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Site visit, plan review and Dial Before You Dig. One clear quote covering dig, cartage and cleanup.
Licensed Sydney Rock Excavation
Rock Excavation Sydney
Sandstone, shale and hard rock removed where a standard dig stops. Rock saw, breaker or ripper matched to the rock and the access, for pools, basements, footings, trenches and site cuts across Sydney. Rock carted, site left to level.
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4.9 from happy Sydney customers Request your free quote
No obligation, free site quote.
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✓ Licensed operators
✓ Dial Before You Dig
✓ Fully insured work
✓ Local Sydney crew
Rock
Digs handled
Mini to 35t
Machine range
4.9★
Average rating
Free
Site quotes
At a glance
The rock excavation job, in short
Methods
Saw, breaker, ripper
Matched to the rock and the edge
Machine range
3 to 30t
Breaker on a mini for backyards, bigger for basements
Rock types
Sandstone, shale, ironstone
Hawkesbury sandstone most common
Typical jobs
Pools, basements, footings
Trenches and site cuts in rock
Edges
Sawn where it matters
Boundaries, footings and neighbours
Vibration
Managed and monitored
Neighbours told, dilapidation where needed
Spoil
Rock loaded and carted
Or crushed for reuse where the plan allows
Handover
Cut to level
Ready for the shell, slab or footing
What's included
What rock excavation covers
Rock breaking
Hydraulic breaker on a mini, midi or standard excavator for bulk sandstone and shale removal.
Rock sawing
Clean vertical cuts next to boundaries, footings and existing structures where a breaker would over-break.
Ripping
Weathered and layered rock pulled apart with a ripper tooth before it's dug.
Pool and basement rock
Deep cuts in rock shaped to plan, with edges cut clean for the shell or shoring.
Footings and piers in rock
Pads and pier holes broken out to the engineer's depth.
Rock removal and cartage
Broken rock loaded out and carted, or crushed on site where it can be reused as fill.
Where it suits
Every job that hits rock
The rock decides the method and the access decides the machine.
How it runs
First call to clean handover
Every job follows the same sequence, whether it's a single trench or a full site cut.
A trench can be a day, a basement can be weeks. Dates come with the quote, not after.
What size suits your job
Right machine for your access
Excavators are sized in tonnes, and the size decides both what it can dig and whether it fits your block. We bring the one that suits the job, not whatever's parked up.
Not sure what'll fit? Access usually decides it, tell us the site and we'll match the machine.
The job explained
What rock excavation actually involves
The first question on any Sydney dig is how deep the rock is, and the answer usually comes from a geotech report, a neighbour's excavation or a test hole at the site look. If rock's likely, the quote is built around it from the start: the machine, the attachment, the time and the cartage all change, and it's better to know that before the job is booked than to find out on day two.
Once the soil is off and the rock is exposed, the method depends on what it is. Weathered sandstone that's already fractured into slabs can often be ripped: a single heavy tooth is dragged through the bedding planes and the rock lifts apart, which is fast and quiet. Solid beds need a hydraulic breaker, a chisel on the end of the excavator that fractures the rock a piece at a time. It's the workhorse for pools, basements and footings, and it's loud, so neighbours are told and hours are kept to council limits.
Where the edge of the cut matters, a rock saw goes in first. A saw leaves a straight vertical face, which is what you want along a boundary, beside an existing footing, or where a pool shell or shoring wall has to sit hard against the rock. Breaking to a boundary without a saw cut over-breaks past the line and takes the neighbour's ground with it.
Vibration is managed rather than ignored. On tight sites a dilapidation report of the neighbouring house before work starts protects everyone, and monitoring is set up where the engineer asks for it.
Broken rock is loaded out as the dig goes. It's heavier and bulkier than soil, so cartage is a bigger part of the job and is spelled out in the quote. On larger sites it's sometimes crushed and reused as fill. The finished cut is trimmed to the level the engineer or pool builder needs and left clean for the next trade.
Recent work
Sites we've dug
Penrith Site cut
Castle Hill Pool dig
Ryde Basement
Liverpool Civil
“Very easy to deal with.
Excellent communication” Priya, Penrith
Excellent communication” Priya, Penrith
“Left the site spotless.” Dave, Castle Hill
“Would definitely recommend them!” Marcus, Ryde
“Great job thanks so much.” Lauren, Liverpool
“Very easy to deal with. Excellent communication” Priya, Penrith “Left the site spotless.” Dave, Castle Hill “Would definitely recommend them!” Marcus, Ryde “Great job thanks so much.” Lauren, Liverpool
“Very easy to deal with. Excellent communication” Priya, Penrith “Left the site spotless.” Dave, Castle Hill “Would definitely recommend them!” Marcus, Ryde “Great job thanks so much.” Lauren, Liverpool
Rock excavation questions, answered
How much does rock excavation cost in Sydney?
Rock is priced on the type, how much has to come out, the method it needs and how far it has to be carted. It’s more per cubic metre than soil because it’s slower to remove and heavier to move. Every job gets a written quote after a site look, and if rock’s likely it’s in the quote from the start rather than added later.
How do you know if there’s rock on my site?
A geotech report if you have one, what neighbouring digs found, and a test hole at the site look. On the North Shore, Northern Beaches and around the harbour we assume rock until proven otherwise.
What’s the difference between a rock saw and a breaker?
A saw makes a clean straight cut and is used along boundaries, footings and anywhere the edge matters. A breaker fractures rock for bulk removal and is faster but rougher. Most rock jobs use both.
Will it damage my neighbour’s house?
Vibration through sandstone is real, which is why boundary edges are sawn, hours are kept to council limits and a dilapidation report is recommended on tight sites. Monitoring is set up where the engineer requires it.
What happens if you hit rock partway through a dig?
If it wasn’t expected, work stops and you get a clear explanation and a revised scope before it continues. If the site look flagged rock, it’s already in the quote and the job carries on.
Can you excavate rock in a tight-access backyard?
Yes. A breaker fits on a 3 to 5-tonne mini that goes through most side gates. It’s slower than a big machine but it gets pools and footings done where nothing else fits.
What do you do with the rock?
Loaded out and carted to a recycler, or crushed and reused on site as fill where the plan allows. Some sandstone is kept for landscaping if you want it. Cartage is set out in the quote.
Other services
Excavation for every stage
What happens next
Tell us the job. We'll size it up.
✓ Tell us the suburb, the access and what needs digging
✓ We'll come out and look before quoting anything
✓ You'll get a written quote with what's included spelled out
✓ The machine's matched to your access, not whatever's free
✓ Clear on spoil, cartage and cleanup before we start
✓ No obligation, no pressure
Where we work
Excavation right across Sydney
From Liverpool and Macarthur out west, up through the Hills and the North Shore, across the Inner West and the Eastern Suburbs, over to the Northern Beaches and down to the Sutherland Shire. If you're anywhere in Sydney, we can get to you.
Check we cover your suburb →Free quote
Ready to get your dig underway?
Tell us about the job. We'll look at the site before quoting, so you know what's included before anything starts.
✓ Written quote after a proper site look
✓ Free quote after a proper site assessment
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