When it comes to making the most of the technology of hydro excavation, Colorado companies offer the state-of-the-art equipment as well as the expertise that clients need to be able to carry out excavation work in the safest and most efficient way possible.
What is Hydro Excavation?
Most construction projects involve excavation, the larger and more complex the project, usually the more digging needs to get done. Traditionally, excavation used to be a process done manually, by construction workers who used shovels and other manual tools to dig holes into the ground for foundations and utilities such as pipes and cables. Modern technology has replaced manual labor with the power of machines, hydro excavation being one of the most advanced modern methods used for digging.
Hydro excavation is the process of digging holes in the ground using pressurized water to loosen the soil and industry-strength vacuum to evacuate the soil that has been loosened and is no longer needed. The soil, the slurry and the debris from the hole that has been excavated and removed by the vacuum is stored in a container called a debris tank.
What is Hydro Excavation Used for?
Excavation for foundations is the most common, but not the only purpose that hydro excavation is used for. The method is suitable for numerous other construction processes:
- Daylighting – the process of digging up larger holes or small test holes in order to find and expose old or unused underground utilities without jeopardizing the safety of the job site;
- Trenching – digging long and narrow trenches for new utility pipes and cables,
- Landscaping processes that involve the loosening and removal of soil to a certain depth, such as the layer above the roots of a tree;
- Gardening processes that involve the removal of the surface layer of the soil in a certain area in order to replace the layer with a new stratum to improve the fertility of the soil;
- Debris removal – the process involves the loosening and removal of debris from structures such as yard pools without damaging the surrounding area, including walls or installations;
- Cold weather digging – the process of digging holes into frozen ground that would be impossible or extremely difficult without the special, industry-strength, truck-mounted heaters available on hydro excavation units;
- Digging in confined spaces in order to repair damaged cables, telephone lines or utility lines that are difficult to access – hydro excavators have long, extendable hoses that allow for the excavation to be done safely and accurately even if the excavator needs to be parked yards away from the digging site.
Types of Hydro Excavators
Hydro excavators come in a wide range of sizes, from small, handheld machines and larger, but still portable equipment to huge, truck-mounted equipment, so you can easily choose the machine that suits the construction or landscaping project that you are working on. The companies specializing in hydro excavation Colorado gives home to work with the best, most modern machines and they can also provide assistance and consultation in the initial phase of the hiring process, when you choose the equipment to rent.