Trenching & Excavation in Anniston, AL
Precise digging for utility lines, drainage and footings — and we call 811 first.
Trenching & Excavation
Running power to a new shop, water to a barn, or a drain line away from the house all start the same way: a clean, accurate trench in the right place. Big C Land Management digs trenches and excavates for utilities, drainage and foundations across Calhoun County.
We contact Alabama 811 before we dig so buried lines get marked, and we backfill and clean up when the work is done. Chris Densmore runs every job himself, so the person laying out the trench is the one digging it.
We dig and backfill — your electrician, plumber or installer runs the line. We work residential and commercial across our 50-mile radius, and we keep the footprint small with compact equipment.
Because we dig with compact equipment, we can trench across a finished yard, along a fence line, or between a house and a tree without the damage a full-size machine would do getting there. That makes trenching workable on lots where you would not expect it.
Signs You Need Trenching & Excavation
You're running electric, water or gas to a shop, barn or new home.
You need a drain line or French drain to move water away.
Your builder needs footings or a foundation dug.
A septic installer or plumber needs a trench.
Water is pooling against the foundation.
You're adding a pond or retention area.
The Process, Step by Step
Text us photos and where the line needs to run
Free on-site estimate
We contact Alabama 811 and wait for utilities to be marked
Dig the trench or excavation
Backfill and compact
Clean up
Choose the Right Approach
Utility Trenching
Clean, accurate trenches for electric, water and gas runs to shops, barns and new homes.
Drainage Trenching
Drain lines and French drains that move water away from foundations and out of low spots.
Footing & Foundation Excavation
Dig footings and foundation excavations to your builder's spec, then backfill when it's set.
Alabama law requires excavators to notify Alabama 811 before digging. Alabama 811 asks for at least 2–10 full working days' notice, and the service is free. We handle it before every dig.
From the Field
- 1Mark where the line needs to run — flags or spray paint work.
- 2Point out septic tanks, wells and any buried lines you know about.
- 3Mark sprinkler heads and invisible dog fences.
- 4Move vehicles and breakables off the trench line.
- 5We contact Alabama 811 before any digging starts.
Red clay trenches hold their shape well when dry but can cave when wet, so we plan the cut and the backfill around the weather. A trench left open through a rain is a cave-in waiting to happen.
We backfill and compact so the trench does not settle into a dip in the yard — and for any digging we contact Alabama 811 first. See our Before You Dig: Alabama Guide.
Backfilling red clay also means packing it back in lifts — dumped loose, it settles into a sunken trench for months. We compact as we go so the yard does not develop a dip over the line.
Trenching is priced on the length and depth of the cut, the soil type (red clay versus rock), access, and whetherbackfill and compaction are part of the job. A short shallow drain trench is a different job from a long deep utility run.
Rock changes everything — a trench in clay is one thing, a trench through sandstone or chert is another. We will tell you honestly if we hit rock and what it means for the job.
Chris gives every estimate free, on site. See our what it costs page for what drives pricing, or text us photos for your free on-site estimate.
Trenching often happens in finished yards — running a line to a shop, a barn or a drain.Compact equipment keeps the footprint small so we are not tearing up the lawn to dig a narrow trench.
Text us a photo of the gate or access point. Before we arrive, mark sprinkler heads and move anything breakable off the line of the trench.
When we leave, the trench is dug to spec, the line is in (run by your installer), and the trench is backfilled and compacted. The yard is cleaned up, not left open.
We also rake and level the backfill so the trench line does not show as a dip or a mound across the lawn. A finished trench should disappear into the yard, not stay visible for months.
Watch the backfill for a little settling over the next few rains and top it off if needed. Seed and straw any bare strip so it does not wash before grass comes back.
Locally Owned. Run by Chris Himself.
Locally Owned in Anniston
Based right here in Calhoun County — we know the land, the clay and the rain.
Chris Does Every Job Himself
You talk to the owner, not a call center. Chris Densmore runs every job personally.
Alabama State License #2700106 · Insured - $1 million policy
Licensed and insured, in business since January 2023 with 5 years of hands-on experience.
Free On-Site Estimates — Text a Photo
Snap a few photos, text them over, and Chris comes out to look at the property for a free on-site estimate.
Residential & Commercial — serving a 50-mile radius around Anniston, 16 towns across East Alabama.
“Very professional, responded very quickly, went above and beyond, and communicated effectively! ... 10/10!!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Services
Areas We Serve
Based in Anniston, serving 16 towns across Calhoun, Talladega, Etowah, Cleburne & St. Clair counties.
Talladega County
Etowah County
Cleburne County
St. Clair County
Ready When You Are. Text Us a Photo.
The fastest way to a free on-site estimate is a quick text with photos. Chris replies personally.