Basement Excavating, Lake Norman, NC

Proper basement excavating and grading are two vital steps in reducing the risk of moisture problems, and our team will take care of them effectively.

(336) 596-5573
Google Reviews 4.8 · 17 reviews Yelp Yelp Read our reviews
Since 2017 In business

Get Your Free Estimate

We'll call you to schedule an inspection

Please enter your property address.

Your information is protected by our Privacy Policy.

Please fill in your name, phone, and check the box below.

Got it — we'll be in touch

We'll call to schedule your inspection. Most calls go out the same day.

Need it sooner? Call (336) 596-5573

What Our Clients Say

Real Reviews from Real Customers

★★★★★ Rated 4.8 on Google · 17 reviews

Dustin OwensLocal Guide · 363 reviews · a year ago

Snead's Excavating: Because sometimes you need a man with a machine and zero fear of dirt, danger, or dumb questions. You got land? They'll move it. You got a giant hole that needs digging, a busted pipe underground, or a driveway that looks like it lost a bar fight? Snead's got you. I've watched these guys operate equipment like it's an extension of their soul. Excavator ballet. Skid steer symphony. Precision dirt destruction at its finest. They've handled everything I've thrown at them: Grading? Laser level perfect. Drainage fix? No more backyard swamp. Septic trench? Dug it like they were uncovering buried treasure. And somehow they do it without wrecking your yard like a monster truck rally. Bottom line: Snead's Excavating doesn't just dig holes—they solve problems with diesel and grit. You call. They show up. Dirt disappears. Magic happens. If you want it done right, fast, and without babysitting—get Snead's on the job.

Mike Luce2 reviews · a year ago

Reached out to Chris to give me a quote on filling a large cellar hole on our property. He worked with us for nearly two years to getting inexpensive fill and connected us with contractors in need of a place to offload their fill dirt. We had Chris come out this week and complete the project, he is extremely professional, and goes the extra mile to make sure we were taken care of. I strongly recommend Snead's Outdoor Services, we could not be more happy with the results and we know you will be too!

Kevin White7 reviews · 5 years ago

We recently had Chris and team out to our property to dig a 1/3 acre fishing pond and remove a tree. The project included moving a lot of dirt while keeping the aesthetic clean and manageable, and clean up was quick and easy. They were prompt, professional, diligent and just plain good to deal with. We are extremely pleased with the outcome and would highly recommend SOS for any outdoor needs!

Expert Grading & Excavating Contractors in Lake Norman, NC

Snead's Outdoor Services started with our owner, Chris Snead, who grew up in the landscaping and power equipment business alongside his father. He took to running machinery early, and once he graded his first plot of land on his father's tractor he was hooked — that is where this company came from.

We are still a small outfit and we like it that way: the person who quotes your job is the one running the machine on it. We move and shape the dirt with our own Caterpillar equipment so the site drains the way it should and builds flat.

Snead's Outdoor Services crew on a dozer at a job site
Our Promise

What You Get on Every Grading Job

  • Free, no-obligation estimates — we'll walk the property with you first
  • Clear from the first call to the last load — you know the plan and the price
  • Owner-operated, out of Lexington — the crew that quotes it is the crew that shows up
  • Graded to drain — water leaves the site instead of sitting on it
  • Our own equipment — excavators, dozers and haul trucks on our own trailers
  • Cut and fill balanced on site — where the ground allows, to keep haul costs down

Get Your Free Estimate

We'll call you to schedule an inspection

Please enter your property address.

Your information is protected by our Privacy Policy.

Please fill in your name, phone, and check the box below.

Got it — we'll be in touch

We'll call to schedule your inspection. Most calls go out the same day.

Need it sooner? Call (336) 596-5573

Locally Owned & Operated Free, No-Obligation Estimates Serving Davidson County & Central NC

Our Grading & Excavating Process

From the first call to the finished job, here is how a grading job runs from the first walk-through to the final pass.

Step 1

Free On-Site Estimate

We come out and look at how the ground sits, where the water goes and what access the equipment has, so the plan fits your site rather than a generic one.

Step 2

We Go Over It With You

You hear what we found, what it is going to take and what it costs — before anything gets started. Nothing happens on your property until you say go.

Step 3

We Cut, Fill and Grade

We move the dirt and grade the site so it drains the way it should, balancing cut and fill on site where the ground allows.

Step 4

We Walk It With You

When the work is done we go over the finished job together and make sure it is what you had in mind. That is the part most people never get, and it is the part we care about most.

Get Your Free Estimate
HomeGrading and Excavating, Lake Norman, NCExcavating, Lake Norman, NCBasement Excavating, Lake Norman, NC

A basement is a useful addition to any structure, offering more functional square footage for a variety of purposes. Some people add basements to their homes to create space for relaxation and hosting gatherings, while others expand their living areas with bedrooms, bathrooms, and other critical additions. But the first step in creating this lower level is basement excavating, a process that involves digging the hole that will become a basement. This process requires the use of specialized equipment, including backhoes and other tools for moving earth.

Basement Excavating in Lake Norman, North Carolina

At Snead’s Outdoor Services (SOS), we offer basement excavating in Lake Norman, North Carolina and the surrounding region. Our team specializes in excavation, and we have access to the equipment needed to tackle this job efficiently. Beyond digging the hole, our technicians will take additional steps to ensure your basement remains protected from issues with moisture. We will check for drainage issues and adjust the slope to prevent water from flowing towards the home. Proper basement excavating and grading are two vital steps in reducing the risk of moisture problems, and our team will take care of them effectively.

If you are ready to take the next step toward the creation of a functional basement in your home or business, reach out to our team at SOS today. We can provide you with an estimate for basement excavating, as well as answer any questions you might have about the process of digging the hole, handling any necessary grading, and tackling other tasks along the way.

At Snead’s Outdoor Services, we offer basement excavating services to customers throughout Lexington, Denton, Thomasville, Asheboro, Mooresville, Lake Norman, Winston-Salem, Salisbury, Davidson, Cornelius, and Concord, North Carolina.

Our Results

Past Grading & Excavating Work

Real grading and excavating jobs from around Lexington, Davidson County and central North Carolina.

Excavator and dozer moving red clay on a cut-and-fill job
Compacted building pad graded flat and ready to build on
Dozer cutting a clay access road through standing timber
Finished retail store with its graded lot and parking area complete
Excavator bucket over freshly graded ground on a commercial site
Wheel loader and crew finishing grade around new curbing
Banked dirt circuit shaped and graded across an open site
Wide graded field tracked flat by dozer
See More of Our Work

Grading & Excavating FAQs

Answers to the questions we get asked most about grading and excavating work in Davidson County and central North Carolina. Anything not covered here, call us on (336) 596-5573.

How much does it cost?

Every site is different, so there is no honest flat rate to quote. We come out, look at the job in person and give you a straight number before anything starts — free, and with no obligation to use us.

Can grading fix my drainage problem?

Often, yes. Water pooling against a foundation or sitting in low spots is usually a grade problem, and reshaping how the ground falls is what moves the water off the site instead of into it.

What is the difference between grading and excavating?

Excavating is moving earth — digging it out and hauling it. Grading is shaping what is left so it sits at the right level and falls the right way. Most jobs need both, which is why we do both.

Do you handle the hauling too?

Yes. We run trucking and hauling as part of the same job, so material coming off or going onto your site is not a separate contractor to line up.

What equipment do you use?

Caterpillar equipment and other heavy machinery. We are owner-operated, so the person who comes out to quote your job is the one running the machine on it.

What areas do you cover?

We are based in Lexington and work across Davidson County and central North Carolina — Winston-Salem, High Point, Thomasville, Asheboro, Denton, Kernersville, Clemmons, Mocksville, Advance, Salisbury, Concord, Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson and the Lake Norman area, plus the communities around them.

From the Blog

Grading & Excavating Tips and Guides

Mar 10, 2026 Why Proper Basement Excavating Sets the Foundation for Success Basement excavating is far more involved than simply removing soil to create space. It is a foundational phase of construction that influences... Read More Read the article → Jan 9, 2026 What You Need to Know About Basement Excavating Basement excavation is a significant home improvement project that can offer valuable living space while increasing your property’s overall... Read More Read the article → Jun 10, 2025 What to Expect When Working with an Excavation Contractor Starting a construction or development project begins with preparing the land. Whether building a home, installing infrastructure, or clearing... Read More Read the article →
Read more from the blog
Service Area

Grading & Excavating Across Central North Carolina

Based in Lexington, we cut, fill and grade sites so they drain right and build flat throughout the Piedmont and Lake Norman area — these towns and the communities around them.

Cities We Serve
Lexington Winston-Salem High Point Thomasville Asheboro Denton Kernersville Clemmons Mocksville Advance Salisbury Concord Mooresville Cornelius Davidson Lake Norman

Got a Site That Needs Leveling?

Call and talk to the crew that will actually be on your property — not a call center. We'll walk the site and give you a real number.

Call (336) 596-5573