Excavation for Paradise Hills yards and additions
Most digging in Paradise Hills is about adding to a home that's already there: footings for an addition or patio cover, a pad for a shed, a cut where the backyard steps down. The sand makes it quick to dig and easy to get wrong.
In the special zoning district, the plot survey comes first
If your home is in the unincorporated part of Paradise Hills, zoning is handled by the Paradise Hills Special Zoning Commission. Bernalillo County says new construction there needs a commission-approved plot survey before you apply to the county for a building permit, so footings for an addition usually wait on both. Addresses inside Albuquerque city limits go through the city instead.
Footings in sand that won't hold a straight wall
West Mesa sand comes out of the ground almost as fast as the bucket can swing. It also runs back in. A footing trench that sits open over a windy weekend can be half full by Monday, so we coordinate the dig with whoever is setting forms.
Wind matters for the spoil too. A pile of loose sand next to the block wall ends up in the neighbor's pool or on your patio, so we keep it low, wet it when needed and haul off what won't be reused.
Backfill gets the same attention. Sand compacts well in thin, moistened lifts and poorly when dumped back in, and a slab or patio laid over loose fill will tell you about it later.
Digs we're asked for on the mesa
Room addition off the back of the house
Footings dug to the engineer's plan, close to the existing foundation, with care around sprinkler lines and the gas meter.
Retaining wall where the yard drops
Many lots on the mesa have a grade change between yard levels. We cut back the slope for the wall and backfill behind it.
Pad for a shed or workshop
We dig out the soft top, bring in base if needed and compact it so the floor stays level.
Too much sand in one place
Years of wind and old landscaping leave drifts against walls. We dig it out and haul it, or spread it where it helps.
Getting your yard ready for the crew
- Have your plot survey, permit or city approval in hand if the project needs one
- Measure the side gate; it decides which machine we bring
- Move vehicles and trailers off the driveway on dig day
- Point out sprinkler lines, drip zones and any buried cables you know of
- Let neighbors know trucks will be on the street
Request a free excavation estimate in Paradise Hills
We'll look at the yard, check the access and give you a written quote covering the dig, backfill and haul-off. We request an 811 locate before any digging.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (505) 578-0369.
Paradise Hills excavation questions
Does an addition here need anything before footings are dug?
If you're in the special zoning district, plan on a commission-approved plot survey and a county building permit first. Inside city limits, check with the City of Albuquerque. We can help you figure out which applies, but we can't decide it for you.
Why do footing trenches cave in so easily here?
The sand on the mesa has almost no binding to it. We dig close to when forms are ready, slope or support the sides as needed, and avoid leaving trenches open for long.
Can extra sand from my yard be hauled away?
Yes. Haul-off is included in the quote unless you'd rather keep some to raise a low spot or fill around the new foundation.
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Let's walk your property. The estimate is free.
We come out, look at the lot with you, and hand you a written quote. No pressure, no obligation.