We are a Christian, family owned business serving Lancaster, Lebanon and surrounding areas. We have been in business over 14 years and have over 25 years experience in excavating and paving.
Business highlights
24 years of trusted experience
Services we offer
We specialize in EXTERIOR basement waterproofing and are dedicated to keeping the water OUTSIDE your walls. We excavate down to footer, install membrane, drain board, footer drain, and exterior sump pit with sump pump.
Initial dig went good, from there things went downhill. I talked with Carlisle Rubber about the MariDRI material used and Carlisle said a mastic calking (CCW 704 or CCW LM800XL) should be used under the (aluminum) termination strip at the top. I don't remember seeing anything like that being done, and Fahnestock never answered my question about this procedure. I also asked Carlisle if Fahnestock was an approved contractor for this material installation and they neither confirmed nor denyed my request. Fahnestock told me they don't do tamping in the backfill operation, which most others do. Backfill was a very quick & rough job in my opinion. In the rain right after work was completed still had damp blocks on the two walls. It has not rained that hard here since first month of completion, so I can't honestly say if this solved my problem. I paid fully the day of completion and had to request a paid invoice. I had quotes for a little more and am sorry I didn't go with a contractor who does this full time and not a part time fill in business.
Description of Work: foundation waterproofing
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
3.0
value
3.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
3.0
$8,750
Carl M.
01/2019
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
this is the wrong contracter. phanistock excavating did work thankyou
Description of Work: fuel oil tank removed
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,400
Jude D.
10/2017
5.0
excavators, basement waterproofing
+ 0 more
Excellent work!
Description of Work: Outside grading to enable proper water flow away from building. Prevention of water coming into basement egress window.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,750
Response from Fahnestock Excavating Inc
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Blessings!
Virginia P.
07/2017
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Dwight and his sons did a outstanding job for us excavating for a foundation, trenching for underground utilities and lot grading . They provided top notch, experienced work with great customer service. They were extremely knowledgeable and provided guidance on making sure the project was done properly. They went above and beyond. They have modern equipment and machinery that performs the project efficiently and accurately. We highly recommend them.
Description of Work: Excavating
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Response from Fahnestock Excavating Inc
We appreciate your kind words. Thank you and God bless!
Pamela G.
02/2017
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
I was very pleased. Dwight was immediately willing to undertake the work. He was very helpful in determining where to site the tank. The property has many large seen and unseen ironstone rocks so digging is problematic. Dwight showed up promptly, did the work efficiently, and consulted about the finish work. He made some accommodations to ensure the tank would stay in the ground when we encountered water. For me, it is difficult to have my property altered by excavation, but Dwight was reassuring about the capacity to restore it.
Description of Work: Trench and hole dug for a 500 gallon underground propane tank.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$800
Kelli N.
01/2017
1.0
mulch
+ -1 more
He was absolutely terrible. I tried to talk to him and it did not work. I had a tree removed and had the stump ground but I didn’t have the person who did that didn’t do any landscaping work so he didn’t take it away. So I needed to find somebody who was an excavator to take the grindings away and fill it up with dirt. So I asked him for top soil and I noticed that his price was lower than everybody else. So I neglected to ask for screened topsoil and he did not tell me that there was a big difference between “top soil” and “screened top soil”. So he basically bought over this huge load of clay that had rocks in it some the sizes of a football. I would have had no problems if he has said to me look, this price is for this. There is a difference between screened top soil and this top soil. I would have thought that was very fair and if I’d chosen the first one that was my problem. I wrote him a letter saying I was unhappy and he called me right away and said it was indeed top soil and it interchangeable with screen top soil because grass will over a stone road. I had at least a 150lb stone and two years later I’m still struggling with that. He even said he could come over with his power equipment to level it but it would not be fair to him. Had it been screen top soil I would have been happy to pay more. I live by myself and it is a lot to be maintained.
Description of Work: Fahnstock drilled hole from outside french drain to inside of the basement, installed pipe from french drain to a hole that they drilled, then installed sump pump. Additioanlly, applied poxy to two cracks in foundation wall.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
$3,000
Julian K.
12/2014
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Mr Fahnestock and I were able to coordinate a good time for both our schedules over a few week period and upon arrival he removed the old concrete patio without any issues and hauled away the debris. I will use Mr Fahnestock for any additonal excavation work needed around the property.
Description of Work: Large concrete patio removal
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,300
Timothy L.
12/2014
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Fahnestock did some preventative maintenance work on 2 detention ponds for the development. Good quality work and good job identify potential future problems. Price was very fair
Description of Work: Excavation for some foundation footers Maintenance on some medium sized detention ponds in the woods
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000
Kermit B.
12/2014
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Our sewer lateral partially collapsed two days before Thanksgiving. We had a real emergency. Dwight was very responsive to our needs. He worked us in around his already scheduled jobs to get us functioning again in a timely manner. He completed the job in one day and did it very professionally.
Description of Work: Replaced sewer lateral.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,500
Paul A.
07/2014
4.0
excavators, basement waterproofing
+ 0 more
It went well. It was hard and I understand how this type of work is hard to estimate. We also changed the scope a bit, so that's understandable. But we should have probably kept a better tab on the bill as we were progressing. He does the work safely and he communicates why he's doing various things. While we met the objective, I will say that it didn't go as I imagined... but then again, I'm not an excavator. I really thought we'd dig a narrow ditch with a temporary retaining wall... it ended up being a huge ditch for safety reasons (so it wouldn't cave. I also did not realize when we got the estimate that removing rocks would be extra. That makes sense, but in hindsight I would have thought that I'd have been given a heads up. After all, Dwight is a Lancaster county native, so I'm guessing that we'd be quite likely on a limestone ridge.
Description of Work: Dwight dug a big drainage ditch to alleviate flooding in my basement. It seems to be working. We had a lot of big rocks...more like bedrock, that he had to punch through.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000
Lynn F.
06/2014
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Returned my calls promptly and provided detailed estimate in a timely manner. Once payment received work started within 10 days. Completed job quickly and did a great job. I believe this was his first riding ring and he did an outstanding job in all aspects. (crown, sub base, base and top sand) I will keep his number handy for future projects.
Description of Work: provided excavating, surface material and landscaping 80 x 160 outdoor horse riding ring
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$25,000
AJ S.
01/2014
4.0
excavators
+ -1 more
We asked this firm for an estimate for grading excavation and installing a swale. Way too expensive! Wanted to overhaul our entire landscape on one side of our home which entailed all kinds of costs, equipment etc. we wanted simple and got extravagant with a cost to match! Very nice owner, but just didn't listen to our plea. Also we had to keep calling to even get the estimate after owner arrived said they kept losing our phone number. Not sure that is a good thing. Didn't hear back from them for over a month.
Description of Work: I used Fahnestock Excavating Inc
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
value
1.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
3.0
$10,000
Dwight N.
09/2013
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
It took awhile to get the quote and to arrange a date to the work, but once the date was set, they came and did that work on the day that was arranged. The grading was done well as well as the deeding and straw application. Overall it was a good experience.
Description of Work: Graded lawn after wells were drilled for Geothermal heat.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200
Ronald B.
08/2013
5.0
excavators, tree service, lawn treatment
+ 1 more
We had two large trees with stumps ground several months ago. The felling of the trees caused deep holes in the ground where the limbs hit. The stump area was very uneven and grass would not grow because of the wood chipped soil. Using Angie's list, we called Dwight Fahnestock up to see if our request to have the area ripped up, re-sculptured and reseeded to make it into a usable lawn again would be something that would fit into his area of expertise. It was and we requested that he choose a time that would be suitable to fit it into his schedule. A few days ago he came out to do the job stating that he expected to finish it that day. About an hour into the job pieces of the tree roots were being pulled from the ground and when I used the words ripped up, that is exactly what was happening. Pulling roots is not pretty but I could see it was being done the right which is the way I like things done. My personal opinion at that time was there was no way it would be done in one day, which would have been fine. I left to go golfing and as I drove down the road coming home around 7PM, I expected to see the equipment sitting there so the job could be finished the next day. Instead the equipment was gone and the area was re-sculptured as requested with straw covering the newly spread grass seed. I was amazed. Downspout water runoff will be a very welcome thing when the heavy rains come by again. We could not be happier with the results and the job came in under quote because we did not need any topsoil and nothing had to be hauled away. If we ever need excavation work done again, Fahnestock Excavation will be at the top of the list.
Description of Work: Rip up, re-sculpture, reseed the lawn where two large trees were removed and provide underground downspout water runoff also.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,458
Larry W.
03/2013
5.0
excavators, basement waterproofing
+ 0 more
I needed my basement waterproofed and searched Angies List under excavating and found Fahnstock Excavating, who I called for a quote and he came out the next day. He spent enough time looking at the job and telling me what he would do to waterproof the basement walls that I got confident he could do the work properly. I was looking for a vendor who would suggest the same kind of waterproofing treatment that I see on the current HGTV shows, and he did not disappoint. He was easy to work with and listened to my ideas as well as offering other ideas. In the end we spent about 3 hours deciding what was to be done and he promised a quote in the mail by the next week, which I got on time. He showed up with his crew and equipment on time and got right to work. His crew was easy to work with and things got done quickly. After two and a half days he had excavated the walls, waterproofed them, installed a drainage system, removed an unexpected tank, and backfilled and regraded the yard areas properly. Now I can wait for it to dry and rake it out and replant grass. His price was good and I am very happy with the results of his work. I would readily recommend him to anyone needed waterproofing or general excavating.
Description of Work: I had him excavate around three sides of the house to expose the basement walls, clean the walls of all debris and mud, apply waterproofing materials, install a drainage system, install a sump pump hole and pump, backfill and re-grade the affected parts of the yard. He did all very wall and in a timely manner
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,800
Charles G.
08/2012
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Dwight did what we agreed to, for a good price. The work was done in one day. I would recommend them to do work again if needed.
Description of Work: Regrade side yard to clear dranage problem.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,460
Carol S.
04/2012
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
Dwight responded quickly to provide onsite quote visit and provided a very competitive quote. Once approved, the work commenced within the week and was completed on one day. Very professional service, competitive and work was very well done. We are very happy with the results and have recommended him to others.
Description of Work: We needed some dredging and installation of some rain drainage pipes, as well as regrading and seeding a portion of the yard.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,300
mark P.
09/2010
5.0
excavators
+ -1 more
They were very reasonable with their price. They were on time and did very professional work. I was very satisfied with the overall project. They were very easy to work with.
Description of Work: They did some excavating work for me, redid my driveway, and put in a septic tank.
All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.
*Contact business to see additional licenses.
Service Categories
Excavating,
Basement Waterproofing,
Drain Pipe Installation,
Wells and Pumps,
Tree Service,
Mulch and Topsoil,
Lawn Fertilization & Treatment,
Snow Removal,
Septic Systems
FAQ
Fahnestock Excavating Inc is currently rated 4.6 overall out of 5.
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Fahnestock Excavating Inc accepts the following forms of payment: Check
No, Fahnestock Excavating Inc does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Fahnestock Excavating Inc does not offer a senior discount.
No, Fahnestock Excavating Inc does not offer emergency services.
No, Fahnestock Excavating Inc does not offer warranties.
Fahnestock Excavating Inc offers the following services: We specialize in EXTERIOR basement waterproofing and are dedicated to keeping the water OUTSIDE your walls. We excavate down to footer, install membrane, drain board, footer drain, and exterior sump pit with sump pump.