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819.213.0597
Foundation

Excavation & Grading Services in Gatineau & Aylmer

We excavate and grade across Gatineau and Aylmer — foundation work, drainage correction, site prep. 1.5T–5T mini excavators built for tight residential access.

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RBQ Licensed #5659-5812-01

25+ years in Gatineau

Owner on every job

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THIS?

Standing water in the yard after every rain

Soil sloping toward the house instead of away from it

Foundation needing exposure for waterproofing or drain replacement

No equipment access between houses or behind fences

Excavation in Gatineau — mini excavators for residential work

Excavation supports every below-grade residential service — from exposing foundations for waterproofing to regrading yards that funnel water toward your basement. We run mini excavators and match the machine to each project's depth, access, and soil.

Residential lots across the Gatineau region hit problems standard contractors with full-size equipment can't solve. Side yards too narrow for big machines. Backyard gates too tight to drive through. Properties bordered by retaining walls or mature trees. Every one of these needs a compact machine that can actually turn around.

We've done residential excavation across Gatineau, Aylmer, Hull, Cantley, and Chelsea for 25+ years. Every project starts with an Info-Excavation utility locate request — legally required in Quebec — so the underground services are mapped before anyone breaks ground.

Mini excavator digging alongside a foundation in a narrow Gatineau side yard

Residential excavation services across the Gatineau area

Foundation excavation exposes the full wall from grade to footing. That access is what lets us apply membrane, install drainage, and inspect the wall and footing condition.

Projects that combine waterproofing and drain replacement in one excavation cut total disruption and protect landscaping. The trench has to fit workers and materials while holding safe shoring in reactive clay soil.

Yard grading reshapes terrain around your home to direct surface water away from the foundation. Quebec's building code requires a minimum slope away from the wall — a standard many Gatineau properties lose as clay backfill consolidates over time.

Drainage correction through swales and catch basins routes surface water across the yard to proper outlets. On clay-heavy lots, controlling surface drainage prevents saturation of the upper soil layer that feeds pressure against basement walls.

Excavated trench alongside a residential foundation in Gatineau

Mini excavator fleet — the right machine for the site

Our mini excavator fleet is purpose-built for tight-access residential work. The smallest machines fit through standard garden gates, alongside garages, and between closely spaced homes without tearing up the yard to get in.

Heavier machines handle deeper digs and tougher soil. The right size depends on the job — and an oversized excavator on a small lot damages driveways, lawns, and utilities, while an undersized machine in dense clay stalls production. We match equipment to the site, not the other way around.

Selecting the right machine matters for protecting your property. We own the full range so we pick based on what the job actually needs.

Mini excavators staged for residential work in Gatineau

Yard grading and drainage — directing water away from the house

Improper grading causes more basement water problems than any single foundation defect. When soil slopes toward the house, every rainstorm and snowmelt channels surface water directly against the basement wall.

Regrading means stripping topsoil, reshaping the subgrade to proper slope, and restoring the topsoil at the correct profile. On properties with mature gardens or patios, selective grading targets only the critical drainage zones closest to the foundation.

Where surface grading alone can't solve the problem, subsurface systems extend the protection. Curtain drains intercept water migrating across the lot before it reaches the foundation zone.

Proper drainage protects every improvement on your property. Interlock, decks, and retaining walls all last longer on well-drained sites. Doing foundation repair or waterproofing without correcting drainage leaves the underlying cause of the water damage wide open.

Yard grading in progress showing proper slope away from a foundation

Our process

01

Site assessment and Info-Excavation utility locate request

02

Pick the right mini excavator based on access and depth

03

Excavate, grade, or prep the site to the project spec

04

Compact subgrade and verify drainage slope

05

Restore landscaping, clean up, and final site inspection

A $2,000 crack injection today can prevent a $25,000 excavation next year.

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Frequently asked questions

Client Reviews

What homeowners are saying

Real homeowners. Real projects. Honest results across Gatineau and Aylmer.

Co-designing and executing the landscaping near our house with Pascal was an easygoing exercise with a great result. He offered multiple good options and always listened to our feedback. He was able to explain the strategy behind his recommendations with an aesthetic eye: how the approach would look from the road, how to tie in various structural and colour elements of the house with the landscaping. The interlock included some contrasting colours and patterns, and the front driveway circle is a rarity. Highly recommended.

Kelvin Prosyk

June 2025

Renovatech is one of the best companies that I've ever hired to complete a renovation project. Pascal is transparent and honest when it comes to discussing design choices and pricing and the team work extremely hard to deliver quality work within established timelines. Would recommend to anyone and will continue to call them for my future projects.

Madyson Charbonneau

April 2025

I just had my daughter's birthday party in our new backyard. Everyone was really impressed, which is what inspired this review! Pascal really has a vision for these spaces. The project included cutting out a slope, putting in a beautiful wood retaining wall, new grass, cedars, and a fantastic interlock patio that runs from the deck around to the garage. I now have a decorated sheltered seating area under the overhanging 2nd floor. Everything came out so nice. I strongly recommend Renovatech for any landscaping needs.

C Vass

March 2025

We cannot recommend Pascal and the Renovatech team strongly enough. The quality of work is impeccable, the worksite is always kept clean, they manage projects to be the least disruptive and deliver what they say and when they say it. When we've had any issues with the house, they are extremely responsive — even showing up late on a Sunday evening of a long weekend to help with a surprise leak in our foundation. Cannot recommend the Renovatech team strongly enough.

Dan Benoit

April 2025

Renovatech — Pascal and Team — are my go-to contractors for all things around our home. From landscaping projects, to bathrooms, and basements they do it all. Fair and honest, and 100% transparent — they'll take the time to explain the various materials, pro-cons, and stick within your budget, and always perform high-quality workmanship.

Pej Javaheri

February 2025

Pascal from Rénovatech helped us plan new steps, choose materials, and explained how it could be accomplished using his vast array of equipment. He kept us informed when our initial plan was snagged due to production delays — but the product arrived just in time to meet our strict deadline. His team started excavating Thursday morning and by the end of the next day our entrance stairway was completed. The new steps look great! We would gladly work with Rénovatech again.

Robert Way

September 2025

We had a great experience with Renovatech. They redid our front steps and we are really happy with the work. Pascal was very patient in talking us through our options and helped us pick the right stone to match the house. It was a pleasure to work with them and we wouldn't hesitate to work with them again on another project in the future. Highly recommend!

Valerie Goodhue

March 2025

Excellent work! The team are super professional and their product is next to none. Pascal truly puts his heart into the work his team does! We absolutely recommend them! We love the beautiful deck they made us. The detailed work is incredible!

Jake G

April 2023

We couldn't be happier with Renovatech's work — Pascal and crew were professional and meticulous, starting with a critical repair to our foundation and a new patio in the backyard. We highly recommend this company and their quality workmanship. Hat's off to a job well done!

Charlene Campbell

March 2025

Pascal and his team are amazing. We needed a deck built around this cabin renovation project and they delivered!! Very precise, professional, and punctual — we would highly recommend their services!

Steve Bedard

April 2025

Reliable and hard working. They understand what quality work is all about.

Martin Pham Dinh

March 2026

An honest contractor who takes pride in his work — harder and harder to find these days. Pascal and his team are rare gems. They built the deck we had always dreamed of.

Nicolas Pham-Dinh

Mars 2026

Excellent service at Renovatech Gatineau! The team was courteous and professional. We really appreciated the suggestions and advice that helped us make the right choices for our project, especially for our hardwood floors. The staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and takes the time to explain the different options. Highly recommend!

Gabrielle Aubert

Mars 2026

I want to thank Pascal and his team at Renovatech. Last year for the construction of my patio and this year for the grading work. You did a remarkable job!! A professional and dedicated team that always gives their best. Very satisfied client. Highly recommend!!

Mathieu Rioux

Avril 2025

Pascal and his team always do exceptional work, they listen to their clients' needs and can solve any problem. Attention to detail is very important to Pascal and that is what makes his projects a success. It is a pleasure to work with them.

Gabrielle Aubert-Dubois

Mars 2025

Very positive experience with this company. A skilled, professional, and efficient team. The work is done with care and the quality is excellent. You can tell they know their trade perfectly and know exactly what to do to get an impeccable result. Highly recommend!

Stephany Labelle

Mars 2026

Great work from Pascal's team. He redid my driveway, my steps, and graded my yard. He was very helpful and reliable, and proposed good solutions to achieve the desired result.

Étienne Gosselin

Avril 2024

Want a straight answer on your job?

Call us or send a quote request. We'll walk your property and tell you what we see.

819.213.0597
RBQ Licensed #5659-5812-0125+ years in GatineauOwner on every job

Free Estimate

Tell us what's going on. We'll call you back fast.