You might have wondered what really is site excavation. In short, it’s the process of taking a random, uneven, and unorganized piece of land and converting it into a flat, clean, and even plot for the construction of a building.
This can include the cleaning of the surface, planning, getting rid of vegetation, excavation, digging, demolition, and more. In this article, we will discuss why it’s important and provide a step-by-step excavation process explanation. So keep reading to get a complete overview and have a better understanding of it, before starting your project.
Excavation is done to ensure a stable and solid ground for the construction of a building. It provides a strong foundation on which you can confidently build the structure that you have in mind for your business. Having a strong and stable ground will result in a safer investment in the long run. Your building will be less prone to earthquakes, will have a longer lifespan, and avoid any sort of tilting due to the heavy weight of the structure above.
It’s more than just digging holes and running a bulldozer over the land. There has to be a proper land assessment and planning before you even bring the first machinery on the plot. One has to assess the underground utilities like water pipes, sewage, gas lines, or any underground electricity connections. Architects, local authorities, and engineers have to come together to make sure that nothing is damaged when the site work starts.
Local authorities will guide properly for all the local rules and regulations for proper excavation and further steps.
The plot of land might have unwanted and overgrown trees, bushes, and shrubs. These need to be properly removed with specialized machinery. The trees and shrubs need to be removed along with their roots. Removing the roots completely is very important as it will hinder the construction afterward. If such roots go untouched, it can result in a relatively weaker base. It is equally important to check and remove any pipelines, cables, or any sort of underground structure that can become an obstruction later.
If there’s any old building or some sort of old structure, that too has to be removed from the land. Sometimes, explosives are used to perform this task swiftly. All this debris is then taken off land so that the next stage can be started.
The time it takes to prepare the land can vary significantly depending on multiple factors like weather conditions, type of machinery used, number of workers and machinery involved, size of land, condition of the land, accessibility to the area, terrain type, and more.
Once the land is prepared, now comes the part that requires heavy machinery like excavators and dredgers to clear out and even up the land. Sometimes extensive digging has to be done if there are basements in the building structure. Also, almost all such projects require some sort of deep digging for things like pipelines, sewage systems, and electricity. Some projects require the digging of trenches, while all require digging on the boundaries to create the building wall.
If the soil is uneven and of different quality, it becomes a bit difficult. It’s rare and often happens in large projects. If a part of the land is not suitable for construction because of the soil type, soil from other parts of the land is shifted to the unsuitable part.
If the construction is taking place near a beach or a water source, it might require dredging. It’s a process of removing soil, objects, or any other obstruction from the water bed. Normal cranes and excavators cannot be used for this task. Specialized dredgers are used to perform such a task. Most dredgers are basically excavators, customized to perform digging and lifting in seas, lakes, or deep waters.
Choosing the right excavation contractors can be the difference between you getting a reliable base for further construction or ending up depressed and hopeless. We will guide you on how to make sure that you get the right people for the job.
The first thing that we recommend to check is the customer satisfaction rate of the company. You can get an idea by checking the number of customer testimonials on their websites. You can also check the reviews on Google Maps if there are any. Or, if possible, you can also try to visit and get feedback from the people who have hired the company for some projects.
The second thing is to make sure that the company is licensed and certified and provides insured services. A certified and licensed company will be aware of all the SOPs and best practices for professional site excavation. This will save you any unnecessary trouble with the local authorities. Not to mention that if their services are insured, you don’t have to worry about any accidental damage that is caused by them.
Always check what type of machinery they have in their inventory. The type of machinery needed drastically varies on the type of project. Some projects may require the latest and heavy-duty machinery while others might require simple trucks and a single excavator that works properly. Checking the machinery inventory of a company can also save you some money.
Companies with heavy machinery and sophisticated equipment might charge you more than average for simple site development. On the other hand, if a company does not have very heavy machinery, they might be willing to complete your small project on a fair and affordable budget. But if you have a bigger and more expensive project at hand, we always recommend going with the company that has the latest and fancy tools available. This will save you from hiring someone else in the middle of the project.
Experience matters! Discussing it at the end does not mean that it’s not important. It’s not just about how old the company is. It’s about the actual hands-on experience of the planners, project managers, and machine operators. A company might be 10 years old but they might have just hired a novice to operate the excavator. Such a contractor must be avoided at all times. However, a relatively new company with a seasoned staff is more reliable.
To conclude, site excavation is one of the most crucial parts of having a strong and stable base for further construction. Without it, you will have maintenance issues with your building in the future. These issues can damage your building or even the people working in the building. We cannot emphasize the importance of having a strong foundation as it will save you a lot of money in expensive repairs. So don’t take any chances and get the project done by industry professionals.
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