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Important and Common Questions About an Earthmoving Hire

31 December 2015

Veronica Leon

An earthmoving hire can make quick work of any type of excavation you may need done on your property. A hiring service can bring in a bobcat or a type of crane that is designed to dig long, straight trenches. In turn, you can have a small farm or large garden or an area for an underground pool dug up in a matter of hours. Since an earthmoving hire is not something you might arrange on a regular basis, you might have some questions about the process and what to expect. Note a few of these below and discuss them with the contracting company.

1. Will a bobcat or trencher dig through anything?

If a bobcat or any type of digger were to hit oversized rocks underneath the topsoil, work may need to stop while a rock crusher is called in. If the rock cannot be crushed and needs to be removed, soil may need to be displaced or purchased to fill in this area. 

Note too that very moist soil may be better removed with a type of vacuum called a hydrovac. This machine actually sucks up the dirt rather than digging it up, and, in turn, it removes all the moisture that could otherwise simply collect at the bottom of your trench or pit. An earthmoving company will be able to advise you on the best method to use to ensure your excavation is handled properly and safely.

2. What if the trench or pit were to collapse?

One reason to call a professional earthmoving company is that they don't just dig, but they also do what's necessary to brace up a trench or pit so that it doesn't collapse. This can mean adding boards to the bottom so that it's more secure and not likely to become soft and create a sinkhole, or even adding walls to the trench or pit as it's being dug. They may have a process in place for how to manage if their work should collapse, but typically they will inspect the dig site as they work and do whatever is needed to keep it from collapsing.

3. Where does the dirt go?

If you don't need to keep dirt onsite for filling in a trench or pit, such as when you're simply putting in new plumbing pipes that will need to be covered over, it's good to ask how your contracting company will dispose of the dirt. If it's disposed of improperly, you as the homeowner may actually face fines from your city. Be sure any earthmoving company you hire tells you where and how they dispose of the dirt and soil so you know it's handled properly.

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