Question 1

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

West Mountain Earthworks is based in Bernardston, MA and primarily serves Franklin County and the surrounding region.

Question 2

Do you handle septic system installation?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and we make the whole process straightforward. West Mountain Earthworks handles all of the excavation work, including site preparation, digging, backfill, and finish grading. We also maintain relationships with trusted licensed septic engineers and installers, so if you need a referral, we've got you covered.

From the first call to the finished grade, you don't have to chase down multiple contractors. We help coordinate the process so the job gets done right, start to finish.

That's what we mean by Prepare. Excavate. Finish.

Question 3

How do you ensure safety on your projects?

Accepted Answer

Every West Mountain Earthworks employee completes OSHA 30 training before they ever set foot on one of our sites. Equipment isn't just maintained, it's understood. Machine manuals are read, equipment is inspected before every shift, and operators know exactly what they're running and why.

Every job starts with a pre-task safety briefing. Hazards are identified before work begins, not after something goes wrong. In the field, Wayne serves as the safety authority — his call is final, and no schedule or client pressure overrides it.

Our standard is simple: if it isn't safe to proceed, we don't. No exceptions.

Question 4

Do you offer financing?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and we're one of the few excavation companies in the region that do.

West Mountain Earthworks offers financing options for residential projects through a trusted lending partner. It's a personal loan — not a home equity line, not tied to your property. Just a fast, straightforward way to get your project moving without waiting until the timing is perfect.

Whether you're putting in a driveway, clearing a lot, or tackling a full site development project, financing means you don't have to put it off. Apply in minutes and know where you stand before we ever break ground.

Ready to get started? Give us a call and we'll walk you through it.

Question 5

What is the best way to contact us?

Accepted Answer

The best way to reach West Mountain Earthworks is by filling out the contact form right here on our website. The more detail you can share about your project — location, scope, timeline, and any site conditions we should know about — the better we can prepare for that first conversation.

We review every submission promptly and will be in touch to schedule a time to talk.

Have something urgent? Give us a call directly.

Question 6

Do you Provide free estimates?

Accepted Answer

Yes — dependent on the scale of the project. For most residential scopes we can get you a baseline estimate at no charge. For larger or more complex projects, we offer a formal preconstruction process that ensures every detail is accounted for before a single machine moves. That process is provided under a separate agreement.

The best place to start is the contact form on our website. Share as much detail as you can about your project and we'll let you know exactly what to expect from there.

Question 7

How far in advance do I need to book?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size and scope of your project. Rather than give you a number that may not apply to your situation, we'd rather have that conversation directly.

Fill out the contact form on our website with as much detail as you can about your project and we'll discuss scheduling on your initial call with us. That way we can give you a realistic timeline based on what your job actually requires.

Question 8

What Happens If We Hit Ledge or Unexpected Site Conditions?

Accepted Answer

It happens — and how a contractor handles it tells you everything about who you're working with.

If we encounter ledge, high water, buried debris, or any other unexpected site condition, we stop, assess, and communicate with you immediately. Nothing changes without your knowledge and sign-off.

Here's a real example of what that looks like.

When Ben built his own home, the site had other plans. Excavation revealed an underground stream running directly beneath the planned foundation — and ledge that wasn't going anywhere. A lesser crew might have seen a blasting bill and a waterproofing nightmare. Instead, the foundation was shifted just enough to work with what the land was telling us. A properly engineered drywell handled the drainage. The foundation was waterproofed correctly from the start.

That basement has been bone dry ever since.

Ledge and unexpected conditions are problems with solutions — if you know what you're looking at. We assess what the site is actually telling us and give you options, not just a bill.

Any change in scope is handled through a structured process — we stop, reassess, communicate what we found and what it means for your project, get your sign-off, and then move forward. No work proceeds without your agreement.

Question 9

Can you work with my contractor or builder?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — and we're probably already in the same circles.

Ben has spent years building and operating in Franklin County's residential construction market. He understands how builders think, how schedules work, and what it means when a site needs to be ready for the next trade. West Mountain Earthworks was built to fit seamlessly into that process — not create friction in it.

If you have a GC, builder, or developer already on your project, we're comfortable coordinating directly with them. We show up on time, communicate clearly, and finish the site the way the next phase requires it to be finished.

Question 10

Do you handle permits?

Accepted Answer

Yes — for the work we perform, we handle the permits that go with it. Curb cuts, water and sewer hookups, septic permits — if it's part of our scope, we take ownership of the permitting process that comes with it.

For broader project permits that fall outside our direct scope, we'll let you know what's needed and who's responsible. If you have a GC or builder on the project we coordinate with them directly to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Bottom line — if it's our work, it's our permit. You won't be chasing paperwork on our behalf.

Question 11

Are You Licensed and Insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes — fully, across the board.

Every operator at West Mountain Earthworks is licensed to run the equipment we bring to your site. That includes State of Massachusetts Hoisting Licenses, CDL Class A, Hazmat, and Tanker Endorsements. On the construction side, we carry an Unrestricted Construction Supervisor License — one of the highest credentials the state issues.

We are fully insured for the work we perform.

We didn't cut corners getting here and we won't cut corners on your site.

Question 12

Can you do foundations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Due to our direct involvement in residential construction — and the Unrestricted Construction Supervisor License we carry — foundation work is well within our scope.

We understand what a foundation requires not just from the excavation side, but from the building side. That means the hole gets dug right, the drainage is handled correctly, and the site is ready for the next phase the way a builder actually needs it to be.

Not every excavation company can say that. We can.

Question 13

Do you do driveways?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and this is one of the most popular projects to finance through our lending partner. A new driveway is one of those improvements that adds real value to your property but often gets pushed down the list because of upfront cost. With financing available, there's no reason to wait.

Give us a call and we'll walk you through both the project and the payment options.

Question 14

How do I prepare my yard/site before you arrive?

Accepted Answer

The short answer — we handle that with you.

Once your contract is signed, we schedule a pre-project site review before your start date. We walk through access points, identify areas that need to remain clear for equipment, discuss any site-specific conditions we should be aware of, and make sure you know exactly what to expect on day one.

We handle Dig Safe notification and utility marking so you don't have to think about it. By the time we show up, there are no surprises on either side.

Your job is to sign the contract and show up for the walkthrough. We'll take it from there.

Question 15

How does pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Most projects are priced by the job. For straightforward scopes — driveways, lot clearing, site preparation, septic excavation — we assess what the work requires and give you a fixed project price you can plan around.

For full site development and larger scopes, we work from a fixed project agreement with contingency built in for the variables that come with working the land. If conditions arise that fall outside the original scope — ledge, unexpected drainage issues, buried debris — those are handled through our change order process. We stop, reassess, communicate, get your sign-off, and move forward. Nothing proceeds without your agreement.

Veteran owned. Family built. Serving Franklin County and Western Massachusetts.

Ready to move your project forward?

Contact West Mountain Earthworks and let's talk about what your project needs.

West Mountain Earthworks is based in Bernardston, MA and primarily serves Franklin County and the surrounding region.

Our story and values

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about our excavation services

What areas do you serve?

Do you handle septic system installation?

How do you ensure safety on your projects?

Do you offer financing?

What is the best way to contact us?

Do you Provide free estimates?

How far in advance do I need to book?

What Happens If We Hit Ledge or Unexpected Site Conditions?

Can you work with my contractor or builder?

Do you handle permits?

Are You Licensed and Insured?

Can you do foundations?

Do you do driveways?

How do I prepare my yard/site before you arrive?

How does pricing work?

Get an Estimate

Veteran owned. Family built. Serving Franklin County and Western Massachusetts.

Ready to move your project forward?

Contact West Mountain Earthworks and let's talk about what your project needs.

West Mountain Earthworks is based in Bernardston, MA and primarily serves Franklin County and the surrounding region.

Our story and values

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about our excavation services

Question

What areas do you serve?

Question

Do you handle septic system installation?

Question

How do you ensure safety on your projects?

Question

Do you offer financing?

Question

What is the best way to contact us?

Question

Do you Provide free estimates?

Question

How far in advance do I need to book?

Question

What Happens If We Hit Ledge or Unexpected Site Conditions?

Question

Can you work with my contractor or builder?

Question

Do you handle permits?

Question

Are You Licensed and Insured?

Question

Can you do foundations?

Question

Do you do driveways?

Question

How do I prepare my yard/site before you arrive?

Question

How does pricing work?

Get an Estimate