Portland Excavation Contractor

Experienced | Local | Excavation Company

Portland property owners face a wide range of excavation challenges, from volcanic basalt bedrock hidden beneath century-old foundations to the unstable Missoula Flood silt that blankets much of the east side. Whether you are preparing a tight urban infill lot in Foster-Powell for a new duplex or clearing a hillside parcel in Southwest Portland for a custom build, professional excavation is the essential first step. Prodan Construction brings heavy equipment and deep local knowledge to every Portland project, from the flat bottomlands along Johnson Creek to the steep volcanic slopes of Mt. Tabor and Rocky Butte.

Digging Down and Building Up

Are you planning to build an ADU in your Southeast Portland backyard but worried about what lies beneath the surface? Has your contractor told you the soil on your Northeast Portland lot needs to be removed and replaced before pouring a foundation? Do you need a basement dug out for a new townhouse project along Division Street? Is your aging Portland bungalow settling because the original foundation was poured directly onto Missoula Flood silt? Are you a developer preparing a multi-unit site in East Portland and need thousands of cubic yards of earth moved efficiently?

No matter your Portland excavation project, Prodan Construction has the equipment, operators, and local soil expertise to handle it from first dig to final grade. We work across all 95 Portland neighborhoods, from St. Johns in the north to Pleasant Valley in the southeast, and we understand the unique geological conditions that make Portland excavation different from any other city in Oregon.

Landscape Grading, Sloping, and Site Preparation

Portland’s terrain is anything but uniform. Volcanic buttes like Mt. Tabor, Rocky Butte, and Kelly Butte rise abruptly from the surrounding flatlands, creating dramatic grade changes that demand expert site preparation. Our grading crews transform uneven Portland lots into build-ready surfaces, whether that means cutting into basalt on a butte-side parcel or filling and compacting Missoula Flood silt in the river floodplain. We handle slope stabilization for hillside projects in Southwest Portland’s West Hills, where the terrain drops steeply toward the Willamette, and we grade flat pads for commercial construction in East Portland’s growth corridors along 82nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard.

Septic Tank and Field Excavation

While most of inner Portland connects to the city sewer system, properties on the urban fringe and in recently annexed areas sometimes still rely on septic systems. When these aging systems fail or when new construction in outer Southeast Portland requires on-site wastewater treatment, Prodan Construction handles the full excavation scope. We dig precise tank pits, install drain field trenches to exact county specifications, and manage the heavy clay and volcanic soil conditions that complicate septic work near the Portland urban growth boundary. Our operators understand Portland’s environmental overlay zones and work carefully around protected waterways and root zones.

Trenching Contractor

Portland’s aging infrastructure means trenching work is constant. From replacing century-old cast iron water lines beneath Craftsman homes in Laurelhurst to running new gas and electrical service to ADU projects in Cully, our trenching crews handle every utility type. We cut clean, safe trenches through Portland’s challenging mix of volcanic rock, compacted clay, and old fill material, and we restore surfaces to match existing grades and landscaping. When you need a utility trench cut across a busy Portland street or through a tight residential side yard, our compact equipment gets the job done without destroying your property.

Excavating Foundations

Portland’s building boom has put enormous demand on foundation excavation services. New construction across the city, from cottage clusters in North Portland to mixed-use buildings along the MAX line, all start with a properly excavated foundation. We dig precise footings in Portland’s volcanic basalt, which can appear at just two or three feet below the surface near the buttes, and we excavate full basements in neighborhoods where the water table allows. Our crews understand Portland’s seismic requirements and work with your engineer to ensure every foundation excavation meets the structural depth and soil bearing specifications that Portland’s Bureau of Development Services demands.

Property Cleanup

Portland’s older neighborhoods are full of properties that have accumulated decades of debris, from collapsed outbuildings in Lents to overgrown lots in Parkrose. Our property cleanup crews clear everything from old concrete foundations and buried debris piles to abandoned landscaping features and deteriorated retaining walls. We strip sites down to clean native soil, haul away all waste responsibly, and leave your Portland property ready for whatever comes next. Whether you have purchased a neglected Portland lot for redevelopment or need to clean up after a structure removal, we handle the full scope of excavation-based property cleanup.

Retaining Walls

Portland’s volcanic buttes and steep hillsides make retaining walls a critical part of many excavation projects. From terracing a sloped backyard in Hillsdale to stabilizing a cut slope for a new driveway in the West Hills, our retaining wall excavation creates the solid foundation every wall needs. We dig keyways into Portland’s basalt bedrock when necessary, install proper drainage behind walls to prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup, and work with engineered designs for walls over four feet. Our retaining wall work spans every Portland neighborhood, from the dramatic slopes above the Willamette to gentle grade transitions in the flatlands of outer Northeast.

Specialty Excavation Projects

Portland’s diverse neighborhoods inspire all kinds of creative excavation projects. Here are some ideas for your Portland property:

• Excavating a koi pond or water garden feature in your Eastmoreland backyard
• Digging a root cellar or wine storage space beneath your Hawthorne District home
• Creating sunken outdoor living areas or fire pit patios in Sellwood-Moreland
• Grading a private sports court or putting green on a Mt. Tabor lot
• Excavating for a rainwater cistern system on your Portland eco-home
• Building terraced garden beds on a sloped Multnomah Village property
• Digging out for an underground storm shelter or safe room in St. Johns

Whatever you can dream up for your Portland property, Prodan Construction has the machines and the know-how to dig it. We love tackling unusual excavation projects that other contractors shy away from, and Portland’s creative homeowners keep us on our toes with inventive ideas. Give us a call and tell us what you have in mind.

Residential and Commercial Excavation in Portland

Portland homeowners trust Prodan Construction for residential excavation because we treat every property like it matters. We protect existing landscaping, keep our work areas clean, and communicate clearly throughout the project. Whether you own a 1920s Craftsman on a standard 5,000-square-foot Portland lot or a sprawling property in outer East Portland, we scale our equipment and approach to fit your site. Our residential excavation services cover everything from simple grading for a new patio to complete site preparation for new home construction.

Portland’s commercial excavation needs range from small retail pad preparation to large-scale mixed-use development sites. Prodan Construction handles commercial projects of every size, bringing the right mix of heavy equipment and skilled operators to keep your project on schedule. We have excavated sites for office buildings in the Lloyd District, prepared retail pads along the 82nd Avenue corridor, and graded parking areas for businesses across Portland’s commercial zones. Our commercial crews understand the permitting and inspection requirements that Portland enforces, and we coordinate smoothly with general contractors and project managers.

If you are a Portland homeowner facing an excavation project for the first time, we make the process straightforward. We visit your site, evaluate the soil conditions and access constraints, and provide a clear written estimate before any work begins. We explain what equipment we will use, how long the project will take, and what to expect during each phase. Portland homeowners appreciate our honesty and our willingness to answer every question, no matter how small.

From the banks of the Willamette to the slopes of Powell Butte, Portland excavation projects demand a contractor who understands this city’s complex geology and tight urban spaces. Prodan Construction has built that expertise over years of working across Portland’s 95 neighborhoods, and we bring it to every job site.

Equipped and Local Portland Excavation Experience

Our fleet includes excavators, skid steers, dump trucks, and compact equipment specifically chosen for Portland’s mix of tight urban lots and larger suburban parcels. We have invested in rubber-track machines that protect Portland’s residential streets and sidewalks, and we carry rock-breaking attachments for the volcanic basalt that lurks beneath many Portland properties. Our operators have excavated in every Portland soil condition, from the loose sandy fill along the Columbia Slough to the dense red clay that characterizes weathered Boring Lava basalt. That experience translates into faster, safer, and more precise excavation on your Portland project.

Getting started on your Portland excavation project is simple. Call Prodan Construction at (503) 773-6949 or visit our contact page to request your free estimate. We will come to your Portland property, assess the scope of work, discuss your timeline and budget, and deliver a detailed proposal with no hidden fees and no surprises. Portland homeowners, builders, and developers have relied on Prodan Construction to get excavation done right, and we are ready to earn your trust too.

Prodan Construction is Your Portland Excavation Contractor

Don’t just take our word for it!