Family owned & operated. We have been in business since 1994 and specialize in septic and drain field repair and water line repairs. We can also locate your drain field and septic tank and provide a septic inspection letter. Unfortunately we do not do septic pumping or cleaning. We offer free estimates and use a rubber track machine for minimal damage to your lawn. At Graves Excavating we strive to provide customer satisfaction. Our goal is to work with our customers and make sure they understand exactly what needs to be done to repair their issue. Our integrity is very important to us. All material and craftsmanship is guaranteed for one year. We are happy to provide references upon request. **ask about our referral incentives
Business highlights
31 years of trusted experience
Emergency Services Offered
Services we offer
Sewer Septic Repairs, Water Line Repairs, Sewer Line Repairs. We also do new septic system installations. Also can locate drain field and provide a septic letter. All estimates are free of charge. **one discount per job
Marshall from Graves Excavating responded right away to my call and went out to my property to give me an both a cost and time to repair estimate. Graves Excavating stayed within his estimate for both. We had been waiting weeks for another contractor who never showed up to do the work. Graves Excavating explained different plans of action and let us decide what we wanted to do. We are very appreciative of his responsiveness and the work that he completed.
Description of Work: Septic repair
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
$2,625
Response from GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
Thank you so much for your business. It was a pleasure working for you. If you need assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to call. Blessings, Marshall
Sarah I.
12/2017
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Marshall was terrific, very informative/experienced! Would definitely call on again!
Description of Work: Needed to locate septic tank, assess whether intact after huge tree log fell vertically onto the area, locate/explain leech field properties/function, and determine whether or not bobcat w/belted tires could drive over leech field w/o causing leech field damage.
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 GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
Thank you. I appreciate the positive feedback. Please call again if you need further assistance. Merry Christmas!
Gerald P.
08/2017
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
Went fine. Marshall was very responsive, came to the house the same day that I called, assessed the problem, and did the work in a rapid and professional manner. Very friendly guy, dependable and quality work.
Description of Work: Drain fields needed work done due to clogging.
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
$2,750
Debbie C.
03/2017
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
Mr. Graves and his workers were promptly here and determined the problem. They rebuilt parts of my system that had aged and deteriorated. The team also was able to reconnect everything. Mr. Graves and his employees explained everything to me, cleaned, and smoothed my yard. I have every confidence that I will have no more trouble for many years.
Description of Work: My septic system was not functioning properly and I needed someone to determine the cause and correct it.
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
Stephen W.
12/2016
4.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
They were professional, friendly. They left nothing to question. They communicated well, and did what they said that they would do. They did the work promptly and on time. The work itself is okay, but they left quite a mess that's going to take me quite some time to clean up. Other than that the septic field itself is quite fine. I just got a damaged yard to fix. Their price is at a high end.
Description of Work: They did a septic draining field.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
3.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,700
A. J. H.
10/2016
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
He was excellent. Called back immediately and made arrangements to prepare our house for building. He also dug our drain field and put in septic tank. Have never had trouble with either job and was completed timely and perfect. Passed inspection without problems. Always on time. Excellent work and extremely professional.
Description of Work: Excavated for our new house. He also repaired our septic tank and drain field in previous house we sold. Put in new drain field and seotictank in new house.
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
Debbie C.
10/2016
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Mr. Graves and his crew went above and beyond their duty to even cut the offending cherry tree, with my blessing of course, and push it into the neighboring woods. No amout of words can express my gratitude for their prompt response to my pleas of help. Mr. Graves did not know me, yet he made time to come and assess the situation the very afternoon I called. Another company told me they couldn't possibly come for at least 2 WEEKS!! Mr. Graves could not start work that afternoon, but did instruct me as to his plans and what I needed to do in preparation for his arrival. (Make sure there were no cars parked in the lower part of the drive and have the fence unlocked. All animals had to be out of the front yard so they couldn't escape). He and his crew came, did their work while I was at work and I arrived home in the early afternoon. They were in the process of preparing to leave. My yard was neatly smoothed back in place, no debris was present, and my plumbing worked perfectly. They had even gone so far as to smooth my gravel drive where the rain had washed it into an uneven mess. They pushed some brush and overgrown weeds back into the woods when the disposed of the cherry tree. Wow!! I had my driveway back! Mr. Graves was nothing short of a gentleman and a friendly professional angel in my book. I highly recommend him for any septic and fill bed excavation or repair/replacement work anyone needs. He's quick, neat, responsible, and wholly trustworthy.
Description of Work: Mr. Graves and his crew excavated the area from the lower part of my septic tank to the line leading to the fill beds. They determined the cause of my slow draining plumbing was a combination of things. Roots had infiltrated the pipe coming from the tank leading to the fill beds. The outflow baffle inside my septic tank had deteriorated and fallen off allowing solids to flow into that same line. Mr. Graves and his crew built a new baffle and connected it to the septic tank in order for it to work properly and replaced the damaged line leading from the tank to the fill beds, bypassing the old one. My house was built in 1979 so it has held up rather well apparently since this is the first real septic problem we've had.
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
$1,850
Lawrence D.
06/2016
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
We had been having ongoing issues with our septic tank backing up into the house. We had a septic drain company come out and clear our drain several times. They checked our tank and told us we needed to have the tank pumped, and if that didn't work, we needed to call a drain field expert. We had the tank pumped, and it did not work. We were given Graves information to call to look at our drain field. Graves came out and determined the drain field appeared to be functioning properly. But he didn't stop there. He was determined to find out what was causing our issue. He spent several hours at our house and eventually diagnosed and fixed the problem. Then to top it off...he did not charge us a thing! Graves was very honest, professional and knowledgable. I would highly recommend him to my friends and neighbors.
Description of Work: Septic tank repair
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
Chris A.
03/2016
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
It went very well. They educated me on different systems, told me where to research the different systems. I went with the chamber system. They worked well with me and the permits. I was very happy with them. I may have to have another system installed at a rental. if I do I will absolutely call them back. I highly recommend them to anyone.
Description of Work: Installed a 2nd Field Drain system
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
$4,600
Chris A.
03/2016
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
It went very well. They educated me on different systems, told me where to research the different systems. I went with the chamber system. They worked well with me and the permits. I was very happy with them. I may have to have another system installed at a rental. if I do I will absolutely call them back. I highly recommend them to anyone.
Description of Work: Installed a 2nd Field Drain system
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
$4,600
Grace G.
12/2015
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
They did an excellent job for us, in fact the results exceeded our expectations and at a reasonable price.. They were extremely knowledgeable about septic systems which in our experience is rare out here in our area. First time at our home, they knew exactly what to do, how to do it and followed through expeditiously with end results more than satisfactory. They will be our 'go to' source for any septic problems in the future. We highly recommend Graves Excavating.
Description of Work: repaired septic system
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
Deborah W.
10/2015
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
It's the best investment I made to an existing problem that required pumping septic tank every six months. My graves advised that I only need to pump it every five years.
Description of Work: Replace a lead pipe going from Spetic tank that was a 1970's corrugated pipe full of roots. And installed a t value insude
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
$5,000
Gary H.
05/2015
1.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
After 3 months the septic began pooling again, I called Mr. Graves and he came out and said the lines were full, all he could do was add more drain fields. Now a year and half later it is still pooling. He connected 72 feet of new drain field to an existing clogged drain with solids. I called someone else, he informed me it requires a permit from the state to install a new drain field. One small detail Mr. Graves never said. I now have the permit from the state, Roane county official came out and looked at the situation. He said the old drain field is clogged with solids and we need to bypass the existing drain field and install 150 feet somewhere else. So now I have 72 feet of useless drain field connected to the old existing one which is clogged. This guy is a con artist and does not know what he is doing.
Description of Work: Original post dated October 8, 2014 this is being revised. Installed 72 feet of drain field.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
$2,950
Charles F G.
10/2014
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Marshall's installs and repairs septic tanks, particularly mechanical and plumbing issues, but this turned out to be an electrical component. He provided two other recommendations for this replacement and did not charge for this time or gasoline, and he is over an hour away. I would call him again.
Description of Work: He drove quite a way to provide the service, promptly attended the requirement, and spent an hour diagnosing the problem. It wasn't Marshall's field of expertise so he provided two other vendors to call and did not charge for his time or gasoline. I would recommend his service both for promptness and honesty.
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
William T.
10/2014
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
Mr. Graves and his crew provided a same day service. Everyone was very professional and new what they were doing. They had all parts/supplies on hand without leaving the job site. The job was completed to include clean-up in a timely manner, but was not hurried up in anyway. I will use them again, GREAT JOB!!!
Description of Work: Excavated septic tank and field area to determine source of clogged lines. Cleaned out tree roots and filled in areas that had been dug up.
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
$2,337.5
Jacci F.
05/2014
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Mr Graves coordinated with the septic company (Kington Drain) and everyone arrived on time and got the job done as smoothly as possible. There turned out to be some needed repairs and Mr. Graves was very conscious of saving me money while getting the job done correctly. I highly recommend both companies! Thanks so much!
Description of Work: We are selling our 25 year old home and want to avoid any "surprises". I called and tried to arrange for an inspection. After a brief conversation he told me that he was not the man I needed - he gave me an excellent referral that made him no money but saved me money - who does that? It was great! Thanks so much! A business with great integrity! An update - it turns out that my septic system was buried 5' deep so I did need Mr. Graves to come out and excavate the system for inspecton and drainage.
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
$1,000
Response from GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
Thank you so much for the positive review [member name removed]. I am happy that I was able to help. Please call anytime I can be of assistance.
Mary H.
04/2014
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
We called Marshall Graves for help with the drain field. Before doing landscaping and putting up a fence, we needed any drainage work taken care of. Mr. Graves has been out before to do things like replacing the septic tank lid with one that included a clean-out pipe for easier use. (Following this particular job, two other households in our family called Mr. Graves for the same service.) Mr. Graves is a busy contractor and if you do not have a need for the job to be done quickly, he will 'work you in' as he can. We spoke to him and it appeared that he would not be able to get to us for a couple of weeks. Once he realized that there were other jobs that we needed to deal with after he finished the drain field, he put our job on his priority list. I spoke to him on Monday, he came out to provide a free estimate on Tuesday, and returned to do our work on Wednesday. He puts a priority on emergency jobs which is something I greatly appreciate. If you have a pressing need, let him know. Mr Graves gave us a couple of different options for fixing the difficulties we had. He recommended the least expensive way to efficiently take care of our problem. I was not at home when he arrived, but my husband was there. According to him, everything went very smoothly. Mr. Graves arrived with his crew and with the necessary equipment, including the variety of connectors that he might need. A large magnolia tree (removed a couple of years ago) had left large roots throughout the area to be worked in. These were an unexpected complication, but the old roots were removed. A 25' by 4' container system was sunk into the ground to catch runoff. This allowed a greater filtration in a smaller amount of space. The cleanup was well done. As always, we are pleased with the job that Mr. Graves has done. I will recommend him to friends, family, and anyone that needs work done in areas of septic, drainage, or excavating. There is one problem that has nothing to do with Marshall Graves or his company but is worth noting here. Some years ago, this business had a telephone number beginning in 691. This number is no longer in service. (The number attached to Angie's list is the correct one.) Unfortunately, there are several websites by other companies that have the incorrect telephone number listed. These websites are not affiliated with Graves Excavating, and they apparently have no pressing need to ensure that the contact information is correct. I notified Mr. Graves of this and he will try to change the numbers in the websites. If you get a "number not in service" message, please check the Angie's list contact information and try again. This company is worth the extra effort. The current number (Apr, 2014) is 865-755-7617.
Description of Work: I have used Graves Excavating for a number of jobs. This job included splitting drainage water from the gutters off from the drain water from the washing machine and treating each type of water separately. The rainwater has been piped from the house down into the lower yard. The wash water now goes into a container system that separates the gray water and sediment before going into the drain field. The drain field which was installed in the mid-1960's has been updated properly.
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
$2,100
Response from GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
Thank you very much for taking the time to give me a positive review. It was a pleasure doing business with you.
John D.
03/2014
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Marshall provided me an estimate for the work. I mentioned the 15% off coupon and was expecting to hear that his quote included that 15%. I was pleasantly surprised when he applied the 15% promptly without any pushback at all. His response was on time, his work was spot-on. He didn't try to sell me a bill of goods that I didn't need. He took the time in doing the job to make everything appear as neat as possible. That alone was above and beyond anything I would have expected. This company came highly rated from the Angie's list data, and that's 100% of how I made my selection. It was great to see that the reviews were accurate all the way around. If you have septic issues - give this place a call. All his work carries a 1 year warranty, but I'll be keeping his number just in case anything else comes up. I'm a very happy customer :)
Description of Work: Found blockage in the leech field. Located the gravel bed for a leech field from 8-10 years ago. Excavated to the gravel bed, replaced the T-joint in the tank, the pipe to the leech field and added approximately 35 feet of leech field tubing. Covered the trench and made sure the ground was temped down. Located the secondary septic tank, cleared great clump from t-valve. Replaced T-valve and defective pipe to the leech line. Covered all excavated ground.
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
$2,800
Response from GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
Thank you so much for your review. Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything.
Lee H.
01/2014
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Very prompt service. Found the problems, cleared the procedure with health department. Graves septic kept the damage to the yard to a minimum.
Description of Work: Replace t joint in septic tank, excavated to find the three lines that came out of the tanks and repaired them. Covered everything back up. Helped in monitoring the cleaning out/pumping of septic tank by another company. This time is was pumped correctly.
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
Response from GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
Thank you for your business! It was a pleasure meeting you. Please call if you need further assistance.
Elizabeth H.
11/2013
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Kington Septic Tank Service (pumping septic tanks) recommended Marshall Graves as one of the best. Marshall Graves showed up on time and completed the work in the time that he estimated. He and his crew members answered questions that I had. I was able to take pictures of the work for future reference. After a big rain, the dirt around the new tank and part of the drain line settled. I called Marshall Graves and he and his crew came out and filled in the low places at no extra charge. (He used the "extra" dirt displaced by the new tank.) Marshall Graves accomplished the work in a manner that caused the least amount of damage (without being asked to do so). We are pleased with the new "plastic" tank and the repair work. We greatly appreciate the second trip to add dirt in the sunken place at no extra charge. The transaction was confirmed with a handshake. (I haven't had a business do this in decades. It was quite refreshing to find someone/ a business whose "word is their bond".) The work was completed as we agreed--timely, satisfactorily, and professionally. Marshall Graves and his crew were easy to work with and are helpful people. We highly recommend Marshall Graves and Graves Excavating. We will use them again should the need arise. This was a very positive service "experience".
Description of Work: Inspected septic tank and drain field. The septic tank needed replacing and the drain field needed repair and reconnecting to the new septic tank. The old septic tank was from the 1960's and the code has changed. The new septic tank complied with the current code and was made of a "plastic" type material. The new septic tank was installed in a different area of the yard. (The old septic tank was next to the house/under a deck. The new septic tank is out in the yard and easier to service.) The drain pipe was rerouted to the new tank. The new septic tank was reconnected to the existing drain field and the drain field "junctions" were repaired/replaced. Marshall Graves arranged for a County inspector to come out and note the septic tank changes for our properties files--so that if we build in the area of the original septic tank, the County does not have to require a total inspection of the new septic tank work.
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
$5,700
Gary H.
10/2013
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
Marshall was very responsive to my call for help. I called Kington Sewer/Septic to drain my septic tank. After I told them the line was pooling, they suggested I have Marshall take a look and determine what was going wrong. I called Marshall and he immediately made an appointment within a week. A couple of days later he called, saying he was in my area (Kingston, TN) and would it be convenient if he came by that day. I agreed and he came by, telling me that the older drain field was basically worn out and would need extending. He said he would put in 60 to 100 feet of additional drain for $2500 to $3000. He made an appointment for the following week. The day arrived and he called, asking if we were still on. After I said yes, he said he would be by in a couple of hours after he picked up his equipment. An hour later, he called and said his truck broke down and he was on the side of the interstate waiting for a tow. (I appreciated the timely notification). He made an appointment for the following week. This time he was on time and ready to go. Marshall and his two workers spent about three hours digging a two to four foot deep, three foot wide, 75-foot long trench with a Bobcat backhoe(?) and hooked the existing line to the new plastic drain field. That was a week ago and everything is working as it should.
Description of Work: Installed 72 feet of septic drain field at my 40 year old home where the septic began pooling above ground.
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
$2,950
Deborah C.
09/2013
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Marshall was wonderful as was all his employees. He was repairing the problem in less than 24 hours after we first spoke. He was very clear in educating me on what the problem was and what caused it. He gave me advice when asked how to avoid future problems. They cleaned up all the "mess" that comes with these projects. If you need any of these services, do not hesitate to call Marshall Graves.
Description of Work: He replaced old drain lines from the septic tank to the main line.
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
$2,125
Linda K.
09/2013
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
He has been one of the best service providers that we have ever dealt with. We called him on Wednesday and he said he would be able to come out the next day. We could not have asked for better. We would definitely use him again in the future. He was a pleasure to work with. He ended up matching another competitor's price. He was a very nice man to talk with on the phone, very helpful, explained everything very well. He had nothing but good things to say about the other competitor. He showed up when he said he would and he wanted to make it the best for us and most convenient. Very Professional and had all of the right equipment.
Description of Work: He came out to perform a septic tank inspection because we are trying to sell our home.
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
$195
ERIK H.
06/2013
5.0
septic tank
 + -1 more
Marshall and his men did an excellent job excavating the old septic lines and replacing them with new ones. It was a hot day, and the work couldn't have been pleasant, but they clearly demonstrated that they knew what they were doing and never complained a bit. Marshall is a gentleman, and his workers are skilled at what they do. I would have them back anytime to work on our system again (but hopefully I won't need them).
Description of Work: Dug up old septic lines and replaced them with new ones. The old ones were clogged and not working very well.
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
$2,975
Elaine B.
05/2013
5.0
excavators, septic tank
 + 0 more
They are excellent. The experience was actually very gratifying because it's not fun to have to do that kind of stuff. They were very responsive. They came and did the work in one afternoon. They brought in heavy equipment which I thought would topple down the hill side, but it didn’t. They absolutely got the repairs and everything doing what it's supposed to be doing. I have recommended them a couple of times.
Description of Work: Graves Excavating Septic repaired the septic tank for me. The T-junction had broken off, which connects the septic tank to the drain field. They had to dig up a huge slop of earth on a steep hillside, do a repair and then move the earth back.
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
$2,750
Response from GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC
I really appreciate your business and your referrals!
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
Septic Systems,
Excavating
FAQ
GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.
GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
No, GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC does not offer warranties.
GRAVES EXCAVATING SEPTIC offers the following services: Sewer Septic Repairs, Water Line Repairs, Sewer Line Repairs. We also do new septic system installations. Also can locate drain field and provide a septic letter. All estimates are free of charge. **one discount per job