How Excavation Plays a Role in the Landscape Design and Build Process in Bedford NH

Whether your landscaping project is large or small, chances are you may need the services of an excavator. An excavator’s job is to prepare the project site for its transformation, whether that transformation is a new driveway or patio, or leveling the land for a more usable backyard. Here are the many ways how excavation plays a role in the landscape design and build process in Bedford, NH.

Demolition and Debris Removal

Creating usable and attractive landscapes very often begins with demolition and removal of debris, large rocks, structures, stumps, trees, or other obstacles. Excavators know how to remove large obstacles safely, without causing damage to wanted structures, trees, or personal property, and without disturbing utility lines. It’s not uncommon to see homeowners watching the demolition process from a safe distance, because it can be quite a spectacle! In the end, you’ll be glad that all demolition has been done safely and that your land is ready for the next steps.

Grading and Water/Soil Management

Avoiding and mitigating drainage problems is one of the biggest challenges homeowners face, and not just on steeply sloped properties. Even flat properties can have water and soil movement issues! An excavator can help. Excavators can create various landscape features that guide water to where it’s supposed to go - away from structures - and to encourage water to naturally soak into the ground rather than running off or settling.

Soil movement, too, must be addressed before it becomes an issue. Heavy-duty retaining walls and other methods may be used to contain soil and to create attractive and usable outdoor living spaces. Soil puts immense pressure on a retaining wall, so it must have a proper foundation to remain structurally sound: and this requires excavation. Whether your home is old or new, water and soil management will preserve its structural integrity and increase your property value.

Patio Installation

Large, permanent structures such as natural stone or concrete paver patios require excavation to ensure the surface will rest on a sturdy and level base, that water drains away from the home, and that the area is free of obstacles that can get in the way of a new patio project (such as old stumps). Patios are heavy in and of themselves: add the weight of a hot tub, outdoor kitchen, or outdoor fireplace, and a solid foundation is essential to the long-term structural integrity of the patio.

Pool and Pond Installation

Installing an inground pool or large pond requires some engineering - and of course, digging. Factors to consider include earth pressure (which may mean a larger-than-necessary hole along with stabilization of the pool shell with the correct fill materials); groundwater issues; difficult excavation such as bedrock; buried utilities; and protecting any nearby structures.

New Utilities

Adding utilities to outdoor living spaces, or moving utilities for any reason, is extremely dangerous work. Excavators are trained in avoiding both buried and above-ground utilities when digging; and in safely and properly preparing trenches for water, gas, and electric lines.

Driveway and Parking Area Installation

A new driveway installation, whether it’s asphalt, concrete, or a paver surface, requires excavation to ensure a deep enough base to withstand the stress of moving and parked vehicles as well as sloping the driveway away from the home or garage to prevent flooding. An elegant courtyard-style parking area can likewise become a sagging, flood-prone nightmare if it isn’t properly excavated and graded prior to installation.