Measured from the first cut.

Excavation covers removing soil and material to reach a design elevation, then shaping what is left. On a typical Ottawa lot that means basement or foundation digs, service trenches, grading and site preparation, land clearing, drainage, pool digs and demolition with haul-away.

It depends on the project. The volume of material, how deep the cut goes, how much of it can stay on site, the distance a truck can get to the work, the soil conditions and the time of year all change the work involved, so pricing is prepared per project after the scope is clear.

It depends on the ground. Spring through late fall is the practical window for most exterior work. Frozen ground limits or rules out some digging in winter, and spring thaw can soften clay enough that machine access has to wait for drier conditions.

The Ontario One Call locate request is placed before any digging, and the marked lines are treated as the boundary of what can be excavated by machine. Private lines that sit beyond the public locate, such as a line to a shed or a pool, are confirmed separately before work starts.

It depends on the project and on the material. Clean soil can sometimes be placed elsewhere on the lot to raise grade or build a swale. Surplus material is hauled away, and the volume of that haul is part of the scope conversation rather than an afterthought.

Often, yes, with the right machine and a plan. Where a standard excavator will not fit, a smaller machine can work in stages, though that changes how long the job takes and where spoil can be staged. Access is assessed during the walkthrough, not after the machines arrive.

It depends on the work and on the municipality. Projects that change a building footprint, a lot grade or a connection to municipal services usually involve permits and drawings prepared by others. The scope conversation covers what the drawings allow and what has to be in place before digging.

It depends on the season. Late fall and spring fill first because the ground and the weather cooperate then. Getting in touch once drawings are close to ready gives more room to plan access and timing around the frost and the thaw.