During a construction project, a local excavation contractor will need to clear up the area so the project can actually begin. The foundation of any building has to be laid correctly for the structure to hold properly. It all starts with brush clearing and excavation crews as they will determine the success of the development.
Depending on the task, there’s a need for detail excavation because the contractor will have to adhere to certain parameters to avoid going over the specific area in order to create driveways, service trenches, retaining wall footings, etc. A detailed excavation will ultimately require much more precision, which is why you must hire the best crews possible. Only the right people can complete the work in an efficient and timely manner, without issues that could endanger the lives of everyone involved.
Experienced contractors have set guidelines to follow and safety protocols thanks to excavation toolbox talk. These projects can be risky if the rules are not followed properly, and that’s why June is considered Trench Safety Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about the need for ladders, ramps, steps, and more equipment to ensure workers’ health. Search online to find out more about hiring these teams for your development.
Construction companies conduct excavation by removing soil and other underground elements to complete the construction project. The process of excavating involves digging, or creating holes in the ground, for various reasons, such as building highways, roads, tunnels, railways, runways, etc.
There is a big difference between trench and excavation. Trenching is the process of cutting a narrow hole in the ground, while excavation is digging out a large hole. Excavation is much deeper and wider than trenching. It can reach depths of dozens of feet and widths of hundreds of feet.
A typical basement structure has one or two walls that support floor joists and act as a load-bearing wall that holds up the first floor’s ceiling above. It also allows for mechanical systems such as air conditioning, electrical wiring, and plumbing.
Excavation examples can be seen worldwide, in various locations, and for different reasons. Many dangers are associated with this process hence the need to observe construction excavation safety. The depth of excavation for a basement is one of the most important factors before starting an excavation project.
The excavation depth determines the costs. If the foundation wall is being constructed below ground level, it must be done efficiently so as not to cause major problems during future construction phases.
There are many steps to building a new building, and today’s American construction industry is a truly vast one. Thousands of companies are hard at work today creating houses, hotels and apartments, banks, schools, malls, and more. Even a small construction project may involve several crews working together to pool their resources, tools, and expertise to get the job done. This ranges from excavation contractors and demolition companies to brush clearing contractors at first, and later concrete companies and much more. Electricians, plumbers, spray foam crews, elevator companies, and others will be involved later in the project.
But what about the project’s early stages? All buildings need land to be built on, and development-friendly land should not be taken for granted. There may be several steps to complete before the first brick or I-beam is put in place. A project manager in Medford, Oregeon, may look up “excavation contractors medford oregon” to find the right crews for the job, and along with “excavation contractors medford oregon”, they could also look up “tree stump removal medford OR”, too. All this will get the land ready for construction.
Preparing the Land
Land is a common commodity in the United States, and a lot of it is public or a part of national parks. Meanwhile, on a more commercial level, land may be bought and sold privately for development purposes. A land lot may have a “FOR SALE” sign on it, and later, signs may tell people who bought it and what is going to be built there. But Mother Nature does not have houses or office buildings in mind, so the land needs some clearing up first. And after that, excavation crews may be found and hired, such as looking up “excavation contractors medford oregon” or “brush clearing and excavation contractors medford oregon” to get started.
Plant life can certainly impede construction, as trees, tree stumps, brush, and more will get in the way. So, specialized contractors will be hired to clear it all up using a variety of methods. Removing fallen tree branches is easy enough, and saplings can be dug up and removed without too much trouble. But full grown trees or tree stumps are another issue, as these large plants are not so easily removed by hand. A live tree may be cut down, or it may be carefully dug up and simply placed somewhere else. Tree stumps are dead, so the only option is to remove them and shred them. For example, a crew may be hired to bring over a wood chipper, and that chipper machine will grind up the tree stump into chips, which are then hauled away. The remaining roots may be dug right up and removed. Meanwhile, another option is to dig up the earth around the tree stump, then affix chains and ropes to it and use a powerful vehicle to pull it free. The stump may then be relocated.
Don’t forget the ground itself. Before foundation excavation may begin, the crews will check the ground and see if any obstacles are down there, both natural and man-made. For example, extensive tree roots may be found, and must be removed. Crews should also be careful to check for underground pipes or cables, as striking these utilities with a backhoe may cause some serious damage. Crews may consult local signs, markers, or city hall to see where such underground utilities are, and avoid them.
Another obstacle may be another building, taking up the space. This is where demolition crews are hired, and smaller buildings such as houses may be taken apart with wrecking balls or by hand. Explosives are not needed for them. Larger buildings, such as huge apartments or factories, may have explosives rigged strategically. Once they go off, the building will collapse into a pile of rubble that may then be cleared up.
Finally, excavation can begin, where backhoes dig up the earth in the proper shape for a building’s foundation or even basement. After that, concrete crews may set up wooden borders and pour in the concrete foundation and smooth it out with rakes. Only after the concrete hardens can the rest of the structure be built.
