When you make the choice to start improving your landscape, there are so many projects which can make your entire property more beautiful and functional. While many of the smaller projects will minimally disturb the land, larger projects often require excavation. Rearranging soil and rock can lead to some amazing results, even if the process itself is disruptive and messy (the results will be worth it). Here are eight home projects that require excavation in Bedford and Hollis, NH.
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Outdoor Living Spaces
On sloped properties, adequate space for outdoor living can be hard to come by. Excavation will enable a reshaping of the land to accommodate patios or simply level land that will be covered by a lawn or other plantings.
Foundations
Every larger structure such as a home, barn, or large garage will require a foundation. Lightweight structures such as outdoor shelters (pergolas, pavilions, and gazebos) require minimal excavation that can usually be done by hand, unless there is rock close to the surface in which case excavation equipment will be useful.
Inground Pools and Hot Tubs
Inground pools require excavation, whether they are fiberglass, gunite (concrete), or vinyl. The same goes for inground hot tubs.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are installed on a property for a variety of reasons. The primary purpose of a retaining wall is to support a sloped landscape and prevent erosion. Other applications for a wall may be for decorative purposes or to provide seating around the patio or along a walkway.
For structural integrity, retaining walls - especially those intended to hold back soil - need to be anchored deep into the ground. The taller the wall and the more force that builds up behind it, the deeper the foundation.
Drainage
The way rain runoff or snowmelt affects your landscape should be a major concern. Excess water that doesn’t quickly seep into the ground can be a nuisance at best or catastrophically damaging at worst. Pooling water could attract pests such as mosquitoes, and it can drown grass and trees. Water seeping into the foundation of your home can cause costly damage. Excavating and grading the land to ensure proper drainage is a project that will protect your home and other vulnerable points in your landscape.
Ponds
Excavation is required for man-made ponds, whether they are intended to be purely decorative or whether they will serve as catchment ponds for runoff.
Paved Surfaces
Paved surfaces need excavation. In some cases, it can be done by hand (such as under a new walkway) but larger projects will be done faster and more efficiently with excavating equipment. Before paving materials such as stone pavers are laid down in a patio, walkway, pool deck, or driveway, the soil needs to be removed and the earth below needs to be stabilized. Then, layers of compressed soil, gravel, and potentially a liner will need to be placed on the constructed area. This will avoid slight movements of the paved surfaces which will damage the paved surface itself or even the landscape downstream.
Septic Systems
If your home has a septic system, excavation will be necessary to install the tank and leach field.
Irrigation
At certain points of landscape renovation, irrigation for plants becomes a worthy system to install. Beyond simple sprinkler systems, a professional irrigation system can revolutionize your entire landscape. The pipes are placed beneath the frost line, which requires the excavation of ditches.
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