Hydro Excavation / Daylighting contractors cost and hiring guide

Project guide

Hiring hydro excavation / daylighting contractors

Hydro excavation crews use pressurized water to cut soil and a truck-mounted vacuum to lift the slurry into a sealed tank, so they can dig right next to gas, fiber, water and power lines without striking them. The most common job is daylighting, also called potholing: exposing a buried utility so its true depth and position are known before a bore, trench, pile or foundation crosses it. State one-call laws set a tolerance zone around every 811 mark, usually 18 to 24 inches each side, where mechanical digging is not allowed and soft methods like vacuum excavation are. Crews also dig slot trenches, post and pole holes, valve and manhole repairs, frozen ground and contaminated soil that must be contained. Google Maps has no category for this trade, so most hydrovac companies are listed as excavating or utility contractors.

GradeLine lists 158 hydro excavation / daylighting contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.

Listed businesses are based in West Palm Beach, Sioux Falls, Lancaster, Lumberton, LaSalle, Knoxville, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.

What hydro excavation / daylighting work costs

Most hydrovac work is billed by the hour, commonly $150 to $400 per hour for the truck and operator, with a two to four hour minimum and travel time on top. A single daylight hole often costs $300 to $1,000 depending on depth and soil, and slurry disposal is frequently billed separately per load.

Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.