CORTEZ, Colo. - eTradeWire -- Animas Excavating, a licensed and insured excavation contractor based in Durango, has launched a new page for Cortez property owners and builders. It follows one crew through site preparation, utilities, septic, and access roads for people who have just bought land and need to know what comes first. The full page is at the Cortez excavation page.

On raw land near Cortez, the excavator usually comes first. Nothing else can start until the land is cleared, graded, and has utilities and a septic system in place. Animas also lays out real costs early, since raw land costs more to develop than most buyers expect.

Plenty of parcels around Cortez have no municipal sewer connection, so a permitted onsite wastewater treatment system has to be installed before anyone can build. Owner Mike Zarlingo is a licensed OWTS installer. Animas does soil analysis to decide which system the ground will support, and installs standard and engineered systems, including mounded systems and advanced treatment units for difficult terrain. More detail is on the septic system and OWTS installation page.

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On larger residential jobs and most commercial work, Animas grades with 3D smart grade GPS technology in place of grade stakes and string line. Zarlingo puts it this way: "We are pretty much the surveyors. We are using the same equipment that the surveyors are using."

What the page covers:

• Land clearing, rough and finish grading, and building pad preparation
• Underground utilities and access road construction, including culverts and road base
• Septic installation with on-site soil analysis
• Hard rock excavation with hydraulic hammers and breakers
• Sewer line repair from the main to the house, with asphalt, sidewalk, and curb and gutter patching
• Commercial excavation and public work with certified payroll and Davis-Bacon documentation

Developers and general contractors can see capability for projects with dirt work up to about $1.5 million on the commercial construction page. The sewer line repair page has the full scope of that work.

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Estimates are free. Animas starts with a short exploration call, then looks at the parcel, reviews the plans, and sends a written bid, at a fixed cost when the scope is clear and on time and materials when conditions are uncertain. Property owners can request a free estimate from the Cortez page or call (970) 403-2787.

Animas Excavating holds a 5.0 Google rating. [See Animas Excavating on Google]

About Animas Excavating

Animas Excavating is a licensed and insured excavation contractor based in Durango, Colorado, serving the Four Corners region. The privately owned small business handles underground utilities, septic system installation, land clearing, site preparation, footings, roads, and water and sewer work, and grades with 3D smart grade GPS technology. Animas Excavating has earned a reputation for honest, fair, reliable, and quality service.