Kobelco mini excavator working a tight-access slope between retaining wall posts

Tight access excavation

Narrow side access, sloping blocks, backyards behind existing houses and under-house work. We started as Coastwide Mini Excavations, and tight access is still what we are known for.

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Where tight access work comes from

Coastwide Earthworx grew out of Coastwide Mini Excavations, a business built on getting machines into places bigger operators would rather not go. The fleet has grown since then, but the mini machines are still here, and so is the patience it takes to work a few centimetres from a house, a fence or a neighbour’s garden.

Protecting what is already there

On a tight site the risk is rarely the digging itself. It is the brickwork, the paving, the pipes and the garden between the street and the work. We plan the route in, protect what needs protecting, and choose the smallest machine that will do the job properly.

When a bigger machine makes sense

Tight access does not always mean small machines for the whole job. Sometimes the fastest answer is a mini excavator for the confined part and a larger machine for the open ground. We will tell you which way is more cost-effective when we look at the site.

How narrow an access can you get through?

It depends on the machine and the ground, so we look at every site first. Tell us the narrowest point and send a photo when you ask for an estimate.

Will a mini excavator damage my lawn or paving?

We plan the route and protect surfaces where needed. Some marks on lawn are normal, and we will talk you through what to expect before we start.

Can you work under an existing house?

Yes. Under-house excavation and levelling was one of the services we built the business on.

Is tight access work more expensive?

Smaller machines move less material per hour, so larger jobs can take longer. On the other hand there is often no need for extra demolition to get a big machine in. We will price both options if it helps.

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Sandstone block and sleeper retaining walls, excavated, drained and built by licensed structural landscapers — from garden terraces to walls for new homes.

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Fully licensed. Driveway grading, swimming pool digs, retaining walls, sandstone blocks and entertaining areas — the heavy end of transforming a property.

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