The Right Questions to Ask Any Potential Earthmoving Service
An earthmoving service will be needed if you want to plan any type of major excavating or renovation work on your property, as you don't want to try to handle this job on your own. Earthmoving means more than just digging; you need to work around buried power lines and cables and may want to ensure you don't disturb tree roots or the environment in any way. You'll also need to know how to brace up the walls of a pit so it doesn't collapse. Before you hire such a service, note a few questions to ask so you know what to expect and ensure you choose the right company.
1. Ask if their operators are ticketed
An operator of any earthmoving equipment should be ticketed, meaning licensed to operate that machinery. They should also be ticketed for first aid as this will ensure the safety of the crew in case of an accident.
2. Note if the augers can dig deep enough
Be sure you check the depth of an auger before you hire an earthmoving company. You don't want them to dig only to a certain depth with an auger and then assume they can dig the rest by hand. This can make the job much slower and even more dangerous, but a smaller company may not have the right equipment and yet be hesitant to tell you. Check the depth of their augers if you need any directional drilling done.
3. Check travel costs
Your full-day hiring fee may not cover travel costs if your property is located very far from the agency. It's important to note travel costs as they may need to haul their equipment on a flatbed, which might make it too elevated to take a certain route; if they encounter a low bridge or tunnel, they may need to reroute their equipment and, in turn, those travel costs could be much steeper than you realise. Go over this with them in advance so you can plan your expenses.
4. Will they remove excess dirt?
After excavation, you may need to have a pit refilled, but if not, note if an earthmoving company will remove the excess dirt. They may need to return to collect it or you may need to hire an outside company to actually take away the excess dirt. Be sure you discuss this with an earthmoving company when you hire them so you don't wind up with piles of earth that you weren't expecting after the excavation work.