Earthwork contractors provide a variety of excavation services, including trenching. If your company is developing land for new construction, you’ll likely need to dig several trenches to hold the utilities. Use this guide to learn more about this excavation service, as well as how it’s performed.

What It Is

Trenching is the process of digging a long, narrow pit that’s no more than 15 feet wide at the base. The walls can veer at an angle to extend beyond this measurement. Although sloping the side walls at an angle is a common practice, you’ll need the help of earthwork contractors to prevent the structure from caving in on itself.

Once the trench has been dug according to these specifications, plumbing pipes, electrical cables, and other utilities can be laid on its floor. The contents are bedded in gravel, crushed rocks, or another grounding material; then, the trench is filled with the soil that was initially excavated.

Trenching Tools

Riders are large vehicles that licensed machine operators use to dig long, deep trenches. The operator sits in an enclosed compartment and uses knobs and levers to control the bucket or digging tool at the arm’s end. Certain forklifts can be equipped for deep digging by replacing the forks with trenching arms.

There are several styles of chain-blade tools, like scoops and digging blades, and they all operate by using a rotating chain. These powerful pieces of equipment are used to dig most trenches, but their chain teeth can break and disrupt the process.

Short trenches are only a few feet deep and are typically excavated by hand. Workers use handheld hoes and shovels to complete this project. While any type of digging tool can be used, a trench hoe works best since it has a blade with a narrow width that’s designed for this type of excavation.

If your upcoming project requires a trench, turn to the experienced earthwork contractors at Weddle Enterprises Inc, in Somerset. These licensed professionals have served businesses throughout Tennessee and Kentucky since 1976. They use advanced GPS technology to perform precise excavations and provide high-quality results. To get more information about their services, visit them online or call (606) 678-4057. You can also connect with them on Facebook for the latest news and updates.