What Does an Excavator Contractor Do?
Excavation contractors are responsible for site preparation for construction. They oversee changing the landscape by moving dirt, rocks, trees and more, typically using a wide range of heavy machinery. These efforts are a part of a careful and well-engineered process designed to create a firm basis from which any building project can begin.
Where Construction Starts: Excavation Basics
The excavation process includes careful planning and analysis. For those new to the industry, it’s important to realize the many techniques needed to prepare the earth for substantial projects like new buildings, roads and highways and utility-scale solar projects. To shape the site effectively, contractors rely on precision planning to accomplish the many tasks that get the site ready for construction.
An excavation contractor’s duties may include:
- Digging the foundation to exacting dimensions/placement
- Grading to provide a level surface
- Trenching to accommodate underground utility installation
- Leveling to meet site-specific elevation requirements
- Soil Compaction to ensure a stable building surface
- Installation of Specialty Soils
Integrating Vital Infrastructure
The excavation contractor will make certain that the site has the necessary infrastructure in place. This may include trenching to install sewers, electrical lines, wells and any supports required in the foundation of a building.
The contractor may also play a role in landscaping by shaping the ground surrounding the building’s planned foundation to allow for a more complete aesthetic by the project’s end.
Excavating Contractor Responsibilities
The excavating contractor effectively manages and schedules their crew and equipment in order to meet the specific demands and proposed timeline of the project. Excavating contracting companies often work with several other contractors to accomplish specific tasks in strict order and put all crews in a position to keep the site preparation process moving smoothly.
Additional Responsibilities of an Excavation Contractor
In most cases, the excavation company is also responsible for building temporary or permanent roadbeds that allow other heavy equipment operators to efficiently and safely access the job site. This is especially critical and the project advances to bringing in heavy concrete mixes, cranes and lifts.
More specifically, the excavation contractor is often responsible for:
- Roads
- Driveways
- Sidewalks
- Drainage
- Demolition
- Dirt haul-off or import
Preparing for Large Scale Construction Projects
In large-scale projects, mass excavation is required. Structural excavation is an advanced technique that’s required to prepare the building’s footprint for foundations and basements of a vertical structure, such as a skyscraper. These techniques require a fleet of heavy machinery and a large crew that can draw on experience and engineering insight to make precise measurements. While both large and small-scale projects require high levels of precision, larger projects tend to also involve more coordination between teams, making communication paramount.
Castle Contracting’s Earthmoving Services
Castle Contracting offers earthmoving to help project managers begin their next construction on a firm footing. Our experienced leadership team works with clients to meet or exceed timeline demands with a dedicated craft workforce and an expansive fleet of heavy equipment.
Ready to get started? Contact Castle today.
