Driveway excavation is one of those home improvement jobs that most property owners think they can do with a free weekend. It was that way when this writer was growing up, and I suspect it is still that way today. After all, what technical knowledge do you need? You just move some dirt around, stomp it down, and you are ready to pour the concrete, right?
Unfortunately for most property owners, driveway excavation, or any other type of excavating, involves a bit more than that, and in this article we will discuss the complications with trying to tackle it as a DIY project. We are J & A Excavation, serving the Greater Fort Worth area with quality excavation and demolition services. Call us the next time the job you want done is far too large for you to tackle on your own.
What is driveway excavation?
The simplest definition of driveway excavation is the removal of dirt, rocks, and vegetation in preparation for the laying of concrete for the driveway. As with most definitions, however, driveway excavation is a bit more complicated than that. Put simply, if it were that easy, just about anyone should, and could, do it themselves . . . but it’s not.
Steps taken in driveway excavation
Driveway excavation begins with marking off the area to be excavated, and immediately it gets complicated. City and/or county officials must be notified to determine if there are any pipes or cables buried in the area where the driveway will be laid.
Once that hurdle is passed, it is then time for the removal of obstructions like rocks, trees, etc.
The next step is to arrange for proper drainage. Water will ruin most construction/excavation jobs within a year or two, unless it is accounted for. You will want a natural slope if possible, and if not possible, drainage pipes will have to be laid to carry the rainwater away from the driveway. Without doing this, water will eventually pool beneath the driveway, and cracking will occur, most likely sooner rather than later.
Next, you must make sure you have a good base upon which to pour your cement. Does the existing soil have the properties necessary to retain water and to handle the weight of cement. If not, and you will need to take soil samples to determine this, you will have to bring proper soil in to stabilize the future driveway site.
And, finally, you are ready to lay the driveway material, whether it be cement or blacktop or some other composite material. If the job has been done properly, the driveway will last you decades. If not, cracks will appear within the first year or two.
Should you attempt an excavation job?
We are reminded of the classic statement, which goes something like this: just because you can do a job, does not mean you should. Every property owner must remember that old adage before attempting any sort of excavation job. If those jobs were simply a matter of heavy labor, most property owners would be capable of doing them. Unfortunately, most of these jobs require technical knowledge as well, and that is where many property owners run into problems.
A final word about J & A Excavation
J & A Excavation handles the big jobs, and has the expertise to handle them properly, the first time and every time. Call us for building pads, pond excavation, dump truck services and yes, driveway excavation.