Excavation Services in Murray, UT

Murray doesn’t have the hillside drama of a Draper or the new-subdivision energy of a Herriman. What Murray has is 70 years of homes built on Bonneville clay that has been slowly winning the battle against every foundation in the city. This is a place where excavation work is driven by maintenance, repair, and the inevitable need to fix what time and soil movement have damaged. AccuRite Excavation does this kind of work throughout Murray, and we’ve learned that the older the home, the more careful the excavation needs to be.

Foundation Work: Murray’s Most Common Excavation Need

Drive through Murray’s residential neighborhoods — the blocks around Murray Park, the streets off 5300 South, the homes along Vine Street and 4800 South — and you’ll see the evidence of clay soil at work. Cracked foundations, bowed basement walls, uneven driveways, and misaligned garage doors are all symptoms of soil that has been pushing and pulling against these structures for decades.

When these problems get serious enough for repair, excavation is the first step. We dig down along the exterior foundation wall to the bottom of the footing, creating a working space for foundation repair contractors to waterproof, seal, reinforce, or install piers. The depth is usually six to eight feet, and the trench has to be wide enough for workers and materials.

This isn’t aggressive digging. Working next to a 60-year-old foundation requires controlled excavation in shallow lifts to avoid undermining the wall. We brace when necessary and maintain the trench at a safe angle of repose for the clay soil. The goal is to expose the foundation without making the problem worse.

Basement Waterproofing

Murray basements get wet. The Bonneville clay holds water against foundation walls, and many homes built before modern waterproofing standards don’t have adequate exterior drainage. We excavate for basement waterproofing — digging down to the footing, applying waterproof membrane, installing drain tile, and backfilling with gravel to create a drainage path that keeps water from pressing against the wall.

Utility Replacement in Aging Neighborhoods

Murray’s original utility infrastructure is old enough that wholesale replacement is underway. Sewer laterals made from clay tile or Orangeburg pipe (a compressed paper product that was common in post-war construction) have exceeded their design life. Cast iron water services from the same era are corroding. Storm drains in some neighborhoods are undersized for current standards.

We handle underground utility replacement throughout Murray. A typical residential utility project involves trenching from the house to the city main in the street, removing the old pipe, installing new material, backfilling with proper bedding, and restoring the surface.

In Murray’s established neighborhoods, utility trenching means working around mature trees, driveways, sidewalks, and other utilities. We plan trenching routes to minimize disruption and use trenchless methods when they’re practical and cost-effective.

The State Street Corridor

State Street through Murray has been the city’s commercial spine for decades, and redevelopment has been accelerating. Older commercial buildings, gas stations, and strip malls are being replaced with new development — mixed-use buildings, retail centers, and medical offices.

Commercial demolition and site clearing along State Street is part of this transformation. We remove old buildings, foundations, and site improvements to create clean pads for new construction. Some State Street properties have environmental considerations from previous uses (gas stations in particular), and we coordinate with environmental consultants when contaminated soil management is part of the scope.

Murray Park Area

The Murray Park neighborhood is one of the city’s most established residential areas. Homes here date from the 1950s and 1960s, and the tree-lined streets have a character worth preserving during excavation work. When we trench for utilities or dig for foundation repair in this area, we take extra care to protect street trees, mature landscaping, and the neighborhood’s established aesthetic.

The soil around Murray Park is typical central valley clay, with Little Cottonwood Creek nearby influencing the water table seasonally. Spring projects in this area may require dewatering.

5300 South Corridor

The 5300 South corridor through Murray carries heavy traffic and has a mix of commercial and residential frontage. Excavation work along this corridor — whether commercial site prep or residential projects on adjacent streets — requires attention to traffic access and the high density of underground utilities that accumulate along major roads.

Serving Murray and Central Salt Lake Valley

Murray borders Midvale to the south, Taylorsville to the west, and Holladay to the east. We work throughout the central Salt Lake Valley and are familiar with the uniform clay conditions that connect these communities. Call (801) 814-6975 for a free estimate on your Murray excavation project.