NS Management Group

Common questions

General

Yes. We’ll discuss your project, visit the property if needed, and provide a clear, no-obligation estimate before any work begins.
Absolutely. We help homeowners identify the best solution, explain your options, and recommend the most cost-effective approach.
We serve Priest Lake, Priest River, Nordman, Coolin, Blanchard, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and surrounding areas throughout Bonner County, Idaho.
Yes. NS Management Group is a licensed, bonded, and fully insured contractor for your protection and peace of mind.
Yes. We provide excavation, emergency services, property maintenance, driveway repairs, land clearing, and snow-related services throughout the year.
Yes. We handle everything from a single stump removal or utility trench to complete site development and large excavation projects.
Scheduling depends on the season and current workload. Emergency jobs receive priority, and we’ll let you know the earliest available start date during your estimate.
We accept cash, checks, and most major credit cards.

Excavation

We provide building pads, foundation excavation, utility trenching, drainage improvements, grading, site preparation, driveway construction, culvert installation, and more.
Yes. We prepare building sites by clearing vegetation, grading, excavating foundations, installing drainage, and creating stable building pads.
Yes. We excavate foundations for cabins, garages, shops, pole buildings, and other residential structures.
Yes. We install new culverts, replace damaged culverts, and repair washouts to improve drainage and driveway access.
Yes. We excavate trenches for electrical service, water lines, propane lines, communication lines, and drainage systems.
Absolutely. We install French drains, surface drainage systems, swales, and grading solutions that help direct water away from buildings.

Driveways

Yes. We construct gravel driveways from the ground up, including excavation, geotextile fabric, culverts, base rock, grading, and final shaping.
Yes. We repair potholes, washouts, drainage problems, soft spots, and restore proper grading and crown.
A properly constructed driveway can last for decades with occasional grading and fresh gravel as needed.

Land clearing

Yes. We clear lots for homes, cabins, garages, shops, and other construction projects while preserving trees you want to keep.
Yes. Our excavator removes trees and stumps quickly, including large root systems.
Yes. We remove slash piles, stumps, logs, brush, and construction debris, leaving your property clean.
Absolutely. We remove only the trees necessary to meet your goals while preserving the natural beauty of your property.

Septic

Yes. We install complete residential septic systems, including excavation, tank placement, drainfields, and utility trenching.
Yes. We coordinate permitting requirements and inspections as part of the septic installation process.
Yes. We can remove and replace failing systems or install new systems during new construction.

Water systems

Yes. We install complete rainwater collection systems for cabins, homes, and off-grid properties.
Yes. We install above-ground, partially buried, and underground cistern systems depending on your property’s needs.
Yes. We design systems ranging from seasonal cabin use to full-time residential water supply with pumps, filtration, and freeze protection.
Yes. We install pumps, pressure tanks, filtration systems, UV purification, and related components.

Property maintenance

Yes. We help second-home owners keep their property maintained, accessible, and ready throughout the year.
Yes. We offer property inspections and can notify you of storm damage, fallen trees, frozen pipes, or other issues.

Emergency services

Yes. We respond to washed-out driveways, flooding, blocked access roads, storm damage, and other urgent situations.
Yes. We safely remove fallen trees from homes, driveways, roads, and other structures.
Yes. We repair private roads and driveways damaged by heavy rain, flooding, runoff, or spring thaw.

Heavy equipment

Yes. We move large and heavy items including hot tubs, sheds, water tanks, construction materials, logs, and boulders.
Yes. We provide equipment hauling within the region for contractors and property owners.

Fire mitigation

Defensible space is the area around your home that’s cleared of excessive vegetation to help reduce wildfire risk and improve firefighter access.
Yes. We remove brush, dead trees, ladder fuels, and excess vegetation while maintaining the natural appearance of your property.

Our process

Not always. Once we’ve reviewed the project together, many jobs can be completed while you’re away. We can provide updates and photos if requested.
We use the appropriate equipment for the site, minimize ground disturbance whenever possible, protect existing features, and clean up thoroughly when the job is complete.
We’re full-time Priest Lake residents who understand the local terrain, weather, permitting process, and property challenges. We own our equipment, answer the phone, show up when scheduled, and treat every property as if it were our own.

Costs & estimates

Every project is different, so excavation costs depend on factors like site conditions, access, soil type, rock, tree removal, and the amount of earthwork required. We provide free, detailed estimates so you know exactly what to expect before work begins.
Land clearing costs vary based on tree density, brush, stumps, terrain, and whether debris is hauled away or left on-site. After walking your property, we’ll provide a clear estimate based on the work required.
The cost depends on driveway length, width, excavation requirements, culverts, drainage, geotextile fabric, and the amount of gravel needed. We build driveways designed to handle North Idaho’s weather and seasonal conditions.
Most residential septic installations take between two and five days, depending on site conditions, weather, inspections, and system design.
Pricing depends on the stump’s size, species, root system, accessibility, and whether you’d like the material hauled away. We can remove individual stumps or clear entire properties.

Permits & preparation

Some projects require permits, while others don’t. Septic systems, significant grading, and certain drainage projects may require approval. We’ll help determine what’s needed and coordinate the permitting process when applicable.
Yes. We take every precaution when working around known underground utilities. Property owners are responsible for identifying and marking any private utilities before excavation begins.
We’ll discuss your project beforehand, but generally you’ll want to remove personal items from the work area, ensure access to the property, and have any private underground utilities identified before excavation starts.
Our goal is always to minimize disturbance beyond the work area. While excavation naturally affects the construction zone, we use equipment appropriate for the site and clean up thoroughly when the project is complete.

About the work

Yes. Many excavation projects can continue through winter, especially emergency work, utility repairs, drainage improvements, and certain site preparation projects. Frozen ground and snow may affect scheduling.
Excavation removes or relocates soil to create space for foundations, utilities, or structures. Grading shapes and levels the ground to improve drainage, create building pads, or prepare for landscaping and construction.
We use a SANY SY60 excavator, which is powerful enough for large excavation projects while still being compact enough for many residential properties. We also use smaller equipment for tight-access jobs where larger machines can’t operate.
Land clearing can be performed year-round, but spring through fall generally offers the best conditions. Winter clearing may also be beneficial because frozen ground can reduce disturbance in some areas.
Yes. We have the equipment needed to excavate, relocate, or remove large rocks and boulders during site preparation or landscaping projects.

Projects we take on

Yes. We regularly partner with builders, developers, electricians, plumbers, and other contractors to prepare construction sites and keep projects moving on schedule.
Absolutely. We prepare building pads, excavate foundations when needed, install driveways, utilities, drainage systems, and perform complete site development.
Yes. We build level, properly compacted RV pads for seasonal camping, permanent sites, and vacation properties. We can also install utility trenches and drainage if needed.
Yes. We prepare complete building sites, including excavation, grading, foundations, utility trenching, drainage, and access roads.
Yes. We excavate, compact, and laser-grade building pads for cabins, garages, shops, barns, pole buildings, and accessory structures, providing a stable foundation for construction.
Yes. We regularly work on lakeside and waterfront properties around Priest Lake. Our equipment allows us to perform excavation and site work while minimizing disturbance in tight or sensitive areas.

Drainage & water

Yes. We install French drains and other drainage systems to help prevent standing water, foundation problems, driveway washouts, and erosion.
Yes. We evaluate drainage issues and design solutions such as grading, French drains, swales, culverts, or drainage piping to move water away from your home and property.
Yes. Preventive drainage improvements can save thousands of dollars in future repairs. We install French drains, culverts, swales, and grading solutions that direct water away from structures and driveways before damage occurs.

Why choose us

As full-time Priest Lake residents, we’re familiar with local soil conditions, seasonal weather, permitting requirements, and property access challenges. Being local also means faster response times, better communication, and reliable service before, during, and after your project.

Still have questions?

Call (208) 111-1111 or send us a message.