Looking for driveway excavators near me on Google can be like playing roulette. You never really know where that little ball will land, on a winner or on a loser. Why? What can you do to guard against hiring an excavating company which is not, shall we say, qualified or worth the money you are paying?
Read on as J & A Excavation of Fort Worth answers those questions about driveway excavation. Call us if you are in the Greater Fort Worth Metro area for all of your excavation needs. We are a trusted name in the Fort Worth area in excavating, and we aim to maintain that trust and earn yours.
What do driveway excavators near me do for the money paid?
The simplest definition of excavation services is to “dig out,” but driveway excavation entails a bit more than that. If that’s all there was to it, anyone with a shovel could do the job properly.
Excavation of a driveway involves three main steps:
- Removal of old driveway or removal of impediments in area planned for a driveway (excavation demolition)
- Placing gravel down for a solid foundation
- Making sure a proper drainage system is installed
Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail.
Removal of old driveway
If there is an existing driveway, the surface material must be removed. If there is just barren ground, large rocks and other impediments must be removed so that there is a fairly smooth surface to work with.
Good foundation
Having removed materials, those gaps in the surface need to be replaced, usually with gravel, so that the graders can make a final surface (building pads) which will properly receive and support the new driveway materials.
Proper drainage
All of the previous work is worthless unless proper drainage is allowed for. What is the slope of the land? How well does the current soil drain runoff in heavy rains? Does the soil need to be modified for proper drainage, or do you need drainage pipes to help in the process?
How to find qualified driveway excavators near me (you)?
As you may have realized by now in this article, these things are not common knowledge for anyone with a shovel and a strong back. They require technical knowledge most people do not have, so you need to hire experienced companies. How to find them? Ask for references and then, and this is very important, you need to follow-up on those references and actually ask previous customers. It is the only way to know, for sure, that a company can do what it claim it can do. As much as it pains us to say this, but there are unscrupulous contractors out there, not properly trained, who will gladly take your money and leave you with a substandard job.
How about DIY excavation?
Our suggestion, at the risk of sounding self-serving, is no, do not tackle this job if you do not have the expertise. It is entirely possible for a property owner to lay down a smooth, attractive driveway without any technical knowledge, but chances are that new driveway will crack and be next-to-worthless within five years, at which time you will be looking for new driveway excavators near me.
A final word about J & A Excavation
At J & A, we encourage people to check our references. We have spent many years building our reputation in the Fort Worth area, and that reputation is excellent. When you want the job done, first time, call J & A Excavation.