Excavation is not about bringing in an excavator and starting to dig. It involves more. Proper preparation makes the job safer and more organized. Helps avoid delays. It also prevents damage to your property. Keeps project costs under control.

Whether you are doing foundation excavation, drainage work, land clearing, trenching or any other kind of construction, taking some time to get ready before digging begins can make a difference.

If you live in Houston there are things to think about, like underground utilities, how equipment will get to the site permits, where the soil will go and how to protect areas outside the digging zone.

Check Permits and Local Requirements Before Digging

Do not start digging until you know which permits and approvals are needed for your project. Rules can be different based on the kind of work and where it is happening.

For example the City of Houston needs a permit for digging in an area with different steps for planned digging and sudden digging. The city also says that other permits from state and city levels must be gotten.

Digging and shaping the land on property can also have specific permit needs. Houston Public Works information shows that some digging and filling on land needs a permit.

Your digging company can help find what is needed. The person who owns the land should make sure that the responsibility for permits is clearly talked about before work begins.

Get Ready for Soil, Dirt and Digged-Up Material

Digging can create a lot of dirt and other stuff. Before the first bit of dirt is taken out, decide what will be done with it. Decide What Will Happen to the Digged-Up Dirt. Depending on the project and what the dirt is like choices might be:

• Using the dirt on the land: Good dirt can be used for approved shaping or other work on the site.
• Shaping or filling in: Dirt that is dug up can be used for filling in or making things even after the work is done.
• Putting dirt in trucks and taking it away: Dirt that is not needed on the site might need to be put in trucks and taken somewhere else.
• Taking away stuff that is not wanted: Concrete, roots, building trash or other bad materials might need handling and getting rid of.

Talk about these choices with the digging company before work starts. This helps avoid piles of stuff that are not needed becoming a problem.

Protect Parts of Your Land That Are Not in the Work Area

machines can affect places that are not being dug. Making a work area helps keep the rest of the land safe. Think about protecting:

• Lawns
• Driveways
• Plants and gardens
• Buildings
• Fences and gates
• Patios and sidewalks
• Water systems
• Other finished areas

Talk about where the machines will go, where the dug-up dirt will be put for a while and where the trucks will park or load. If a driveway or finished area might be affected by machines, say something before work starts.

Plan for Getting Rid of Trash and Taking It

Digging and building projects can create dirt, concrete, plants, broken things and other trash. If the project also includes tearing down or clearing land the amount can be much bigger. Ask your company if getting rid of trash and taking it away is part of the work. Find out what is being taken away where it is going and if the cost of getting rid of it is included. Planning this before can help keep the place clean and stop delays from lots of trash building up.

What to Talk About With Your Digging Company Before Work Starts

A talk before the machines arrive can stop many problems. Make sure you talk about:

• Where the digging will happen: Where it starts and where it ends.
• How deep the digging needs to be: How far the company needs to dig.
• How the machines will get in: Where the machines and trucks will come in and work.
• Utilities: If the needed checking for pipes and wires has been done.
• Permits: Who is in charge of getting the needed papers and approvals.
• Dirt removal: If the dirt that is dug up will stay on the land or be taken away.
• Transporting: Who takes care of moving and getting rid of the stuff.
• Cleaning up: What the land should look like after the digging is done.
• Schedule: When the work will start, how it will be. When it will be finished.

Getting these details clear before work starts makes it easier to know what to expect.

Get Your Houston Property Ready for Excavation

Preparing your property for digging begins with knowing what the project involves, clearing the area where work will happen, setting up for utility detection, making sure there is access and talking about permits and how materials will be removed. These steps can make the excavation process safer and more orderly.

If you want help getting your property ready for digging Fernandez Excavation LLC’s Excavation in Houston TX can be part of your plans. Talk about your property, what you need done, the conditions for access and what the project requires with the contractor before work starts so everything is clear from the beginning.

FAQs

What should I do before digging starts on my property?

Clear the area where work will take place, find out where underground utilities are, make sure equipment can get in, talk about permits and decide what will happen to the dirt and waste. Review the strategy with your contractor.

Who marks utilities before digging?

Texas811 handles utility detection. In Texas people who are digging or their contractors have to call 811 two business days before starting and the companies that own the utilities will mark their lines.

Do I need to take down fences before digging?

Not always. Some fences or gates might stay, while others might get in the way of equipment. Ask your excavation contractor if a fence needs to be taken down or moved temporarily.

What happens to the dirt after digging?

Depending on the project some dirt can be used again for shaping the land or filling in areas. Extra dirt can be put into trucks. Taken away. Talk with the contractor about how the dirt will be handled and disposed of ahead of time.

How much space do digging machines need?

There is no one size that fits all because the machines come in sizes. The contractor should check the width of the driveway, the size of the gate, the space under lines nearby buildings and the area where machines can move before choosing the right equipment.