What are excavating contractors? What do they do? What skills do they possess, and what do they cost? We will answer all of those questions in this article. We are J & A Excavation Services, serving the Greater Fort Worth area. Call us at 817-933-7778 for a complete list of our excavating services and dump truck services. When the job is too large for you to handle, and you want the best handling it, call J & A Excavation.
What are excavating contractors?
Excavation contractors are responsible for site preparation for any construction project. They oversee altering the landscape by moving dirt, rocks, trees and more, typically using a wide range of heavy machinery i.e. front loaders, bulldozers, etc. 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. Simply stated, without a trained excavating contractor, any construction job, from a backyard shed to a high rise apartment building, would be doomed from the start.
What skills do excavating contractors possess?
The main skills which all competent excavation contractors possess is the ability to operate large machinery, but in addition to that, they must have a general knowledge of the entire construction process plus a knowledge of soils and drainage issues.
Excavating contractors must be able to do the following:
- Digging the foundation to exacting dimensions/placement
- Grading to provide a level surface upon which to build
- Trenching to accommodate underground utility installation
- Leveling to meet site-specific elevation requirements set by the city
- Soil compaction to ensure a stable building surface
- Installation of Specialty Soils to further solidify the surface and aid with drainage
What do they cost?
This is a tough question to answer. Many excavation services charge by the hour, especially on small jobs, and that hourly rate can be as high as $60 or more per hour. Many contractors will bid for a job, computing the hours they predict the job will take, the distance they must travel, and any equipment they will be operating. Estimates can range from $2000 to $10,000, depending mainly upon the size of the project, the difficulty of the project, and the average fee charged in that particular area.
To further illustrate this point, excavation services will cost considerably higher in Los Angeles than they will in Olympia, Washington, or Bozeman, Montana, simply because everything costs more in Los Angeles. And companies just starting out may be hesitant to charge top dollar for services, whereas an established, highly-sought after company, known for excellent work, may charge more because they are in high demand.
The bottom line for this entire discussion is this: good excavation contractors are skilled professionals, and they are crucial to the success of any construction job. As such, they are worth every dollar spent on them.
A final word about J & A Excavation
J & A Excavation services is a trusted name in Fort Worth, locally owned and operated, skilled at all jobs, big and small, from pond excavation and driveway excavation, to the biggest of big corporate headquarters. Call us the next time only the best will do for your project.