Excavation Gold Coast — pool digs, house cuts and tight-access work done right
Sollid Solutions is a Gold Coast excavation contractor specialising in tight-access residential work. Pools, house cuts, shed pads, retaining excavation, rock breaking — we run 1.7T to 5T tracked machines and dig clean lines you'd be happy to invite the building inspector onto. Owner-operated, fully insured, fixed-price quotes after a free site visit.
- Free on-site excavation quote — fixed price, no surprises
- Tight-access specialists — 1.7T mini fits 900mm side gates
- Rock breaking quoted upfront as a separate line item
- Direct line to the owner-operator, every single job
Gold Coast excavation services we cover
We dig anything from a back-yard plunge pool to a full house cut on a sloping block. Every excavation comes with set-out, dig, spoil removal, hand trim and a clean handover.
- Pool excavation — plunge, lap and standard pools
- House excavation, slab preparation and shed pads
- Site cuts and level pads on sloping or acreage blocks
- Rock breaking and rock-affected hinterland blocks
- Tight-access excavation behind houses and through narrow gates
- Retaining wall excavation, drainage and trenching
What 'excavation' actually covers on a Gold Coast job
Excavation is the digging itself — but almost no residential excavation job is just digging. On a typical Gold Coast block we set out from your plans, dig to shape, depth and level, hand-trim the finished surface, and cart the spoil away so the site's ready for the next trade. If your job also needs clearing, filling and a full pad handover, that's earthmoving, and our Earthmoving & Excavation service page covers that broader scope — this page is about the dig.
- Pool excavation — plunge, lap and family pools, including tight-access blocks.
- House cuts, slab preparation and shed or studio pads.
- Footings, pier holes and post holes near existing buildings.
- Retaining wall excavation and benching along boundaries.
- Drainage, stormwater and services trenching.
- Rock breaking on hard and hinterland blocks.
What excavation costs on the Gold Coast
Excavation pricing comes down to how much material you're moving, how hard it is to reach and what's underneath. As a guide, small excavation jobs run $1,500–$3,500, pool digs typically $3,500–$7,000 for the excavation plus around $2,000 for spoil removal (more on tight-access or rocky blocks), and house cuts $5,000–$20,000 or more depending on volume and slope. A free site visit turns that range into a fixed number. The main drivers are:
- Cubic metres to dig and cart — the single biggest factor.
- Access — a 900mm side gate means a smaller machine and more passes.
- Rock — quoted as a separate, clearly priced line so it's never a surprise.
- Depth and precision — pool and footing digs need tighter tolerances than a rough cut.
- Spoil disposal — distance to the nearest licensed recycling depot.
We never bury rock in a lump-sum and hope. On known hinterland blocks we factor it into the quote; everywhere else it's a transparent hourly line, and we talk to you before the breaker starts.
Hitting rock: what happens, and what it costs
Rock is the number-one reason an excavation quote and an excavation invoice end up different — with a contractor who doesn't handle it honestly. On hinterland blocks around Mudgeeraba, Tallai, Bonogin and Currumbin Valley, we assume some rock and price it in; our guide on why Mudgeeraba blocks need rock breakers shows what that ground looks like.
When we do hit it, the machine slows down and a hydraulic breaker comes out. That costs more per hour than straight digging, which is exactly why we quote it as its own line. If you want to understand when breaking rock is worth it versus another approach, our comparison of rock breaking versus excavation lays it out.
Matching the excavator to the job
The right machine is the one that fits your access and finishes efficiently — not always the biggest. We run 1.7T to 5T tracked machines, so we can bring a mini through a tight side gate or a 5-tonne for an acreage cut. Bringing an oversized machine to a tight block just means it sits idle; bringing an undersized one to a big cut just means you pay for more hours.
- 1.7T tight-access mini — fits standard 900mm gates, gentle on lawns and pavers.
- 3T–5T tracked machines — house cuts, driveways and acreage earthworks.
- Attachments — buckets, augers and hydraulic breakers matched to the task.
Quoting the whole job versus wet hire
Some clients want a fixed price for a defined job; others want a machine and operator by the hour to work alongside their own crew. We do both. If you're weighing it up, our guide on wet hire versus dry hire explains which makes sense for your situation — and why an operator who knows the machine is usually cheaper in the end than hiring bare and learning on the job.
Recent Excavation Gold Coast jobs
Real photos from Sollid Solutions jobs — no stock images.
Why Gold Coast clients book us for excavation gold coast
1.7T mini fits standard 900mm gates. For sub-900mm we arrange a 1.0T or crane-in.
We quote rock as a clear, transparent hourly line item — no end-of-job invoice shock.
Spoil removal to a licensed recycling depot, quoted as its own clear line — no end-of-job surprises.
Final hand-trim to spec and a photo set so you can sign off without driving over.
Excavation Gold Coast — suburbs we cover
We're based in Ormeau and run excavation gold coast jobs across the north Gold Coast, the M1 corridor, the hinterland and Brisbane south. If you don't see your suburb listed, give us a call — we probably still cover it.
Excavation Gold Coast — common questions
How much does excavation cost on the Gold Coast?+
Small excavation jobs $1,500–$3,500. Pool digs typically $3,500–$7,000 for the excavation plus around $2,000 for spoil removal (more on tight-access or rocky blocks). House cuts $5,000–$20,000+ depending on volume and slope. We give you a written fixed price after a free site visit.
Can you do tight-access excavation behind my house?+
Yes — tight access is our specialty. Our 1.7T mini fits standard 900mm side gates. We've dug pools, retained walls and drainage on dozens of Gold Coast blocks where bigger contractors said it couldn't be done.
What happens if you hit rock?+
On hinterland blocks (Tallai, Mudgeeraba, Bonogin, Currumbin Valley) we factor likely rock into the original quote. Elsewhere we quote rock as a separate, clearly priced hourly line so there are no surprises.
Do you work with pool builders directly?+
Yes. We have ongoing relationships with several Gold Coast pool builders and coordinate set-out, dig, levels and handover directly with them — or with owner-builders.
Are you licensed and insured for residential excavation?+
Fully insured for public liability and equipment, plus all the usual safety qualifications. Certificate of Currency on request.
Excavation Gold Coast — guides & case studies
Related services
What Gold Coast clients say
Real reviews from Sollid Solutions customers across the Gold Coast.
“Great experience having Turf delivered directly to me. They were able to accommodate a smaller than usual amount directly to our townhouse. Chelsey was really helpful.”
“Professionally done job.”
“Excellent communication and great delivery. Mulch was good quality and a great price!!! Would definitely go through them again!”
“Got these guys in to do a site cut, soil removal and bring in some material — honestly couldn’t fault them.They turned up when they said they would, got stuck straight into it and just got the job done properly. The site cut came up spot on, nice and level, and they kept everything tidy while they were working which made a big difference.Soil removal was quick and hassle-free, and the material they brought in was good quality and dropped exactly where we needed it. No mucking around.Good communication the whole way through and easy to deal with — which you don’t always get.Would definitely use them again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing earthworks done 👍”
“they are really good people to work with they are ful of love and respect for there work highly recommend”
“Picked up gravel today and couldn’t be happier with the quality and service. The gravel was exactly as described, clean, consistent in size, and looks fantastic in my landscaping project. The staff were friendly, helpful, and made the whole process quick and easy. Great prices, excellent product, and outstanding customer service. Highly recommend and will definitely be back for future projects.”
“Sollid Solutions did an excellent job replacing our damaged fence and gate. Their communication was clear and professional throughout the entire process, and the quality of workmanship was outstanding. The project was completed efficiently and to a high standard. I would happily recommend Sollid Solutions.”
“We used Sollid Solutions for site clearing and excavation work in Helensvale and were seriously impressed with the professionalism and quality of work. John turned up on time, worked long hours and made the whole process stress-free. It’s refreshing to find a reliable earthmoving company that actually cares about the finished result. Highly recommend for anyone needing excavation, trenching or site prep around Helensvale, and the northern Gold Coast”
“We had Sollid Solutions complete levelling, clearing and crusher dust spreading at our property in Upper Coomera and couldn’t be happier with the result. John worked incredibly hard, turned up when he said he would and got the job done properly. It’s hard to find tradies this reliable these days. Highly recommend for excavation and earthworks across Upper Coomera.”
“Fantastic experience with Sollid Solutions. They helped us with a tank pad, trenching and property clean-up in Guanaba. Super professional, great attention to detail and the finished result came up better than expected. Honest, reliable and easy to communicate with. Highly recommend for excavation, earthmoving and site preparation around Guanaba, Wongawallan, Tamborine and the Gold Coast hinterland.”
“Couldn’t recommend Sollid Solutions enough. John completed excavation and levelling work for us in Pimpama and absolutely smashed it out. Hard worker, easy to communicate with and takes pride in doing the job properly. The site was left clean, level and exactly how we wanted it. Great pricing and genuine service. We’ll definitely be using Sollid Solutions again for future earthworks on the Gold Coast.”
“These guys were a pleasure to deal with and got 3m cubed of crusher dust delivered up a steep narrow road in willow vale without issue.”
“Thank you for the prompt delivery of the gravel. Great product at a reasonable price. Very happy with the service and would definitely recommend.”
“These guys are the best”
“Very happy with the work, really hard working team 👍”
“Both John and Chelsey are fantastic people. Their communication, customer service, and delivery were all outstanding. It's great to support a local business that genuinely cares from the start of the job until the end.”
“A personable couple building their little local business. Good rates, prompt delivery and delivered with a smile. Thanks Johnny and Chelsey, the loads of mulch are A-grade. Kind regards, Dave.”
“Excellent service. Great people.”
“I had John come out today to remove a garden bed. First time meeting today — he was on time, I found him to be reliable, great with communication and always letting me know what he is going to do. He takes pride in his work.”
“Quick, clean and efficient service. Friendly and accommodating with my schedule of being a night shift worker. Highly recommend.”
Need excavation gold coast? Let's talk.
Call John direct for a free on-site quote — fixed price, no surprises, owner-operated from start to finish.