When planning any landscape renovation, you may be wondering whether you need excavation. In many cases, you do. Excavating contractors explain why you would need excavation work in the Bedford, NH area.
Manual labor often can’t do what heavy equipment can; at least, not if you’re into saving time and money and keeping your project on schedule.
Other than excavating foundations for homes or installing in-ground swimming pools, here are some important projects that require excavation.
Retaining Walls
Any sloped property will have the potential for water or soil movement that can damage a home’s structural integrity. Retaining walls hold back soil, and they are used to add usable space to a steeply sloped landscape. Retaining walls often require careful engineering to make sure they can withstand the constant pressure of soil - which is intensified when the soil is saturated with water. To hold back many tons of soil, a retaining wall needs a foundation trench that is large enough to offer support to the wall; and the area behind the wall must be expanded to allow for backfilling and the construction of drainage systems behind the wall.
Drainage
Surface water needs to be managed so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for mosquitoes or that it doesn’t make its way into foundations. An excavating contractor will reshape the land to guide water away from structures into suitable drainage systems that prevent water from accumulating on the surface.
New Driveways
Poorly installed driveways don’t last long. The key to a driveway that will withstand continuous freeze-thaw cycles is a proper base that can support the weight of the driveway. This base material must be contained in an excavated area and properly graded to allow for drainage.
Demolition, and Stump and Debris Removal
Landscape renovations sometimes involve the removal of existing structures - a hazardous job that is made easier with heavy equipment. Stumps and debris such as demolished structures, rocks, old pools, and old surfaces (driveways, patios, etc.) that get in the way of a new landscaping project need to be safely removed; and once they’re gone, the land needs to be shaped and prepared for its new look.
Utility Trenches
Adding on to an outdoor living space often means running utility lines. While some utility trenches can be hand dug, an excavator will make short work of it and help the project move along at a faster pace, especially in rocky terrain where shovels won’t work.
Excavators work closely with landscape architects and contractors. While they only move the earth, they need to know where hardscape and softscape features will go. At Northern Lights, we are committed to successful excavation projects and your satisfaction!
Hardscape Foundations
A patio, driveway, or pool deck needs sturdy footings: gravel and compacted sand must be secured within an excavated area that will contain them and prevent the hardscape surface from shifting.
Grading and Shaping
If your property doesn’t have a lot of usable land, an excavation contractor can help. Shaping the land can make the land usable for the intended purposes, whether it’s a home, outdoor living area, garden, sport court, mini-golf course, horse arena, or anything else you want on your property. A process called “cut and fill” is used to remove soil from one area and fill in another - usually to create a more level landscape.
