What Should You Look For Before Hiring An Excavator?

Almost all construction projects require extensive excavation at the site. However, the process is very critical and you have to consider several factors before deciding on a company to perform excavation for you.

Since all the utility lines are laid out inside the ground, improper excavation can damage these lines, leading to high monetary loss, disruption of services in the area as well as a lot of inconveniences.

According to the law in many states, only companies certified to perform excavation can dig the ground using heavy-duty equipment. Every city has a map of the utility lines underground. It is up to the excavation company to determine where the lines are installed and dig accordingly.

It is crucial to take care of these utility lines because a wrong move can disrupt the water or gas services in the surrounding area.

Hence, it is imperative that you consider all the important factors before you choose an excavation company.
Hiring an excavation company is an overwhelming task. It is even more difficult if this is your first time looking for a company that provides similar services. However, if you do your due research and think properly before you make a decision, there is a high chance you will not regret it.

In this article, we have listed some of the factors that you should consider before you hire an excavation company for your construction project.

Proper Equipment

An excavation company is only as good as the equipment it has. In the modern world, most of the tasks we perform are based on machines. Hence, if a company uses obsolete equipment, know that the quality of services that you get will not be up to the mark.

Excavation requires special machines and equipment that allow the technician to dig deeply and precisely. Regular digging tools and machines that cannot handle a lot of digging are not exactly ideal for this job. Moreover, depending on the type of ground that has to be excavated, the company has to use a combination of machines.

A separate machine is used for loosening up the soil while another heavy-duty machine is required to pick up the soil and dump it somewhere. Hence, it is important that you look for a company that has a collection of excavation tools. Some of the most common tools that every excavation company should have are crane, backhoe, and front-end loader.

Another factor that you should consider is whether the company is keeping up with the latest technology and trends or not. Only a company that has the latest equipment will be able to provide you with satisfactory results.

Since construction projects should be completed in a limited amount of time, you don’t have the liberty of jumping from one excavation company to another. Hence, it is imperative that you choose the right company on the first attempt. Hiring one company and then choosing another due to unsatisfactory results will only waste your time and money.

Experienced Workers

Along with up to the mark machinery, an excavation company should have experienced workers. As mentioned, excavation is a critical job that requires careful digging to prevent any damage to the utility lines.

This can only be achieved if the company has been in the business for years. Moreover, the company should have proper training programs for new workers. In case the company assigns a team of newbies to your project, make sure you ask for an experienced supervisor.

An inexperienced company that has not completed many excavation projects will not only waste your time but will also cause monetary loss. In addition to this, it will also push your project deadline forward by a few months at least.

The best way to know whether a company is experienced enough is by asking them about the past projects they have completed. Moreover, before you have a one-to-one meeting with the manager, make sure you do your research. Look for the company online, read the testimonials and the reviews. This will give you a very good idea of what the company has been doing over the past few years and whether its previous clients are happy with the services or not.

Charges

Every construction project has a budget. Hence, even though you want the best of the best excavation company, it is smart not to top the allotted excavation budget. This is why, before you consider a company, make sure you know what it charges for an excavation project.

The best way to do this is by consulting a few companies at the same time and getting an estimate. Based on the estimate you get, you can compare the companies and conduct a meeting with the manager of the company that is ready to perform the task within your budget. You can also ask the company whether the quoted price is negotiable or not.