If you’re planning on doing any kind of big remodeling or landscaping project, you likely already know that hiring the right excavation company is a smart move.
Sure, you can try to do it all yourself – but excavation companies have the ability to tackle all kinds of essential services, like earthmoving, digging, grading, trenching, and site preparation.
The excavation process involves using different types of excavation equipment, depending on the nature and scale of the project.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the most common equipment used by excavation companies – and discuss why hiring a company with the right excavation machinery is a smart move for your next project.
What Are the Different Types of Excavation?
Excavation is an essential process in the construction industry. It involves the removal of soil to create space for the foundation of buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
What many people don’t realize is that excavation is not just about digging holes in the ground. There are different types of excavation for different purposes. If you plan on hiring an excavation company, it’s important to understand what kind of excavation services they provide.
The following are some common types of excavation projects.
Cut-and-fill excavation
This is most commonly used to place a basement under an existing house. In cut-and-fill excavation, the soil is cut from the higher areas and moved to the lower areas of the site.
Trench excavation
Trench excavation is done to create a narrow, deep excavation in which to lay pipes, electrical cables, or other utility lines.
Horizontal excavation
This type of excavation is used when new pipes or cables need to be laid and is accomplished by digging a horizontal or angled trench that follows the path of the utility.
Foundation excavation
Foundation excavation is used to create the hole where the foundation of a building will sit. This excavation involves removing soil down to the frost line or bedrock to ensure the foundation sits securely and won’t shift over time.
Dredging excavation
Dredging excavation is usually used to create new waterways, deepen existing ones, or to remove debris and sediment from waterways.
What Are the Machines Used in Excavation?
Excavation projects require specialized equipment to perform heavy lifting, grading, and material handling tasks with ease. Here are a few of the most common types of excavation machinery.
Excavators
As you might expect from the name alone, excavators are the most common machines used in excavation. They come in various sizes, ranging from mini excavators to large earthmovers. These machines have a rotating platform or a backhoe mounted on a hydraulic arm that can reach deep into the ground.
Excavators can dig trenches, holes, and foundations quickly and efficiently. They are also versatile and can be fitted with various attachments, such as hammers, buckets, and augers, depending on the job at hand.
Dragline excavators are used in large excavation projects such as mining and dredging. They have a long arm with a bucket attached at the end that can be lowered into the ground or water to extract materials.
Crawler excavators are similar to wheeled excavators, but they have tracks instead of wheels. They are useful in rough terrain or on soft soil where wheeled excavators may struggle. Crawler excavators have a high power output and can be fitted with extended arms for deep excavation.
Skid steer excavators are small and compact machines that are ideal for small excavation projects such as landscaping. They have a small hydraulic arm that can perform digging, grading, and material handling tasks. Because of their size, skid steer excavators can maneuver easily in tight spaces.
Finally, there are long-reach excavators, which are modified excavators with longer arms than standard excavators. They are used in projects that require deep excavation, such as building foundations or dredging. Long-reach excavators are also effective in projects where a conventional excavator cannot reach, such as clearing debris in deep water.
Trencher
A trencher is particularly useful in creating long and narrow trenches in a short period of time.
Commonly used for irrigation systems, electrical cables, and drainage pipes, trencher construction equipment is also an excellent tool for laying down outdoor lighting. It efficiently digs narrow trenches without disturbing your landscaping.
Backhoe
Backhoes are versatile machines that can dig trenches and remove dirt, debris, and rocks. These machines are suitable for digging holes of various sizes. They can also be used to demolish small structures and concrete surfaces and create gradients in hardscaping projects.
Skid-Steer
A skid-steer is an excellent machine for situations in which precise digging is required. They are best for grading surfaces and removing debris, rocks, and trees from a given area.
A skid-steer machine is also useful when loading and unloading dirt, rocks, or other materials. They are versatile machines that can turn their wheels to enable them to work in small areas.
Bulldozer
Bulldozers are primarily used for large landscaping projects that require extensive excavation.
This is a powerful machine that can move a large amount of dirt and debris from underground in a very short window of time. A bulldozer is ideal for leveling a field or a large piece of land to create the foundations for a new building or garden.
Grader
Graders can smoothen out uneven terrains, lay down gravel on driveways or parking lots, and remove debris and dirt in preparation for a gardening project. The large blade and compact design of a grader make it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, making it an excellent fit for landscaping projects.
Loader
A loader is a heavy machine used to move dirt, gravel, sand, or debris. It has a large bucket-like attachment on the front. The operator controls it from the cab and can scoop up and transfer the materials quickly and efficiently.
Loaders are common in jobs that require big jobs, such as digging foundations or road building.
Dump Truck
A dump truck is commonly used to move large amounts of material. They can be small or large and typically consist of a large box or bed that tilts. This machinery is beneficial in construction sites that generate a lot of debris, such as land clearing.
Compactor
A compactor is used for flattening and packing down dirt, gravel, or other material. It helps to create a firm base for building materials such as foundation slabs or roadways.
The Takeaway
Having the right excavation machinery can make all the difference in completing your landscaping or construction jobs. Valley View Excavating has been in business for years and has the necessary experience (and all the equipment!) to get your job done right.
Hiring professionals like Valley View Excavating, LLC will give you peace of mind that you have the right excavation machinery to get the job done right – and a guarantee that the job will get done according to your specs. Consider us for any and all of your excavation needs!