Common Excavation Methods for New Construction Projects

Any building project, whether it be for a new home or for a commercial space, likely to require some excavation. There must be a precise approach to leveling the building ground as well as removing soil for pipes or other buried components. Excavation is often used to help restore soil content in various areas. There are several excavation methods in use around the county.

Vertical Excavation

For large urban areas, this is the most common form of excavation used by a contractor. Urban areas are where a lot of commercial or residential buildings are found. The soil is exposed and removed one layer at a time, which creates a vertical shaft. The rock layers or soil clearly seen in this method.

Horizontal Excavation

For areas without a lot of residential or commercial structures, it is possible for contractors to excavate in a horizontal manner. These shallow digging sites are more shallow than a vertical approach and have no danger of damaging existing structures.

Hybrid Excavation

There are some locations where a combination of excavation methods is needed to prepare the ground. More specifically, both vertical and horizontal excavations are used when there is a large site that requires cutting deeply into the earth.

Cofferdams

Not all sites are easy to dig, and in situations where the ground is waterlogged, a cofferdam may be used. This method is carefully selected when there is an increased risk of collapse in the side of the excavation site.

Step Trenching

When there is a need to go deep into the ground, step trenching is used. The excavation creates layered steps that become more narrow as the digging goes deeper.

Any work that requires excavation is done through careful planning and specific machinery. Experts study the soil, among other factors, before digging up the ground. Failing to hire a professional could result in an unsafe work zone and an unstable final project.