Avoiding Common Excavation Challenges

Proper excavation is the backbone of any successful construction project, whether building a new home, building an addition, building a garage or shop, installing a septic system, trenching or building or modifying a driveway. Excavation can come with its share of challenges, from rocky or clay soils to finding utility lines. 1776 Contractors have seen it all, and we’re here to

share expert tips to help homeowners avoid common pitfalls in excavation services. By planning ahead and working with a skilled excavation contractor, you can ensure your project stays on track, and on budget. Let’s dive into the top challenges in residential excavation and how to sidestep them.

1. Navigating Difficult Terrain and Soil Conditions

One of the most frequent hurdles of excavating is dealing with rugged terrain. Rocky soil, clay- heavy ground, and topography can significantly impact projects and drive up excavation costs. For example, rocky soil might require specialized equipment like hydraulic breakers, which can add to your budget.

How to Avoid It:

• Get a soil test early: In most of our municipalities along the Uncompahgre Valley, we are subjected to engineered foundations because our soils are expansive and move over time. The soil test helps engineers determine the scope of excavation needed for foundations. Delta County, except for the city municipalities within, does not require foundations to be engineered; however, our expansive soils know no boundaries in Western Colorado. It is always our recommendation to have any structural foundations engineered. We often find that engineers are backlogged and sometimes have a 3–4- month turnaround on these results.

• Septic system approvals: When looking for septic system installers, make sure they know how to navigate the requirements of the Health Departments. Installing new or revised septic systems is reviewed at each Health Department, whether it’s Montrose County, Ouray County, Delta County, or San Miguel County. Having an experienced team to help navigate these requirements is essential for a successful project.

• Does your Excavator have access to the right equipment for the job? Ensure your contractor uses the correct size and type of equipment for the job. For instance, compact excavators work well in tight residential spaces, while larger machines tackle rocky ground. Having the right equipment for the job ensures that efficiency is maximized.

Here is another thing to consider: using a small or mid-sized excavator to tackle a job that requires moving a lot of earth may take 2-4 times longer to complete than using a large excavator. The costs of using the right-sized equipment for the job are usually much more financially efficient. People often see the price of renting equipment and opt for the cheaper option. However, the cost of an operator normally more than offsets these prices, especially if the number of days they are on-site is cut in half (or more) by using the appropriately sized machine for the task.

• For people outside our service area: If you’re searching for “excavators near me,” and are not in our service area, ask your potential excavation contractors about their experience with local soils and what needs to be done to prepare for the job. As we have outlined the challenges above for our service area, your area could be completely different.

2. Navigating Utility Lines

Hitting an underground utility line during trenching services or foundation excavation is costly and dangerous. Gas, water, electric, fiber optics, or sewer lines are likely running through your property. Damaging them can lead to delays, repairs, fines, and/or costly repairs.

Items to discuss with your excavating contractor:

• Be sure that 811 is called before the dig: This free service locates and marks

underground utilities. It’s a must for any residential excavation project, whether it’s grading or utility trenching. Always confirm your contractor follows this step.

• Plan around existing utilities, roads, and accommodate for easements and

setbacks: If lines can’t be moved, your contractor can adjust the excavation plan, such as rerouting trenches or hand-digging in sensitive areas. Other options would be to bore lines. This is common under roads and highways, where utilities need to get from one side of the road to the other, and going through the road isn’t an option. Easements and setbacks also need to be accounted for, and specific regulations identified and planned before the dig.

• What if a utility line is mismarked or unmarked? This happens more than one would think. If this happens and a line gets hit, you want someone to navigate that situation, know the protocols, and resolve the issue quickly.

3. Managing Water and Drainage Issues

Water drainage plans should be an essential part of conversations for any excavation services. When building a new home or an addition, poor drainage can flood trenches, destabilize foundations, or delay site preparation, spiking excavation costs. Upon completion of any construction job, there must be a grade that removes water from structures and accommodates low soil erosion.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Assess Drainage Early: During project planning, especially for foundation excavation,evaluate your property’s drainage patterns. A professional excavation contractor canrecommend solutions like French drains or sump pumps.

• Incorporate Erosion Control: Use silt fences, straw wattles, or temporary grading toprevent soil runoff during residential grading projects. This keeps your site stable and compliant with local regulations.

4. Manage Freezing Soils.

Some tasks, like trenching, are more tolerant of adverse weather than other excavation tasks, like digging a foundation. When planning a project, it can be tempting to overlook the impact of freezing temperatures, especially if you’re starting the planning process in the summer. Often, by the time pre-construction is complete, we start digging in January when soils are frozen,

sometimes earlier in higher elevations like Ridgway, Placerville, and Ouray. Warm weather during planning can mask the challenges of winter soil conditions, which are more demanding to work with than in the summer, so how does one manage these challenges?

Here are some tips to consider:

• Time Your Project Wisely: Schedule excavation during seasons to minimize delays associated with freezing soils. If winter excavation is unavoidable, ensure your contractor has a plan to keep soils dry and/or above freezing temperatures

• Avoid Heaving: When soil or fill freezes, it will occupy more space than if it were dry or not frozen. Here is a good analogy: What happens to a bottle of water when you put it in the freezer? It expands. Moisture in soil does the same thing; it will expand or heave.

• When Not to Build: Avoid building on soils likely to heave or already frozen. If soils are damp and likely to freeze under a foundation, driveway, or any other structure, the chance of Heaving is high. If building on top of already frozen soil, when that soil warms, it will shrink, causing a void and settling.

• Manage the Moisture: A good contractor can manage soil moisture, and there are many tricks to doing so. Moisture in soils isn’t a bad thing most of the time because it assists with compaction, though it should be navigated carefully in freezing temperatures.

4. Staying Within Budget

Excavation in Western Colorado can have more cost fluctuations than any other construction phase. Generally speaking, excavation (not including landscaping or long driveways) should be between 6-10% of the overall budget of a new home, but we have seen it escalate much higher rapidly. There are a lot of factors that cause these prices to jump, such as the need for a septic

system and/or the cost of sewer tap, topography of the land, the size of rocks encountered, hitting groundwater, the number and size of trees to be cleared, or finding buried treasures from past owners. Because we don’t have X-ray vision, it is often hard to predict what challenges lie beneath the soil's surface. However, with experienced and local excavators, these challenges become easier to navigate.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Get a Detailed Scope of Work (SOW): Ask your excavation contractor for a detailed SOW so you and the contractor can review it and discuss the likelihood of unforeseen expenses. As mentioned, foundation excavation typically ranges from 6-10% of the overall budget of building a new house, depending on depth and complexity, so clarity upfront is key.

• Plan for Contingencies: Set aside 10-15% of your overall budget for surprises like extra dirt removal, equipment upgrades, or additional labor. This cushions the impact of unforeseen challenges.

5. Timely Project Completion

Delays in excavation can throw off your entire construction timeline. Weather, permitting issues, or poor coordination can push back site preparation, frustrating homeowners and builders alike.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Secure Permits Early, and Set a Timeline: In our service area, we don’t necessarily have many specific permits specified for excavation; however, excavation is routinely subjected to official inspections, tied to a permit for the overall project. Your excavation contractor should work hand-in-hand with your permit holder (you or your General Contractor) to ensure they comply with the necessary inspections for foundation excavation or utility trenching. An experienced excavator will already know these steps and will be able to help guide you through this process, but it is essential to set up a calendar with tentative inspection dates.

• Coordinate with Other Trades: Ensure your contractor communicates with builders, plumbers, or electricians to align schedules. For example, utility trenching must sync with plumbing installation. A slab foundation also needs to coordinate with plumbers and, potentially, radon mitigation.

• Monitor Weather: Check forecasts leading up to the dig and create a plan with the contractor to avoid heavy rain or snow, which can halt residential grading, excavation, and trenching.

Why Choose 1776 Contractors for Your Excavation Needs?

1776 Contractors understand the challenges of residential excavation and take pride in delivering smooth, safe, and efficient projects. Our team uses top-quality equipment, rigorous safety protocols, and decades of experience to tackle rocky soil, protect utilities, and manage drainage. Whether you need basement excavation, utility trenching, or residential grading, we’re

committed to building strong foundations for your property with a patriotic dedication to quality.

Ready to Start Your Project? Don’t let excavation challenges derail your dream. Contact 1776 Contractors today for a consultation and discover why we’re the trusted choice for excavation services in the Uncompahgre Valley and surrounding communities. Call us at 970-778-1776 or fill out our online form to get started.

We dig in the Western Colorado Municipalities of Montrose, Delta, Ouray, Olathe, Paonia, Log Hill, Cedaredge, Placerville, and Ridgway; as well as Delta County, Montrose County (minus the West End), Ouray County, and San-Miguel County.

We know houses inside and out. Our specialty teams are the best in the valley regarding Remodels, Additions, Roofing, Decks, Concrete, Excavation, and New Homes. Our customer support and craftsmanship set us apart. See for yourself by exploring our website, 1776remodels.com.

We specialize in new house foundations, home addition foundations, septic system installations,shop foundations, garage foundations, driveway excavation, and trenching.We look forward to being your Contractor.