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King County, Washington

Excavation & Tree Service in Kirkland, WA

Kirkland stretches along the east shore of Lake Washington from Houghton up through Juanita and Finn Hill to Kingsgate. It has some of the strictest tree rules on the Eastside and a lot of high-value homes on tight or sloped lots.

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What We Do Here

Services in Kirkland

Hills rising steeply from the lakeshore, with Finn Hill and Rose Hill on the uplands and ravines and wetlands between them.

Excavation Contractor in Kirkland

Foundations, trenches and pads dug for Kirkland ground. Glacial till over most of the uplands, with outwash sands in places and soft deposits in the Totem Lake and Juanita lowlands.

Typical jobs here

  • New home and ADU foundationsFootprints for new houses, ADUs and garages on infill and teardown lots around Juanita and Finn Hill, dug to the elevations on your plans and ready for forms.
  • Hillside cuts and daylight basementsExcavation on sloped Kirkland lots, with spoil hauled off as it is dug instead of stockpiled on the slope, and temporary erosion control in place first.
Excavation Contractor in Kirkland

Land Clearing in Kirkland

Lots, pastures and acreage cleared, stumped and hauled out. Lake Washington shoreline, Juanita Creek, Forbes Creek and the Totem Lake wetlands all carry critical-area or shoreline rules.

Typical jobs here

  • Building site clearingClearing the footprint, driveway and utility corridor for a new home or ADU in Kirkland, keeping the trees that are meant to stay and protecting their roots.
  • Selective clearing and thinningTaking out brush, small trees and hazard trees while leaving a healthy stand, the way most homeowners around Finn Hill want their property cleaned up.
Land Clearing in Kirkland

Tree Removal in Kirkland

Arborist-led removals and hazard trees. Mature Douglas fir and western red cedar, especially on Finn Hill and in the older neighborhoods.

Typical jobs here

  • Hazard trees over the houseLeaning, cracked or dying trees within reach of a roof in Juanita or Finn Hill, taken down in controlled sections and lowered instead of dropped.
  • Removals on slopesTrees on Kirkland hillsides and ravine edges, removed with the stump and roots left in place where they are holding the bank.
Tree Removal in Kirkland

Grading & Drainage in Kirkland

Grading, French drains, retaining walls and pads that move water away from Kirkland homes.

Typical jobs here

  • Wet yards and crawlspacesRegrading and French or curtain drains for Kirkland yards that stay soggy all winter because water perches on the hard till below.
  • Retaining walls on slopesBlock and rock retaining walls that hold back sloped Kirkland yards and driveways, built with drainage behind them so they last.
Grading & Drainage in Kirkland

Demolition Contractor in Kirkland

Houses, sheds, slabs and driveways taken down and hauled. From mid-century homes on Finn Hill to high-end new construction in Houghton and Market.

Typical jobs here

  • Older home teardownsFull demolition of older homes in neighborhoods like Juanita, with the asbestos survey, utility disconnects, haul-off and grading handled in order.
  • Sheds, garages and carportsOutbuildings taken down to the slab, the slab broken out and the debris hauled, leaving the Kirkland yard graded and clean.
Demolition Contractor in Kirkland

Hauling & Dump Truck Service in Kirkland

Spoil haul-off and rock, fill and topsoil delivery via I-405 and NE 85th St.

Typical jobs here

  • Spoil haul-offExcavated soil loaded straight from the machine to our trucks and taken to a legitimate fill or disposal site, so Kirkland sites never have a pile sitting for weeks.
  • Gravel and crushed rock deliveryCrushed rock for driveways, pads and paths delivered across Kirkland via I-405, and spread with the machine if you want it placed.
Hauling & Dump Truck Service in Kirkland

Local Conditions

Working the ground in Kirkland

The ground

Glacial till over most of the uplands, with outwash sands in places and soft deposits in the Totem Lake and Juanita lowlands.

Water and buffers

Lake Washington shoreline, Juanita Creek, Forbes Creek and the Totem Lake wetlands all carry critical-area or shoreline rules.

Trees

Mature Douglas fir and western red cedar, especially on Finn Hill and in the older neighborhoods. Hazard trees over homes and view trees on the slopes are the common questions.

Homes and lots

From mid-century homes on Finn Hill to high-end new construction in Houghton and Market. Teardown and rebuild projects are common.

Cost

What moves the price in Kirkland

Slope and access

Steep Kirkland lots take smaller machines, more careful staging and sometimes engineering, which adds time compared with flat, open ground.

Tight lots

Narrow side yards and alley access in Kirkland mean compact equipment and shorter truck loads. We plan it so it costs less than it could.

Soft ground

Where Kirkland soils are soft or wet, over-excavation, fabric and imported rock are often part of the job, and we price that in up front.

Buffers and permits

Work near Kirkland's rivers, creeks, lakes or shoreline can need permits and limits on where machines go. That affects scope and schedule more than price.

Haul-off and disposal

How much material leaves the site, and what it is, drives cost. Our own trucks keep that predictable on Kirkland jobs.

Timing

When to schedule work in Kirkland

In Kirkland, the dry months from late spring into early fall are prime time for excavation, clearing and grading, when soil compacts properly and machines leave the ground in good shape. Tree work, hauling and demolition run year round.

Winter is when Kirkland's till soils show where water collects. Note the wet spots, then fix them in the dry season.

Tree work in Kirkland often needs a permit first, so start early if you want it done before winter storms.

Permits & Rules

Permits in Kirkland

Inside city limits, permits come from the City of Kirkland. Outside them, the King County Department of Local Services takes over. Kirkland has a detailed tree code. Removing trees on private property usually needs a permit or advance notice depending on the tree and the lot, and replacement trees are often required. We check the requirements before scheduling.

Demolition in King County falls under the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which requires an asbestos survey and notice before most structures come down. Every dig starts with an 811 utility locate.

Coverage

Neighborhoods we cover

  • Juanita
  • Finn Hill
  • Totem Lake
  • Kingsgate
  • Rose Hill
  • Houghton
  • Market
  • Bridle Trails

Main routes for our trucks: I-405, NE 85th St, NE 124th St, Lake Washington Blvd.

Kirkland is part of our King County service area.

Real Jobs

Recent DirtRaptor work near Kirkland

Bobcat E42 excavator prying up old asphalt driveway in Edmonds, WA

Demolition · Edmonds, WA

Driveway Removal & Concrete Prep

Tearing out an old blacktop driveway and prepping the ground for a new concrete pour — broken material hauled off, base left clean and ready.

Condemned 100-year-old shed with caution tape before demolition in Everett, WA

Demolition · Everett, WA

Condemned 100-Year-Old Shed Teardown

A 100-year-old shed, condemned and unsafe, brought down and hauled off — the site left graded flat and clean.

Questions

Kirkland FAQs

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Kirkland?

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Usually something is required. Kirkland regulates removal of significant trees on private lots, with different rules for hazard trees, development and critical areas. We assess the tree and tell you what the city will need before any cutting.

Can you prep a Kirkland teardown lot for a new house?

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Yes. We demolish the old structure, remove the foundation and slab, take out the trees that are approved for removal, protect the ones being kept, and excavate for the new foundation, all with one crew.

Can one company handle both the trees and the excavation on my Kirkland project?

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Yes, that is what DirtRaptor is built for. We take down the trees, pull the stumps, dig, grade and haul it all away with one crew, so there is no waiting between trades.

Do you work in unincorporated areas around Kirkland?

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Yes. Inside city limits, the City of Kirkland handles permits. Outside them, the King County Department of Local Services does. We check the parcel before quoting so the right rules are planned for.

What does a typical Kirkland project cost?

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It depends on the site, so every quote follows a free site walk. In Kirkland, the things that move the number most are slope and access, soft ground, buffers and permits.

Which parts of Kirkland does DirtRaptor serve?

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All of it, including Juanita, Finn Hill, Totem Lake, Kingsgate, Rose Hill, Houghton, Market and Bridle Trails, plus the unincorporated areas around the city. This is part of our core service area, so smaller jobs are welcome.

How do I get a quote in Kirkland?

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Send us the address, a few photos and a rough idea of the job through the quote form, or call (425) 232-4858. We come out for a free site walk and give you a written number with clear inclusions and exclusions.

Nearby

Also serving near Kirkland

Get a Free QuoteCall (425) 232-4858