EXCAVATION. ROCKWORK. DRAINAGE. CARPENTRY.

Founded in Nelson BC in 2000, Scoop Contracting is a family-built excavation and construction company with decades of local experience.

Today, we are a small, woman-run, highly capable team focused on the kind of property improvements that need both heavy equipment and a good eye for detail.

WHAT WE DO

PRACTICAL SITE WORK FOR KOOTENAY PROPERTIES

Residential Excavation

Utility trenching, grading, driveway work, building prep, clearing, and material delivery. We handle the excavation work that helps make a property more usable, accessible, and ready for the next step.

Rock Work & Retaining Walls

Custom rock walls & steps made with local granite, retaining features, terracing, & slope stabilization. Our work is designed to look good, fit the property, and hold up for decades.

Water, Drainage & Foundation Repair

Perimeter drains, French drains, grading, foundation repairs & waterproofing. We help correct drainage issues before they can lead to major structural problems.

Carpentry & Home Repairs

We handle small and medium-sized carpentry projects, with a focus on custom decks & other outdoor structures, as well as practical interior and exterior upgrades & repairs.

Rock retaining wall on steep mountain bank in Nelson BC.
Cedar timber-frame-privacy-fence-refined-finishing-nelson

From Site Prep to Finished Property

Blending excavation, hard landscaping, and carpentry, we guide Kootenay projects from raw site prep to a polished finish. Our family-run team handles the heavy lifting, coordinates smoothly with other local trades, and ensures every job is done properly—leaving a property beautiful and built to last.

✔ Precise Site Grading & New Construction Prep
✔ Rock Features & Retaining Walls
✔ Residential Drainage, Waterproofing & French Drains
✔ Utility Trenching & Service Rough-Ins
✔ Driveways, Resurfacing & Parking Pads
✔ Custom Cedar Decks, Stairs & Railings
✔ Fences, Sheds & Small Outbuildings
✔ Structural Rot, Home Restoration & Exterior Repairs
✔ Professional Debris Removal & Clean Site Handoffs

ROCKWORK & PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS

  • Sourcing Smart Site Management,
  • All-in-One Solutions,
  • Functional, Long-Term Value

Common Questions, Clear Answers

Property work can feel complicated, especially when drainage, access, slopes, utilities, or older construction are involved. Here are a few answers to common questions we hear from homeowners.

Do you provide free on-site estimates?

Yes. We come to your property, look at the access, slope, drainage, soil, rock, and work area, then provide a clear, written estimate based on what we can see. Some jobs are straightforward, while others may need a bit of exploratory work before the full scope is clear.

How do you handle hidden structural issues?

If we uncover something unexpected, such as rot, foundation damage, unsuitable material, or a utility conflict, we stop and talk through the options with you before moving ahead. We do everything we can to make sure there are no surprise costs on your bill.

What is the best material to build a retaining wall out of?

The best material depends on the site, the budget, the access, and the look you want. There is no single material that is right for every property.

We favor natural rock walls built with local granite whenever possible because they are strong, beautiful, relatively budget-friendly, and age very well. They also tend to look like they belong in the local landscape.

That said, we have built many strong, long-lasting retaining walls out of a variety of different materials, including Allan Block, large concrete lock blocks, gabion basket systems, and poured concrete. The material matters, but proper design, drainage, base preparation, and build technique matter more.
A well-built wall with proper drainage has no business not standing up to the test of time.

Can you rebuild an existing retaining wall?

Yes. We can usually rebuild either the entire wall or just a single problem section.

In some cases, the existing material can be reused. In other cases, it makes more sense to replace it with a new or different system. The first step is looking at why the original wall failed, so the new one does not have the same problem.

Are you equipped for steep Kootenay grades?

Yes. A lot of our work is on steep, awkward, or tight-access properties. Our smallest excavator can fit through openings as narrow as 3 feet, which lets us access backyards, side yards, and areas that larger equipment cannot reach.

Can you manage my project from start to finish?

Yes. Many of our projects involve more than one type of work, such as excavation, drainage, rockwork, hard landscaping, and carpentry. When needed, we also coordinate with electricians, plumbers, arborists, and landscapers so the project can move forward without the homeowner having to manage every piece separately.

My current retaining wall is failing. If I rebuild it, will it fail again eventually?

Not if it is rebuilt properly. Retaining walls usually fail because of what is happening behind or underneath the wall, not just because of the original build quality or material used.

In the Kootenays, the number one reason for retaining wall failure is wet soil behind or under the wall freezing and thawing every year with the seasons. As that water expands and contracts, over time, it can push the wall out of place.

That is why we install proper drainage behind and under every retaining feature we build. A good wall needs a stable base & drain rock that extends past the usual freezing depth. When those details are handled properly and combined with the proper installation of a quality wall system, a retaining wall can stay strong, stable, and attractive for decades.

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Big shoutout to Kelly, Hopi, Colin and the crew at Scoop Excavating in Nelson BC. They pay close attention to detail, work hard, and leave the site in better shape than they found it. Especially when it comes to rock walls, they put them back together better than they were when first built. Great experience all around. Highly recommend Scoop You can trust this contractor to deliver quality.

Kim Verigin – Nelson BC

five-stars