Demolition
We take down old barns, sheds, garages and outbuildings, plus concrete slabs and old foundations. The debris gets hauled away, and the ground is graded after the demolition.
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Doberman Excavation and Services handles septic system installation for homes and businesses in Oak Hill and across Greene County. We set new septic tanks and dig the leach fields that go with them. An engineer or other New York design professional draws the plan. We build the system to that plan.
We also handle septic system repair when a tank cracks or a leach field stops taking water. Septic work is part of what we do as an excavation contractor serving Oak Hill and the northern Catskills. Call or text (518) 281-8003 with the address and a few photos for a free estimate.
Tell us about the job and where the property is. We look at the job and put a free estimate in writing.
Every new system starts with a design that meets Appendix 75-A, the state health department's standard. The design sizes the tank and lays out the leach field. On a new build, the septic dig fits in with site preparation for the house.
Across Greene County, the septic permit is usually a town permit, so start with your town's building department. In the Town of Durham, which takes in Oak Hill, the permit form asks for stamped engineered plans. Catskill's and Greenville's septic permit forms both say work may not start until the permit is issued. In Rensselaerville, septic approval comes from the Albany County Department of Health.
The tank sits on a bed of sand or pea gravel at least three inches deep. Leach field trenches follow the contour of the ground, with level bottoms and washed stone under and over the pipe. The state standard keeps heavy machines off the field area, since their weight can pack the soil and break pipe. In Durham, the town inspects the system before it is covered.
Greene County's open space plan cites an older county sewerage study. That study rated about 95 percent of the county's land as potentially unsuited for septic systems. The limits it names are high groundwater, shallow bedrock, poorly drained soil and flooding. Pockets of usable soil can still sit inside those areas.
That is why each lot gets its own tests. The state standard calls for at least two perc tests and a test hole at least six feet deep. A conventional trench system needs at least four feet of usable soil above bedrock and groundwater.
Shallow trenches can work with two to four feet of usable soil. With less, the designer may call for a raised system or a mound built up in fill. Raised system fill must settle six months or more, through one freeze and thaw. Sand or sandy loam fill can be compacted in thin layers instead.
A failing septic system gives warning signs. The U.S. EPA lists sewage backing up, slow drains, gurgling pipes and soggy ground over the leach field. Bright green, spongy grass over the tank or field is another sign. For a Catskills second home, we can look at a septic concern while you are away and send photos.
State health department guidance says a like-for-like repair may not need a design professional. A new tank in the same spot is one example. A new leach field needs a designer even in the old spot, as does a raised system or mound. In the Town of Greenville, a tank-only replacement is the one replacement that skips engineered plans.
Under the state standard, roof and footing drains stay out of the septic system. Our French drains and yard drainage work can carry that water away from the leach field. The leach field cannot sit under a driveway, and the tank cannot either unless it is built for the load. Plan any new gravel driveway around both.
Call or text for a written quote. We work about 35 miles around Oak Hill across Greene County and the northern Catskills.
(518) 281-8003From the first call or text to the finished work, here is how it goes.
Call or text (518) 281-8003, or send the form. Tell us where the property is and what the job is.
Send a few photos and a short description of the job. For land work, the approximate acreage helps too.
We look at the job and talk through how to handle it. Then we give you a free estimate.
We set a start date with you and bring the right machine for the job. The work follows the plan we talked through.
We finish with final grading and property cleanup. Debris gets hauled away when the job calls for it.
Common questions about septic systems around Oak Hill and the northern Catskills. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.
We take down old barns, sheds, garages and outbuildings, plus concrete slabs and old foundations. The debris gets hauled away, and the ground is graded after the demolition.
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We take down hazard and fallen trees with our machines and pull the stumps out with their roots. The wood and debris get hauled away when the work is done.
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We keep up Catskills vacation homes, rentals, second homes and land for owners who live out of the area. We mow fields, fix driveways, clean ditches and clear storm damage, then send you photos.
Learn MoreCall or text with the location and a few photos of the job. We talk through the best approach and give you a free estimate.
We can clear the lot, dig the footings and trenches, backfill and do the final grading. The dirt work on the whole site runs through one company.
We take small jobs, like post holes for a sign or a yard repair after construction. Send a photo of the spot, and we talk it through with you.
Oak Hill sits at the center of our service area. It covers Greene County and reaches Rensselaerville in Albany County and Saugerties in Ulster County.
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Great service on time and was quick to get quotes over compared to waiting for 2 weeks for 2 others to get back
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What septic system installation costs in upstate New York: conventional vs raised systems, perc tests, permits and leach field size. Market ranges only.
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French drain cost in New York: national market ranges per foot for yard and curtain drains. See how rock and the outlet move the price in the Catskills.
Read more →Tell us where the property is and what you need done. You can also call or text (518) 281-8003 for a free estimate.
Tell us about the job and where the property is. We look at the job and put a free estimate in writing.