Need Grading, Trenching, or Site Prep Done
at Your Home in Durham Region?
We're the Local Crew That Shows Up
and Gets It Done.
Bins in the 6ix offers small residential excavation services across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Scarborough, Markham, Stouffville, and Toronto.
We work on driveways, backyards, drainage issues, pool digs, and site preparation jobs for homeowners and contractors. No job is too small.
- Fully Insured — Every Job, Every Time
- Small Residential Jobs Welcome — No Minimum Size Requirements
- Free Quotes — Upfront Pricing, No Surprises
We Specialize in Small Residential Excavation — Here's What That Means
We’re not a large commercial excavation company and we don’t pretend to be. What we are is a reliable, local crew with the right equipment for residential jobs — driveways, backyards, drainage fixes, pool digs, grading projects, and site prep work for homeowners and small contractors across Durham Region and the GTA.
If you’re a homeowner who needs something dug up, leveled out, trenched, or prepped — you’ve found the right company. We take the jobs that bigger companies don’t want to bother with, and we do them well.
Residential Excavation Services
We Offer in Durham Region and The GTA
Here’s a breakdown of the types of excavation work we handle regularly. If your project fits within this scope, give us a call.
If you’re not sure whether it does, call anyway — we’ll tell you honestly whether we’re the right fit and point you in the right direction if we’re not.
Grading & Lot Leveling
Water pooling in the wrong spots around your home is usually a grading problem — and it only gets worse over time if it's not fixed. We grade and level residential lots, backyards, and side yards to correct drainage issues and create a stable, even surface for whatever comes next — whether that's new sod, a patio, a shed pad, or new construction. Good to know: Proper grading is one of the best investments a homeowner can make. It protects your foundation from water damage and prevents erosion that gets worse every season. If water is pooling near your house, don't wait.
Trenching for Drainage, Utilities & Irrigation
Need a French drain installed? Running a new water line to a garden shed? Installing an irrigation system or connecting a downspout to a drainage outlet? We dig the trenches cleanly and accurately so your contractor or utility installer has a properly prepared channel to work in. We also backfill and restore the surface once the work is done. Good to know: We dig trenches for drainage, water lines, and irrigation. We do not install plumbing, electrical, or gas lines ourselves — that work is done by licensed trades. We focus on the excavation so those professionals can do their job properly.
Driveway Excavation & Base Preparation
Installing a new driveway or replacing an old one? The base preparation is everything — a driveway that sinks, cracks, or heaves within a few years almost always comes down to a bad base. We excavate to the proper depth, remove old material, and prepare a properly graded, compacted sub-base so your paving contractor is starting with a solid foundation. Good to know: We also remove old driveways — asphalt, concrete, and gravel. If you're combining driveway removal with a bin rental or gravel delivery, we offer all three services in-house which saves you from coordinating multiple companies.
Pool Excavation
Planning to install an in-ground pool? The dig is the first step — and getting it right is critical. We handle pool excavations for residential properties across Durham Region and the GTA. We work to the dimensions and depth your pool contractor specifies, ensuring the hole is the right shape, the right size, and properly graded for drainage. Good to know: We coordinate directly with your pool installation contractor on dimensions and timing. If you need the excavated soil removed from the property at the same time, we can arrange a bin or haul-away as part of the same job.
Site Preparation for New Builds & Additions
Building a new structure on your property — a garage, workshop, shed with a proper foundation, or a home addition? Site prep is where it starts. We clear, excavate, and grade the area to prepare it for your foundation contractor. We remove trees, stumps, and brush if needed, and haul away the excess soil so your site is clean and ready to build on. Good to know: If you're working with a general contractor on a home addition or detached structure, we're comfortable working alongside other trades and fitting our schedule into a larger project timeline.
Stump Removal & Root Grinding
Tree stumps in the way of your landscaping, new construction, or just sitting there looking ugly? We remove stumps and grind down root systems so the area can be graded, sodded, or built on. Stump removal pairs naturally with any grading or site prep job — we can handle both in a single visit. Good to know: Leaving a stump in the ground isn't just an eyesore — over time, decaying root systems can shift soil and affect drainage around your property. If you've had a tree removed recently, getting the stump out at the same time as any grading work is the most efficient approach.
Not sure if your project fits our scope? Call or text us at 647-779-8385 and describe what you need.
We’ll give you an honest answer — and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll tell you and point you toward someone who is.
Before You Book - Permits, Locate Calls & What to Prepare
A little preparation before an excavation job makes everything go smoother and faster. Here are the two most important things homeowners need to know before we break ground on any residential excavation project in Ontario.
Do You Need a Permit for Excavation in Ontario?
It depends on the scope of the work. Here's a general breakdown for residential projects in Durham Region municipalities:
Typically requires a permit:
- Excavation for a new foundation, basement, or structural addition
- Digging that affects existing drainage infrastructure
- Excavation on or near a property line
- Any excavation connected to a building permit application
- Pool installation (usually requires both a building permit and an excavation permit)
We know this might feel like extra steps before a simple job. But handling permits and locates properly protects your property, your neighbours, and the crew on site. We take these steps on every single job — no exceptions. That’s what fully insured and professionally run actually means in practice.
Ontario Locate — The One Thing You Must Do Before Any Excavation
This is not optional and it is not something we skip. Before any ground is broken on your property, Ontario law requires that you call Ontario One Call (1-800-400-2255) or submit a request online at on1call.com to have all underground utilities located and marked. This covers gas lines, electrical, water, telecommunications, and more.
Typically does not require a permit:
- Minor grading and lot leveling for landscaping
- Trenching for irrigation or low-voltage lines
- Stump removal and root grinding
- Driveway base preparation (without structural work)
Why this matters: Hitting an unmarked utility line during excavation is dangerous, expensive, and a legal liability. The locate call is free, takes a few business days to complete, and is required by law under Ontario’s Damage Prevention Act.
What we do: We will always ask you to confirm that a locate has been completed before we start digging. If you haven’t done it yet, we’ll walk you through how to submit the request. It’s a simple process and we’re happy to help.
How Our Excavation Process Works —
From First Call to Finished Site
1. Tell Us About Your Project
Call, text, or fill out the quote form. Describe what you need done — grading, trenching, site prep, pool dig — and where your property is located. Photos are always helpful. The more detail you give us upfront, the more accurate and fast your quote will be.
2. We Come Out and Give You a Clear Quote
For most excavation jobs, we’ll visit the property to properly assess the scope before quoting. This lets us give you a firm number — not a vague range that changes once we’re on site. We look at soil conditions, access, depth requirements, and whether any soil disposal is needed. You’ll get a clear, upfront price before any work begins.
3. We Confirm Permits and Locates Are in Order
Before we show up with equipment, we confirm that your Ontario One Call locate has been completed and that any required permits are in place. This protects you and keeps the job running without interruptions or stop-work orders. We’ll walk you through both steps if needed.
4. We Dig, Clean Up, and Leave Your Site Ready
Our crew arrives on schedule, works efficiently, and communicates with you if anything unexpected comes up underground. When the excavation is done, we clean up the site, deal with excess soil disposal if that’s part of the job, and leave the area ready for the next phase of your project — whether that’s your pool installer, foundation contractor, paving crew, or landscaper.
THE ALL-IN-ONE ADVANTAGE
Excavation, Bin Rental & Gravel Delivery — All Through One Company
Most residential excavation projects generate two needs at the same time: soil and debris that needs to come out, and new material like gravel or crusher run that needs to go in. Normally that means calling two or three different companies and coordinating separate crews and invoices. With Bins in the 6ix, you don't have to do that. We handle excavation, bin rental, and gravel delivery all in-house. We can excavate your driveway, drop a bin for the old asphalt, and deliver crusher run for the new base — all scheduled together, all on one invoice. It's the most efficient way to run a property project and it saves you real time and real money.
WHAT WE CAN BUNDLE:
- Excavation + bin rental for soil or debris removal
- Excavation + gravel delivery for driveway prep or base work
- Excavation + demolition (shed or structure removal before site prep)
- All three together for larger residential projects
Or fill out the quote form and describe what you need — we’ll reach out and put together the most efficient plan for your job.
Why Homeowners in Durham Region Choose Us for Excavation
We're Honest About What We Can and Can't Do
We do small to mid-size residential excavation. We don't take on large commercial jobs or major infrastructure projects — and we won't try to upsell you on a scope that's beyond our equipment or crew size. If your project is a good fit for us, we'll tell you. If it isn't, we'll tell you that too and point you toward a contractor who handles larger scale work. Homeowners trust us because we don't oversell.
We Follow the Rules — Every Time
Ontario One Call locates. Permits where required. Proper shoring and safety protocols on every dig. These aren't optional — they're the standard we hold ourselves to on every single job regardless of size. Cutting corners on excavation safety is how people get hurt and how homeowners end up with expensive liability problems. That's not how we work.
We Show Up with the Right Equipment for Residential Work
Mini excavators and compact equipment are the right tools for residential lots — not the giant machines that tear up lawns, crack driveways, and can barely fit through a gate. We use equipment sized appropriately for the job and the property. That means less damage to your yard, more precision in tight spaces, and a cleaner finished site.
We're Based in Pickering — This Is Our Backyard
Our yard is in Pickering. We work across Durham Region and the GTA every week. We know the soil conditions, the common drainage challenges in these neighbourhoods, and the permit processes at each local municipality. That local knowledge speeds up the quoting process and helps us anticipate issues before they become problems on your job.
Real Reviews From Real Customers Across Durham Region
50+ five-star reviews from real homeowners and contractors across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Scarborough, and Toronto. Here are a few of our favourites.
Demolition Questions — Answered Honestly
Excavation pricing depends on the type of work, the depth, the size of the area, soil conditions, and whether soil disposal is required. A simple grading or trenching job on a residential property will cost significantly less than a pool dig or full site prep for a new structure. We provide free on-site quotes for excavation because every property is different — a number quoted over the phone without seeing the job is rarely accurate. Call or text us at 647-779-8385 and we’ll arrange a time to come out and give you a firm price.
It depends on the scope of your project. Minor residential grading, trenching for irrigation, and stump removal typically do not require a permit. Excavation for foundations, pools, structural additions, or work that affects municipal drainage usually does require a permit from your local municipality. Rules vary between Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, and other Durham Region cities. We’ll tell you upfront when we believe your job needs a permit — and we won’t start work until you have it.
Ontario One Call (1-800-400-2255 or on1call.com) is a free service that locates and marks all underground utilities on your property before any digging begins. This includes gas lines, electrical, water, telecommunications, and more. Under Ontario’s Damage Prevention Act, submitting a locate request is legally required before any excavation. It typically takes 3-5 business days to complete. We require confirmation that a locate has been done before we start any excavation job — no exceptions.
Small jobs like trenching, stump removal, or minor grading are often completed in a single day. Driveway prep and lot grading typically take one to two days depending on the size of the area. Pool excavations generally take one to two days. Site preparation for a new structure can take several days depending on lot size and soil conditions. We give you a realistic timeline as part of your quote so you can plan around it.
This depends on the job and your preferences. In many cases, excavated soil can be graded and redistributed on the property — used to level low spots or build up areas that need it. If the soil needs to leave the property, we can arrange removal using a bin rental or direct haul-away as part of the job. We discuss soil disposal as part of the quoting process so there are no surprises.
Yes — this is actually where our equipment really shines. We use mini excavators and compact machinery that are specifically designed for tight residential spaces. We can access areas through standard fence gates, work close to existing structures without damaging them, and maneuver on smaller lots where a large excavator would cause more damage than good. If you’ve been told a job can’t be done because of tight access, call us — we may be able to get in where others couldn’t.
Yes. We handle in-ground pool excavation for residential properties across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Scarborough, Markham, and Stouffville. We work from the dimensions your pool contractor provides, dig to the specified depth and shape, and coordinate soil removal from the site. If you need gravel delivered for pool surround work at the same time, we can bundle that into the same job.
Poor backyard drainage is one of the most common reasons homeowners call us. If water is pooling against your house, flooding low spots in the yard, or not draining after rain, the fix usually involves regrading the area to redirect flow away from problem spots — sometimes combined with a French drain or drainage trench. We assess the drainage pattern on site before quoting so we can give you a solution that actually solves the problem long term.
Yes. We service Toronto, Scarborough, and the broader GTA in addition to our Durham Region core area. Our yard is in Pickering, which gives us fast access to Scarborough and East York in particular. For farther Toronto locations, availability and lead times may vary. Call or text us at 647-779-8385 and we’ll confirm service availability and timing for your address.
Absolutely — and for many projects, it’s the smartest way to do it. If your excavation generates soil or debris that needs to leave the property, we can drop a bin at the same time. If your project needs new base material brought in after digging, we deliver gravel and aggregate as well. Bundling these services means one company, one schedule, one invoice — and usually a better price than booking them separately.
Demolition Services Across
Durham Region, Toronto & the GTA
Our yard is in Pickering, which puts us at the centre of our service area. We work across Durham Region and the GTA every week — familiar with the soil conditions, property types, and permit processes in each municipality we serve.
We deliver bins across:
- Pickering
- Ajax
- Whitby
- Oshawa
- Scarborough
- Toronto
- Markham
- Stoufville
- and nearby communities.
Not sure if we cover your address? Call or text 647-779-8385 — if you’re within range, we’ll make it work.
Ready to Get Your Excavation
Project Quoted?
Let's Talk.
Tell us what you need dug, graded, trenched, or prepped. We’ll come out, take a look, and give you a clear upfront price with no vague estimates and no pressure. Most quotes are turned around fast.
Pro tip: Text us a few photos of the area you need worked on and we can often give you a rough ballpark before we even visit the site.