Spring is coming, and if you’re one of the thousands of 518 area homeowners thinking about adding an in-ground pool this year, one of the first calls you need to make is to an excavation contractor — before you call the pool company.
Why? Because the excavation has to happen first, and it needs to be done right. At Joe Deering Enterprises, we’ve done dozens of pool excavations throughout Albany, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and surrounding counties. Here’s what you need to know about what pool excavation costs — and what affects the price.
What Is Pool Excavation?
Pool excavation is the process of digging the hole for your in-ground pool to the exact dimensions specified by your pool contractor. It’s not just digging a hole — it requires precision. The dig needs to match the pool shape, depth, and slope specifications exactly, or your pool installer runs into problems before they even begin.
At Joe Deering Enterprises, we work directly from your pool contractor’s plans. We dig to their specs, coordinate our schedule with their installation timeline, and leave the site clean and ready for them to begin work.
Pool Excavation Cost in the 518 Area
For a standard rectangular in-ground pool in Upstate New York, pool excavation typically runs between $1,500 and $6,000 depending on several factors. Here’s what drives the cost up or down:
A 12x24 foot pool requires significantly less excavation than a 20x40. Freeform and L-shaped pools also take more time than simple rectangles due to the precision required on curves and angles.
This is the biggest variable in Upstate New York. Sandy or loamy soil is easy to excavate. Hit ledge rock or heavy clay — common in many parts of Albany and Columbia counties — and the cost and timeline increase significantly.
Can our excavator get into the backyard easily? A wide open access point is no problem. A tight gate, close neighbor fences, or overhead utilities can require smaller equipment or more setup time — both of which affect cost.
A standard pool excavation removes a lot of material. If you have somewhere on your property to spread it, costs stay lower. If it needs to be hauled off site, add trucking to the quote.
When Should You Book Pool Excavation?
In the 518 area, pool season runs roughly May through September. If you want your pool ready for summer, you need to be thinking about excavation by February or March at the latest.
Here’s why: excavation contractors book up fast in spring. Pool companies book up fast too. If you wait until May to start making calls, you may find yourself waiting until July for a dig — and losing half your summer.
The homeowners who get their pools in by Memorial Day are almost always the ones who started planning in late winter. If you’re reading this in January or February, now is the time to call.
How Long Does Pool Excavation Take?
For a standard residential pool in normal soil conditions, the actual excavation typically takes one to two days. This includes:
- →Equipment mobilization to the site
- →Layout and staking per pool specs
- →Excavation to depth
- →Gravel base preparation (if included)
- →Site cleanup and material management
Rock, poor access, or oversized pools can extend this timeline. We’ll always give you a realistic timeframe during your free estimate so there are no surprises.
Get a Free Pool Excavation Estimate
Ready to get your pool project started? Joe Deering Enterprises offers free, no-obligation estimates for pool excavation throughout the 518 area including Albany, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Columbia, and Greene counties.
Call us at (518) 376-6581 or fill out our contact form. We’ll schedule a time to walk your property, review your pool plans, and give you a detailed quote.
Ready to Schedule Your Pool Dig?
Don’t wait until spring rush. Call Joe Deering Enterprises now for a free estimate.
(518) 376-6581