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Hard, But Meaningful Work

Over the years, as we have observed contractors working on our home, one thing has become clear: this is not easy work. Whether the contractor is replacing pipes, framing a new room, or installing flooring, they are always working really hard to get the job done. We admire this. Many other professionals could benefit from observing this work ethic. As soon as we realized how hard contractors work, we had to share that fact on the internet. In fact, there are lots of other facts about contractors that we feel are worthy of sharing, which is why we continue to post on this blog.

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How Customers Can Prepare for Site Excavation Work

30 August 2022
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog

If you have a site excavation contractor coming to do work soon, it's a good idea to prepare the location. An excavation contractor will encourage customers to do these 5 things ahead of a project.

Survey

Before you so much as put a shovel into the dirt, it's a good idea to have a surveyor mark out the land. You should know the boundaries of the property and the local regulations regarding how closely you can excavate. Similarly, it's a good idea to have utility companies come by to mark where underground lines might be.

Initial Planning

Transfer the surveyor's data to a map so you can begin planning. You can figure out where you want to excavate if everything proves to be ideal. It is also a good idea to look at alternative locations on the property if you run into anything funky during some of the later parts of the process.

Permits

Contact your local code compliance office to learn what the permitting rules are for your excavation site. Bear in mind that there may be compliance issues involving local, state, and federal regulations. For example, excavating near a waterway could come with some restrictions or requirements. It is wise to know these because a site excavation contractor isn't going to be up on the rules for every locality in their service area.

Land Clearance

Remove anything that might affect the excavation site or the surrounding areas. Be aware that the site excavation contractor will need to get equipment in and out so you should look past the spot where the hole is going to be. Clearance should include anything that's in the ground, too. Tree stumps and roots have to come out, as well as large rocks and remnants of foundations. Anything too heavy or dense for an excavator to break up quickly should come out.

Soil Tests and Geotechnical Engineering

The ground itself may present some problems. It is a good idea to have a professional take soil samples and make sure the area will support heavy equipment and any structures you plan to add. You may need to go as far as looking at the bedrock from a geotechnical perspective. This includes assessing how well the location will drain, whether the soil will compact, and how much weight the soil can support once compacted. On the upside, this knowledge will be useful for your efforts and those of the excavation contractor.