Excavation & Earthmoving Helsinki / Uusimaa / Finland

WHAT ARE EXCAVATION CONTRACTORS?

Excavation contractors are usually considered subcontractors because they work within a team of people to complete larger projects. For example, if a homeowner were putting in a pool, excavation contractors, excavating and earthmoving services would dig the hole for the pool, and other subcontractors would complete the installation.  

Examples of projects provided by excavating and earthmoving services might be:

• Preparing the sub-grade for building foundations
• Digging out for installation of swimming pools
• Building golf courses
• Clearing and removing trees and brush
• Digging septic tanks or detention ponds
• Building roads, etc.

While it’s easy to think of excavation contractors simply as dirt movers, excavation services entail entirely a bit more than pushing earth around. Earthmoving services include site preparation, leveling and trenching as well as soil-related concerns like stabilization and erosion prevention.

In addition to excavating services, excavation contractors assess the site to determine the best way to take on the earthmoving services required for the project. Before beginning their earthmoving services, they will evaluate the project site to see what type of soil is present, the slope of the land, relative proximity to wildlife, distance to existing human populations, or any underlying structures or facilities that will affect the project.

By assessing these factors, excavation contractors, excavation services will be able to plan the staging for the project along with the excavation machinery that will be required to complete it. Excavation, earthmoving service firms might own a single truck, or their fleet could be with many tractors, mechanics, and surveyors, depending on the excavating and earthmoving services that will be required.

Excavation contractors, excavating and earthmoving service companies will also be able to estimate the size of the crew and the training and equipment needed to ensure their safety. If specialty machines are required, they will provide that the excavation contractors and staff can operate them safely.

After assessing for all these factors, excavation contractors should be able to provide an accurate timeline for completing the excavation services. Excavation contractors, excavating and earthmoving service companies can use commercial tables to roughly determine how much soil can be moved with existing equipment to give the size of the site. Earthmoving services should also factor in the local weather forecast when preparing their timeline, as inclement weather can cause significant delays to excavation services.

Finally, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies will secure the necessary permits and licenses needed to keep the project in compliance with local and state regulations. If an agency inspector needs to visit the excavation site to grant the licenses and permits, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving services should make themselves available to be on-site to answer questions and facilitate the licensing process.

WHAT EXCAVATING, EXCAVATION SERVICES CAN THEY PROVIDE?

Once the project is underway, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can provide a variety of excavating services to get the job done, ranging from simple earthmoving services to building roads and using trenchers to install underground pipes without creating ditches. Excavation contractors can also construct, maintain and remove temporary drainage and dams if the project requires.

Site preparation excavating, excavation services

Once a surveyor finalizes the boundaries for the structure, and the lot itself, an excavation contractor, excavation and earthmoving service company arrive to prepare the site for the construction by using their expert earthmoving services. They remove the soil to accommodate the depth of the new foundation and ensure that it matches the grade required for the project. Once the new foundation is poured, excavation contractors bring in any fill materials needed and backfill the dirt around the new foundation.

Soil control

To ensure that the soil quality remains top-notch, excavation contractors can also provide specialized excavation services. They can use individual compaction tests and equipment to ensure that once the site was excavated according to the engineer’s specifications, the soil meets the moisture and compaction specifications set by the project engineers.

Excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can also stabilize paving or the soil underneath the building’s foundation with substances like lime or cement to improve the soil’s bearing capabilities. These excavation services are critically important for sites that will have high traffic levels etc.

Erosion control is another of the excavation services that excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can provide. Each new project requires temporary soil erosion measures that might include installing a silt fence, storm inlet protection or special construction entrances to ensure that existing soil remains intact during the construction process. Earthmoving services can also help control drainage by trenching drains and providing run-off control on site.

Utility lines and trenching

Using specialized heavy machinery, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can execute a variety of potentially dangerous projects such as providing underground services for power and gas utility systems, sanitary sewers, water mains, storm drains, etc. When using specialized trenchers or drills, earthmoving services can install underground pipes in a variety of materials without having to dig a ditch. 

Backfilling excavation, earthmoving services

Once a project is complete, earthmoving services companies can also replace the excavated soil around the new building or refill any trenches and holes created for installing utility services. By providing these excavation services, they are ensuring that the foundation of your structure is safe and stable. 

Extension excavation, earthmoving services

Because of the universal need for heavy equipment, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies often provide an extension of their earthmoving services that make the most out of their fleet of machinery. Because earthmoving services firms often lease or own their equipment, using them for these extension excavation services can often be cheaper than employing someone who must rent equipment individually for your project.

Lot clearing and excavation, earthmoving services

Since excavation contractors need access to heavy machinery to provide earthmoving services, they can often use this equipment to clear sites of brush and trees, even if no earthmoving services are needed.

In addition to brush and debris, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can sometimes even remove old and unsafe structures that are on site. Earthmoving services companies can also use their extensive knowledge of grading and drainage to help improve the site once the underbrush, etc. is removed.

Disaster demolition and excavation services

As with lot clearing, disaster services are an extension of excavation services that excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can provide. After natural disasters, excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can give critical excavation services to residents and businesses alike who need land cleared and debris hauled away.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SELECTING EXCAVATION CONTRACTORS?

Related experience with similar excavation, earthmoving services

The earthmoving services contractor or excavation and earthmoving service company that you select should have experience with the type of task you are planning. That will be important when it comes time to secure the necessary permits for your site. Excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies with related experience will know exactly what inspectors will require to grant a permit, and they will be able to expedite the process and get your project started much faster than someone providing excavation and earthmoving services for the first time.

Industry qualifications for excavation, earthmoving services

Because of the risk associated with using such heavy machinery, it’s crucial to select excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies who are licensed and bonded in your area. You should also check with the excavation services that they follow guidelines for a safe job site. Special inspections have been shown to lower injury rates and related costs, without negatively impacting the business. Not only could an injury be costly to the excavation and earthmoving services company and their employee, but it could also mean a significant delay to the project.

Cost of excavation and earthmoving services

As with any more extensive project, get bids from two or three companies that provide excavation and earthmoving services like your project needs. Any excavation contractor, excavation and earthmoving services company whose proposal comes in much lower than bids provided by other earthmoving services deserves a bit more examination. It could indicate that their work is substandard or that the materials they use are not up to snuff. 

Customer Satisfaction

Try to look for objective reviews about excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies to see how others felt after working with the provider you are considering using. Excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies can offer references to successful projects and present a convincing bid, but if they are having nothing but negative reviews from dissatisfied customers, it might be better to choose someone else.

CONCLUSION ABOUT EXCAVATION AND EARTHMOVING

When you need a mountain of dirt moved, experienced excavation contractors, excavation and earthmoving service companies are the way forward. Starting with a good foundation sets the stage for a successful project, and a qualified, reliable excavation, earthmoving services provider will ensure that you have the right base in place.