If you’re starting a project that requires land excavation, you may be wondering whether you need to hire professionals or if you can simply do it yourself. In general, a contractor will be able to efficiently and safely handle any job. If you still want to count the DIY option, however, it will depend on the exact job you’ll be doing.
In order to narrow down the choice, let’s break down the various types of excavation services and the precautions that come into the fold.
Drainage
This type of excavation focuses on draining water from one area to be shifted to another. When installing ditches, trenches, storm drains, and irrigation pipes, this is the type of excavation that you need to do.
The precautions to take note of here are moist soil that may end up filling with water and silt and making sure that a property is properly graded to prevent erosion and water run-off to other properties.
Footing
If you’re trying to build a foundation, this is the excavation to perform. Usually, this is filled with concrete and rebars to serve as a foundation for construction.
The problem to watch for here is hitting any underground cables, wires, pipes, and any public utilities. Plus, you’ll need to make sure that the footing is protected so that water doesn’t collect.
Muck
This excavation removes muddy and watery soil. Rocky soil can be hard to work with, as the wrong equipment may simply get damaged or leave a residue. You also have to make sure that you aren’t collapsing the soil around.
Channel
If you need to get rid of debris, dirt, and sediment from channels and ditches, this is the type of excavation required. It basically has to do with modifying the entire structure of the channel to make more room or change the flow of water.
Make sure not to hit any obstructions here that may be important. It’s also important not to cut through any pipes or electrical cables that could potentially cause a flood and electrocution respectively.
Underground
Any underground building or installation will require this. Proper underground excavation should not disturb the topsoil or interrupt pipe flow.
The biggest risk here is a cave-in. Even small pits run this risk if excavated incorrectly. It’s a risk for every type of excavation but becomes even more pronounced in this situation.
Roadway
The goal for roadway excavation is to remove materials that can’t support a roadway or driveway. Sloping and grading will be needed before paving over this.
For this excavation, you really need to think about how to haul your leftovers. It’s actually something to consider for all types of excavation, but it’s even more relevant for this because of the high traffic movement it will see after the project.
Conclusion
For smaller jobs, you may still want to go DIY if you have the means to rent out the equipment and follow the safety and cleaning guidelines. If you’re concerned about damaging your property or causing injury, it may be best to outsource the job to a professional. A skilled excavator will even be able to finish the job more quickly.
Reach out to Future Forest, Inc. to find quality forest management and pond excavation contractors in Western New York. We can do the job for you safely.