Are you building your new home from the ground up? Or perhaps you already own a home but want to install a deck, fountain, inground pool, or a driveway.
If you answered yes to either question, one of the first things you must look for is a land excavation service. After all, it's the first step of most construction projects since it sets the foundation. If done poorly, it can result in water damage and structural instability.
So, how do you choose the right excavation contractor, then? What qualifications should you look for?
We'll tell you the hows and whats in this guide, so read on.
1. Confirm They Specialize in the Service You Need
Many excavation companies specialize in residential services (such as for the abovementioned projects). Others only perform commercial work for large-scale projects like office buildings and hotels. Some also specialize in industrial jobs, such as digging for complex pipeline projects.
So, start your search based on whether you require residential, commercial, or industrial services. This way, you can trim your list of prospects to only those that provide exactly what you need.
2. Verify Credentials and Qualifications
Excavation work can be dangerous, posing severe injury and death risks from cave-ins.
But someone's got to do the job, right? That's right, which is why it's so vital for operators to be competent and qualified to do excavation work.
The last thing you want is for someone to get hurt while working on your property. Thus, choose a contractor whose operators have the following certifications:
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OSHA Safety Certificate
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CAT (Levels I, II, and III) Professional Operator Certification
Those certifications demonstrate an operator's competency in performing safe excavation work. It also indicates they've undergone rigorous training and have ample work experience.
3. Double-Check Their Insurance Coverage
Don't forget to ask to see the contractor's certificates of insurance. At the very least, they should have liability and worker's compensation coverage. You can then call the insurance providers to verify the policies' validity.
4. Consider Their Excavation Methods' Safety
In the U.S., it's the law to call 811 before you dig, even if it's your property you're excavating. Failure to do so can result in damage to buried utility lines or, worse, severe injury or fatalities. By dialing 811, you can have underground utility lines within your property correctly marked.
Now, suppose you learn that under your property are many delicate pipes. This can make it too risky to use traditional excavation methods.
In that case, consider partnering with an excavation company specializing in hydro excavation. This reliable, safe method delicately exposes buried lines using precision nozzles and vacuums. You can learn more about it by reading this guide on hydro excavation in Texas.
Time to Partner With a Reliable Excavation Service
Now you know that when choosing an excavation service, you should look for specialization, especially their methods. You should also verify their credentials, qualifications, and insurance. All these are vital considerations you shouldn't skip, as they demonstrate a contractor's reliability and experience.
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