Most delays on small excavation jobs happen before the digging even starts — usually something blocking access that nobody thought to check beforehand. A few minutes of prep avoids most of it.

Check the path in, not just the job site

• Measure the narrowest point the machine needs to pass through — side gates, carport entries, gaps between fences and garden beds
• Look up, not just across — low-hanging power lines, tree branches or eaves can be an issue a ground-level check misses
• Clear anything parked, stored or growing in the path, even temporarily, so the machine isn’t stopped halfway in

Know what’s underground

Power, water, gas and internet lines aren’t always where you’d expect, especially in older properties. Getting services marked (or at least checked against the property plans) before digging starts avoids the single most expensive kind of surprise on any excavation job.

Think about where the dirt goes

Every hole dug produces spoil that has to go somewhere — a pile on the lawn, a skip bin, or removal off-site. Deciding this before the day means the operator isn’t left guessing, and you’re not stuck with a mound of dirt you didn’t plan for.

Confirm ground conditions if you know them

If you’ve hit rock, old concrete, or significant tree roots digging in that spot before, mentioning it upfront helps set realistic timing — some ground just takes longer regardless of the machine.

The five-minute version

Measure the gate, look up for power lines, clear the path, know what’s underground, and decide where the spoil goes. Cover those and most access issues are sorted before the machine even leaves the trailer.

Unsure if your access will work for a mini excavator? Send a couple of photos when you call and we’ll tell you straight away.

If you’ve never booked excavation work before, not knowing what to expect is completely normal — most homeowners only need this done once or twice in a lifetime. Here’s what a typical small job actually looks like from start to finish.

Before the machine arrives

A quick phone conversation about the job — what’s being dug, roughly how big, and any access constraints — is usually enough to quote accurately over the phone or with a couple of photos. Underground services (power, water, gas lines) should be checked or marked before digging starts; ask if this has been arranged if you’re unsure.

On the day

• The excavator and operator arrive at the agreed time, ready to work — no separate setup crew or delivery truck to wait on with a 2T mini excavator, it’s trailered straight to site
• A quick walk-through on site confirms exactly what’s being dug and where
• The digging itself for a typical trench or hole job is usually a matter of hours, not days
• Spoil (the dug-up material) is either piled on site for you to deal with, or removed — worth confirming which when you book

After the digging

A good operator leaves the site tidy — no forgotten equipment, no unnecessary mess beyond what the job itself required. If the job feeds into other trades (an electrician running cable through your trench, for example), it’s worth timing the booking so they can follow straight in.

What actually varies job to job

Access (a narrow side gate vs. open driveway), ground conditions (clay, rock, tree roots), and whether spoil needs removing are the three things that change a quote and a timeline the most — mentioning these upfront when you call gets you a more accurate picture before the day itself.

First time booking a dig? Tell us what you’re picturing and we’ll walk you through exactly what to expect for your specific job.

“Just get a digger” is common advice, but a 2T mini excavator and a bobcat (skid steer) are built for different jobs — picking the wrong one usually means a slower job, a rougher finish, or both.

What a mini excavator does best

A mini excavator digs downward and precisely — trenches, post holes, footings, and anywhere you need a clean, accurate cut rather than just moving material around on the surface. The rotating cab and reach also make it the better choice in tight side-access spots where a bobcat’s turning circle doesn’t fit.

What a bobcat does best

A bobcat excels at moving and spreading material across a surface — clearing a yard, spreading gravel or soil, or shifting a pile from one spot to another. It’s faster for bulk surface work but can’t dig a clean, deep, accurate hole the way an excavator can.

Quick way to tell which you need

• Digging down (trench, hole, footing) → excavator
• Moving material across a surface (clearing, spreading, levelling) → bobcat
• Tight side access or narrow gates → a 2T mini excavator is usually the only machine that fits
• Both digging and clearing in the same job → often worth booking one operator who can assess and switch approach on site rather than guessing in advance

Why guessing costs you

Booking the wrong machine means either a job that takes twice as long, or a contractor turning up and telling you it’s the wrong gear for the space. Describing the actual job — not just “I need a digger” — when you call is what gets the right machine on site the first time.

Not sure which one your job needs? Describe it when you call and we’ll tell you straight, not just book whatever’s free.