submits the locate request; it is not your job.

How do you check a contractor's track record?

Read the Google reviews for patterns, not just the star rating: do customers mention the same person, the price matching the quote, and the yard being put back? Ask how long the company has worked in El Paso County and who will actually be on site. A company that sends a salesperson to quote and a different crew to dig leaves you with no one who owns the result.

What are the red flags?

A full-replacement quote with no camera footage to show you.
A price that only exists verbally.
"You'll need to pull the permit yourself."
Restoration listed as an extra after the trench is open.
Pressure to sign the same day for a non-emergency.

From the Field — Absolute Excavating

We built this company around those seven questions: camera first, a written price before we dig, permits and locates handled, and the yard put back as part of the job. Matt Peterson is on every job, and after more than 10 years and 350+ customers across El Paso County, our 5.0 rating on 87 Google reviews is the record we would point you to. Hold every contractor you call, including us, to the same list.

What kind of work do you need?

Match the contractor to the job: sewer line repair and replacement, septic installation and repair for rural lots in Black Forest, Peyton and Falcon, or water line repair. Not sure which it is? Call 719-882-1893 and Matt will tell you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a good excavation company near me in Colorado Springs?

Shortlist two or three companies with consistent recent Google reviews, then ask each the same questions: how they diagnose the problem, whether the price is in writing, who handles permits and the Colorado 811 locate, and whether restoration is included. The company that answers all of them clearly and puts it on paper is usually the right call.

Should an excavation contractor be licensed in El Paso County?

Yes. Ask for proof of license and insurance before any work. For septic work, El Paso County Public Health has required permit applications to come from a licensed installer since January 1, 2024, so a septic contractor without that license cannot properly permit your job.

Do I need to call 811 myself before an excavation contractor digs?

Not when you hire a professional. The excavation contractor submits the Colorado 811 locate request so buried gas, power and communication lines are marked before digging. If a contractor asks you to handle it, treat that as a warning sign.

Is the cheapest excavation quote the best one?

Only if it covers the same work. Compare what each quote includes: diagnosis, the actual repair method, permit, restoration and a post-repair check. A low number that leaves out restoration or assumes the problem without a camera inspection often ends up costing more.

Get a Written Price Before We Dig

Camera first. Written price before we dig. Matt Peterson on every job. Serving Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security-Widefield & El Paso County.

✆ Request Free Estimate

Or call directly: 719-882-1893 · Mon–Sat 8am–6pm