Sewer and excavation contractor for Metro Detroit. Sewer line replacement when the old clay finally gives out. Water service repairs from main to meter. Foundation excavation for new builds and additions. Underground utilities. Site prep and grading that passes inspection the first time.
Below-grade work that runs on contractor time and passes inspection the first time. From emergency sewer line breaks to foundation excavation for a new build, the scope is handled end to end with permits, utility coordination, and restoration included.
Full residential and commercial sewer line replacement. Open-trench and trenchless options. Coordinated with municipal inspection, utility locates, and permit close-out.
Water service line repair and replacement. Main-to-meter, meter-to-structure, and interior shutoff work. Emergency response on breaks, scheduled work on service upgrades.
Foundation excavation for new construction, additions, and rebuilds. Basement digs, footing trenches, crawl space excavation. Engineered to specification.
Trenching and installation for electric, gas, water, sewer, and communications utilities. Coordinated with utility providers and municipal permitting.
Site preparation and grading for new construction, parking lots, and commercial development. Clearing, rough grading, compaction, and erosion control.
Most excavation contractors treat their work in isolation. Dig the hole, lay the pipe, backfill, done. That works until something doesn't, and you're left waiting on a different trade to finish what the excavation depends on.
Liora Works runs excavation as part of the full construction scope. Sewer replacement paired with the demolition of the driveway above it. Foundation excavation timed to the concrete pour. Utility trenching coordinated with the site grading. One crew, one project manager, one invoice.
On standalone excavation projects, we still run the full scope end to end. Permits, utility locates through MISS DIG, the primary dig work, inspection coordination, backfill to spec, and final grade restoration. No handoffs to chase down.
From first call to final inspection. This is how below-grade work actually runs on a Liora Works project.
Walk-through, utility locate request to MISS DIG, depth and conditions review. Quote within 24 hours on standard residential scope.
Permit applications submitted to the municipality. Utility locates confirmed before dig. Right-of-way permits obtained if required.
Dig to specified depth and dimensions. Open-trench sewer, foundation excavation, trenching, or site grading depending on scope.
New pipe installed, foundation formed, utilities laid, or site graded to spec. Municipal inspection scheduled before backfill.
Backfill to specification with proper compaction. Rough grade restoration. Final inspection. Permit close-out. Ready for next phase.
Six questions we hear most often from Metro Detroit property owners, general contractors, and property managers scoping below-grade work.
Yes. Sewer line replacement, water service line work, and any excavation below grade requires permits through the local municipality. Detroit issues permits through BSEED. Suburban municipalities handle their own building departments. Permits typically include plumbing or mechanical permit for the service line, right-of-way permit if work crosses public property, and soil erosion and sediment control permit for larger excavations. Liora Works handles permit applications and coordinates inspections as part of the scope.
Open-trench sewer replacement excavates along the full length of the existing line, removes it, and installs new pipe. This is the traditional method and handles any condition including collapsed lines, heavily offset joints, and deep utilities. Trenchless methods including pipe bursting and cured-in-place lining replace the pipe through existing access points without full excavation, preserving landscaping, driveways, and hardscape. Trenchless works when the existing line is structurally intact enough to guide replacement. Liora Works assesses site conditions and recommends the right method per project.
Most residential sewer line replacements complete in 1 to 3 working days from excavation start. Permits and utility locates can add 1 to 2 weeks before work begins. Commercial sewer line replacements typically run 3 to 7 working days depending on line length and depth. Trenchless replacements often complete in 1 to 2 days including restoration. Weather, depth below grade, and unexpected conditions like rock or conflicting utilities can extend timelines.
Yes. All excavation projects start with MISS DIG utility locates, the statewide one-call system that marks underground utilities including gas, electric, water, sewer, and communications before any digging. Liora Works submits locate requests, coordinates with utility providers on any disconnects required, and works with marked utilities on site. Utility locate marks are valid for 21 days; if work extends beyond that window, fresh locates are required.
Winter excavation is possible but more expensive and slower than warm-weather work. Frozen ground requires heavier equipment or frost-breaking attachments to penetrate. Open excavations need to be covered or stabilized against freeze-thaw cycles. Concrete work including footing pours requires heated enclosures or additives. Emergency repairs including broken water lines and sewer backups are handled year-round. Scheduled projects often benefit from waiting until April through November when soil conditions cooperate and overall project cost is lower.
Yes. Standard scope includes excavation, the primary work (sewer line, water line, foundation, utilities), backfill with specified material, compaction to required density, and rough grade restoration. Lawn restoration, topsoil replacement, and seeding are typically separate line items quoted with the project. Hardscape restoration including driveway, concrete, and asphalt replacement is coordinated as needed. Final inspection and permit close-out is part of standard scope.
Send us your scope. Sewer replacement, water line repair, foundation excavation, utilities, or site prep. We'll send back a clear itemized quote with permits and inspection handled.