It may seem like an excavator’s job is easy – after all, they have the equipment doing all the work, right? However, excavation is so much more than moving dirt. There are a lot of moving parts (literally), and each one will have an impact on your landscape. Here’s what excavating contractors want you to know about your next excavation project in Bedford and Amherst, NH.
1. Site preparation is crucial
Site preparation is key to any successful project, whether you’re excavating for a new pool, a new home, a patio, or to create additional outdoor living space in your backyard. Done wrong, you could expect soil movement, poor drainage, and all of the nasty consequences that will inevitably follow.
Site preparation begins with carefully studying the project site. Soil types, underground utilities, slope, proximity to structure, and other factors have to be considered well in advance of the start of actual excavation. Once the site has been surveyed, the excavation team will design a plan that details the machinery needed for the job and schedules.
Directing runoff, stormwater management, and creating a landscape that drains well is one of the key aspects of most excavation projects that will directly impact the outcome of any subsequent work such as installation of a driveway or patio.
Any mistakes made by the excavator could have a huge ripple effect on the whole project. Buried utility lines, proximity to structures, landscape features that the homeowner wants to keep, unstable soil and other factors can all affect the scope of the work.
A knowledgeable excavator will often provide valuable insight in the project planning, which can impact the design and the budget.
2. Access and Logistics
No work will begin until all permits are in order and buried and overhead utilities have been clearly marked.
The scope of excavating is different for each project but often involves grading, trenching, and other tasks. Some projects will require blasting, which has to be done with extraordinary care.
Most projects will involve heavy equipment, which may present another challenge: how to get the heavy equipment to the project site, how to maneuver heavy equipment in tight spaces (to avoid cave-ins and property damage), and where to put the displaced soil.
Many projects use a cut-and-fill approach where dirt is first removed to make room for the next phase of the project, and then dirt is filled in to make for a pleasing end result. However, in some cases the displaced dirt can’t be reused, or topsoil will need to be brought in to finish the landscape. This is another challenge that is often an afterthought for the homeowner, but an integral part of what an excavator does.
Excavation work is highly dependent on the weather. Heavy rains that saturate the soil could cause erosion and significant delays, which means that excavation projects should be scheduled for drier times of the year.
A reputable excavation company will discuss all of these challenges with the homeowner and where necessary, adjust their use of certain equipment.
3. Job Site Safety
Job safety is critical. It will involve clearly marking the job site and implementing requirements such as: hard hats or no unauthorized personnel, marking any underground utilities, creating temporary catch basins for runoff, erosion control blankets or the use of silt rocks as retention for displaced soil, and more.
