Excavation is the “heavy lifting” part of a construction project in the earliest stages. The beginning stage of any land project is the site preparation stage. When buying a new piece of land, or if you are already a land owner, you are typically dealing with raw earth that is untouched and natural. Land can hold many surprises for the unsuspecting contractor, so it’s important that the site on which you are constructing or creating your project is explored and cleared to ensure the sturdiest and most long-lasting project possible.
Excavation accomplishes this by digging into and removing any debris or organic materials which might impede or unbalance a structure, road, waterway, residence, building, recreational park or area, or any other type of construction project you may which to construct. One of the reasons that excavation is so important is that land in Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi experiences a lot of “horizontal growth” of roots, plants, vines, and other organics which must be completely removed to prevent earth sinking or shifting.
Residential Excavation
For residential projects, foundation work for new home construction, carports, sheds, metal buildings and other residential structures includes the removal of boulders, trees, large limbs, tree stumps and roots, and buried stone or rock. This is also part of the site prep for landscape and fencing. Dirt must be dug out for extra features such as basements and swimming pools or necessary elements, such as septic tanks.
In order to install forms, footings, and rebar for the foundation slab to be poured for house building, the dirt must be dug out according to construction plans. Stakes are usually used to mark out the foundation area before excavation. Once the foundation area is prepped, channels and trenches are also excavated for water lines, plumbing pipes, utility lines, and drainage systems to make sure that water is diverted off of the new home’s slab during and after construction is completed.
Commercial Excavation
Commercial construction excavation can involve more earth movement once the main impediments are removed. Just like residential excavation, organic and man made elements are dug out and removed, but with commercial projects, there may require more large-scale movement of the dirt to achieve the desired layout per the construction specs.
You will see this a lot with road work. Huge amounts of dirt can be added and subtracted from different areas. Heavy equipment is used to slope the earth to make sure that the installation of the road has built-in drainage once the asphalt is poured. Commercial excavation involves literally carving out paths for roads, highways, sidewalks, walkways, and parking lots. For city and county parks and recreation areas, as well as landscaping, excavation preps the ground for the final grade, which is more aesthetic in forming and shaping the earth to make it beautiful. The same detailed excavation work of trenching for drainage and irrigation and channels for water lines, plumbing and utilities, and footings in the foundations are performed for commercial construction buildings as well.
Excavation is used for both residential and commercial applications, and KNB Services offers free estimates for both types. While the projects might vary, the techniques and equipment for both remain relatively the same. However, the scope and complexity of the project will definitely be affected depending on whether it’s commercial or residential.
