Narrow side yards, hillside backyards, and zero-access lots are our specialty. With compact excavators, conveyor off-haul, and crane-assisted digs, we excavate pools on properties other contractors turn down — common in Calabasas, Malibu, Woodland Hills, and the hill neighborhoods of the Conejo Valley.
| Access situation | Our approach | Schedule impact |
|---|---|---|
| 8–10 ft clear path | Standard excavator + trucks | Baseline, 1–2 days |
| 5–8 ft gate or side yard | Compact excavator, smaller load-out cycles | +1–2 days |
| Under 5 ft / stairs / slopes | Mini equipment + conveyor off-haul | +2–4 days |
| No ground access at all | Crane-assisted dig — machine and spoil bins lifted over the structure | Planned per job |
Compact excavator passing through a 6-foot side gate — before/after pairing
Hillside excavation is as much about what stays as what goes: bench cuts, temporary shoring coordination, spoil management on slopes, and protecting the pad below. We work with your engineer's plans on caisson/grade-beam pool designs common in the Santa Monica Mountains and the hill sides of Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.
Related: hillside grading · access requirements guide
With compact equipment we routinely work through 5–6 foot gates. Below that we use mini machines with conveyor off-haul, and for zero-access backyards a crane lifts the excavator and spoil bins over the house. Access width mostly affects cost and duration, not feasibility.
Expect a meaningful premium over a standard dig — smaller machines move less dirt per cycle, so the job takes longer. Crane digs are priced per job. We give exact numbers after a free site walk.
Yes. Hillside digs are engineered jobs — we excavate to the structural plan (often caisson and grade-beam designs), manage spoils safely on the slope, and coordinate with your soils engineer and pool builder.
Free site visits and same-week estimates across Ventura & Los Angeles counties. Call, text, or send the job details.
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