Excavation services are the number one step in the process of any construction project in any part of the country. In Durham, for example, where there is a mix of historic properties and new developments, the soil is tricky and usually when there is a new excavation job, the job requires multiple excavation services. This is what we will be talking about in this post: the most popular types of excavation services in the Durham, NC area.
The first stage of any construction job, the land must be cleared which includes the removal of vegetarians, debris removal, grading, and in some cases the removal of rocks. Most of the local contractors in the Triangle area report that land clearing and building demolition are the most popular in the area. According to the local industry reports, improper land clearing usually leads to costly delays and environmental damage. In fact, up to 30% of construction setbacks are linked to issues during site preparation. That’s why site preparation is on the list of most popular excavation services in Durham, NC area, the whole construction project depends on it.
Grading is the work of ensuring a level base, or one with a specified slope, for a construction work such as a foundation or a landscape and garden improvements, or surface drainage. The earthworks created for such a purpose are often called the sub-grade or finished contouring and it involves moving large volumes of soil, in some of Durham properties it might include importing and exporting material, balancing fill. According to Hunter Excavating contractor:
“We begin first by fully understanding the subsurface conditions… we are prepared to handle all site conditions encountered, whether that includes unsuitable soils, rock blasting/excavation…”
This category covers digging trenches for water/sewer lines, storm drains, conduit, underground services, as well as back-filling and surface restauration. Many excavation contractors in the area list utility work among their services.
These are smaller scale excavation services butusually requested by homeowners. It can include driveway expansions or installations (gravel, asphalt, concrete), the building of a retaining wall and prepping behind it orto create a pad for storage or parking. Local companies describe these services to be for driveways, clearing, erosion control, ponds, etc.
These services include the creationof drainage systems (ditches, culverts, storm-drains), excavation for retention/detention ponds, erosion control measures installation, and making sure the site runoff is managed properly.
For large commercial or multi-lot developments, or when older structures must be removed, excavation companies handle demolition, clearing of structures, removal of foundations, large earth moving, and site logistic coordination. One local firm specializes in both demolition and excavation.
The number one thing to look for is their experience. How do you determine that? Ask people around, maybe visit some excavation sites to see what companies work in the area. You can also search online, places like Google Maps, Yelp, Yellow Pages can be a good source of information. Another option is Reddit and other online forums where people discuss these types of companies and services. When you find a potential contractor, check their portfolio, look them up to see if they are licensing & insurance, you can request quotes from multiple companies and then compare to make the best decision for your project.
These are the most popular excavation services in the area. Durham is a special place with a lot of history behind, and the soil more different than other places like Montana or Illinois. It requires a different technique to be worked on and it’s important that you know about these popular services if you just moved to the area and are a homeowner. Every job is different too, and you should definitely find a good local contractor that has experience working the local soil.
