Excavation · Portsmouth, NH
Excavation in Portsmouth, NH
Foundation digs, drainage, utility trenches and site work on Portsmouth's tight city lots and waterfront properties, planned around close neighbors, old foundations and high groundwater.
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Portsmouth digs
What makes digging in Portsmouth different.
Three things shape almost every excavation we do in the city.
Space
Small lots, close neighbors
Older neighborhoods have homes set close together. We size equipment to the lot and shore excavations that run near property lines.
Water
Groundwater near the tide
Low parts of the city can see groundwater rise with the tide. Digs there need dewatering and drainage planned in.
History
Old foundations next door
Digging beside centuries old stone foundations takes care. We protect neighboring walls while we work.
Digging in Portsmouth
Careful excavation in an old city.
Portsmouth has been built up since the 1600s, so new digging almost always happens next to something older. That changes how we plan access, how deep we can go in one pass and how we protect what is already there.
Around the waterfront and creeks, water is the other factor. Wet ground and tidal groundwater mean drainage and dewatering are part of the plan from the first day.
Because we also build foundations and do structural work, we plan the dig around the structure that goes in it.
Excavation snapshot
Typical jobs
Foundation digs, additions, drainage, utility trenches
Common challenge
Tight access and close neighbors
Water
Dewatering near the tide where needed
Before we dig
811 Dig Safe called and lines marked
Permits
Through the City of Portsmouth
How it works
How we dig in Portsmouth
Planned for small lots, old neighbors and wet ground.
01
Survey
We look at access, neighboring foundations, groundwater and utilities.
02
Permit & mark
City permits pulled and 811 Dig Safe called before any digging.
03
Dig & shore
Right sized equipment, shoring where needed and water controlled.
04
Drain & restore
Drainage installed, backfilled, compacted and graded.
FAQ
Excavation in Portsmouth: questions
Can you get equipment onto a small Portsmouth lot?
Usually, yes. We choose equipment sized to the lot and plan staging so the work fits without damaging the property or the neighbors'.
What if the excavation fills with groundwater?
In low parts of the city, groundwater can be high. We plan dewatering and drainage for those sites before digging starts.
Will digging hurt my neighbor's old foundation?
Not if it is planned right. We shore excavations near property lines and take care around older stone and brick foundations.
Do you call Dig Safe?
Yes, on every job, so buried gas, electric, water and communication lines are marked before we dig.
More in Portsmouth
Related work in Portsmouth.
Excavation usually connects to one of these.
01
Foundation repair in Portsmouth
New or repaired foundations after the dig.
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02
Flood mitigation in Portsmouth
Protecting homes from tides and groundwater.
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03
House lifting in Portsmouth
Raising homes for new foundations.
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04
Structural repair in Portsmouth
Framing repairs in older homes.
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05
All services in Portsmouth
Back to our Portsmouth page.
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06
Excavation in NH
Our excavation work across New Hampshire.
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Let's talk
Need excavation in Portsmouth?
Tell us about the lot and the project. We will look at access and water and give you a clear plan for the dig.
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