Types of Excavation in Construction
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Excavation Equipment 0 Comments

8 Types Of Excavation Used In Construction

Whether you want to construct a commercial or a residential building, roadways, bridges, or install pipes and underground utility lines, the land needs to be inspected and prepared to ensure it provides a strong foundation. Excavation is an important part of any construction project. The process uses different tools and techniques to move soil, rock, and other material to form a cavity and prepare the area for construction. Building companies use several different types of excavation in construction. The type of excavation used depends on the material used and the purpose.

Here are some types of excavation in construction classified on the basis of material and purpose:

Excavation by Material

Topsoil Excavation

As the name suggests, this type of excavation involves the removal of the exposed or the topmost area of the earth’s surface. The excavation method removes vegetation, soil, and any other decaying material that could make the land unsuitable to bear structural loads.

Rock Excavation

This type of excavation is used to clear surfaces; like the rocky surfaces that impede the building process. Rock excavation is highly challenging as compared to the other types. This is because it cannot be done without the use of special equipment and techniques like drilling or blasting to remove the rock or clear a tough surface.

Muck Excavation

Muck, the combination of soil and water, is often undesirable during construction and needs to be removed. Muck excavation is named after the material being removed. The muck is either moved to another area or spread out to dry.

Earth Excavation

To create a foundation for buildings and bridges or construct drainage ditches various layers of earth need to be removed. Earth excavation includes the removal of soil; the layer below the topsoil, for the purpose of construction.

Excavation by Purpose

Cut and Fill Excavation

Also known as stripping excavation, this type of excavation in construction is used to clear large areas. The process involves the removal of wide and shallow layers of topsoil, rocks, sand, and other unwanted materials. The procedure may also include grading the land.

Trench Excavation

In this type of excavation the length of the excavated area exceeds the depth. Trench excavation is typically used to bury service lines, to install pipelines and sewer systems, or lay foundations. Shallow trenches of less than 6m or deep trenches of more than 6m are done using this type of excavation. The techniques used for this type is dependent on factors like the purpose, ground conditions, number of obstructions, and so on.

Basement Excavation

Basement is typically the area below the ground level. This type of excavation is used when the construction is to be done at least partially below the ground level. Depending on the size of the property, this type of excavation can be complicated.

Dredging

Sediment deposits can build up over time under water making construction, as well as the passage, difficult. The process of dredging involves excavating and removing sediments and debris from underwater to allow boats and ships to pass easily and for other construction purposes.

While these were some, there are many other types of excavation used in construction. If you’re in search of an excavation service provider connect with us at Sierra Hydrovac.

Water Excavation Equipment
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4 Advantages Of Water Excavation

Water excavation or hydro excavation is a sophisticated type of excavation with several advantages over mechanical excavation, which involves the usage of metal claws to dig into the ground. Water excavation involves the injection of a pressurized jet of water into the ground or the soil in order to loosen it. The injection of water results in the formation of sludge, which is easily collected into the attached storage tank with the help of water excavation equipment such as a vacuum hose. The sophistication of water excavation equipment makes it an increasingly popular method of excavation since debris collection is simplified. Read on to learn more about these advantages.

Suitability for Canadian Terrain

The terrain and the firmness of the ground are determined by the prevailing weather and climatic conditions. Canada, because of its extremely cold weather conditions, has a firm ground that is particularly difficult to excavate. Water excavation involves the loosening of the ground before the excavation begins, and this makes the process particularly well suited for the Canadian terrain. In any case, water excavation is capable of excavating most soil textures, and this makes water excavation equipment an all-weather ally.

Water Excavation is Non-Destructive

Mining and trenching industries particularly prefer water excavation because of the fact that it is non-destructive. Water excavation causes no damage or disturbance to the nearby surroundings. It is suitable for mining operations because of the negligible vibratory impact. Water excavation is considered the safest method of excavation because of high safety standards.

Water Excavation is Cost-Efficient

While we admit water excavation equipment is generally costlier than the other types of excavation equipment, a water excavation project is still comparatively cost-efficient. Mechanical excavation and hand shoveling excavation methods are time-consuming and are about 5 to 7 times slower than water excavation. This increases the cost of the project because of the delay and the additional costs associated with increased use of manual labor.

Excavation Equipment

Water Excavation is Great for Locating Utility

Trenching operations involve locating underground facilities such as pipelines and gas lines; and water excavation is ideal for that purpose. Safely being able to locate these underground facilities decreases the chances of damaging these facilities. Damaging these facilities could result in the project getting delayed further, additional costs associated with repair work, and inconvenience caused to the public in case of operations in urban regions.

The quality of water excavation services vary, it firmly depends on the quality of the water excavation equipment. For superior water excavation, Sierra Hydrovac, with its reliable excavation equipment is better suited for your extensive excavation projects. Our excavation services and hydrovac services can help you with many of your civil projects.

Excavation Equipment
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Excavation Equipment 0 Comments

What Are The Equipment Used For Vacuum Excavation?

We have come far away from traditional tools like axes, mattocks and hoes to highly advanced excavation trucks. Depending on the type and purpose of excavation, different types of equipment are used. For example, professionals opt for trenching when they have to install underground data lines, telephone lines, or sewer lines. Trenching is typically done with a chain excavator whereas suction excavators are used for vacuum excavation. With this background, let’s take a look at four most commonly used excavation equipment in the industry.

Suction Excavator

Vacuum excavation is the process of compressing an excavating test hole with a great deal of air to loosen the dirt. The debris is then collected with the help of a tank. Typically a suction excavator or a vacuum excavator is used to carry out this process. A suction excavator comprises of a wide pipe having a diameter of 1 foot. It has a very powerful suction with a speed of 100 metres per second. When this excavation equipment uses a water jet instead of a air vacuum, it is called a hydro-excavator and the process is termed as hydro excavation.

Chain Excavator

As mentioned above, a chain excavator is used for trenching. It is alternately also used for mining and dredging. A chain trench has a digging chain and an arm called a boom. The chain is very hard and consists of teeth. When the machine is used, the chain rotates around the boom with rapid force to break the ground. The angle of the boom can be adjusted to determine the depth of excavation.

Directional Drilling Equipment

Directional drilling is a trenchless method of installing underground pipes. The equipment used in horizontal-directional drilling depends on the outer diameter of the pipe, length of the run, ground conditions and the surroundings above ground. Directional drilling equipment is not considered an excavation equipment but it is used when there is an underground obstruction while doing an excavation.

Skid Steer Attachment

A skid steer attachment, also known as a skid loader, is a highly advanced tool that is used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments. Some of the attachment options for skid loaders are backhoe, hydraulic breaker, pallet forks, angle broom, sweeper, auger and wood chipper machine.

These were a few types of excavation equipment we use for various projects. If you require excavation services for your mining project, then get in touch with Sierra Hydrovac, one of the leading hydrovac services contractors in Edmonton.

Small Excavation Equipment
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Why Is Hydrovac Excavation The Right Choice For Small Trenching Projects?

Hydrovac excavation is a sophisticated excavation process which is used across several industries because of its efficiency and accuracy. Hydrovac excavation involves the injection of a pressurized jet of water into the ground that is meant to be trenched. The reason water is used for these projects is that Canadian ground is generally too hard for trenching during the winter. The use of water converts the hard ground into sludge (which is a mix of ground and water) adequately. The sludge is then collected through a hose with the use of vacuum suction. It is then neatly collected into the storage tank which is connected to the truck.

Hydrovac excavation is ideal for small trenching projects because of the sophistication it provides in the following ways:

Hydro Excavation is Non-Destructive

Small trenching projects are generally carried out within the confines of the city. The project is carried out within a small area with special care due to the sensitive surroundings. Hydro excavation is the preferred method of excavation for such projects because it is non-destructive in nature. Due to the higher levels of directional control and accuracy afforded by this method, there is hardly any damage to the nearby surroundings. Since it also comes with small excavation equipment, the execution of the process is easier.

Hydro Excavation is Efficient

Small trenching projects are generally taken up for laying or altering cables or pipelines below the surface of the ground. When these activities are taken up within the confines of a city, it causes immense inconvenience to general citizens. For this reason, a quick and time-efficient excavation is preferred. Hydrovac excavation, with its superior small excavation equipment, is faster than its counterpart- mechanical excavation (which uses the traditional metal claws) and causes less inconvenience to the nearby residents.

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Hydro Excavation is Accurate

There is a reason why experts prefer hydro excavation for small trenching projects. Hydrovac excavation allows greater directional control. This means an activity such as trenching which needs precise execution would benefit from the superior level of control small excavation equipment can provide.

In comparison to this, the metal claws used for mechanical excavation lack this superior directional control. Another bonus of using hydro excavation is that the debris is dealt with in a more convenient way. Mechanical excavation generally leads to a greater mess because you would still need to get rid of the debris. Whereas with Hydrovac one could neatly deposit the debris where one intends to. That being said, the quality of small excavation equipment which is used by a hydro excavation contractor also significantly impacts the efficiency and safety standards.

It is for this reason that Sierra Hydrovac is a respected hydrovac services provider. You also have the convenient option of contacting them directly to avail a free quote for your small trenching project.

Vacuum Truck Rental
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Hydrovac Excavation 0 Comments

Which Type Of Vacuum Truck Is Right For Your Project?

Specialization is a boon. All around us, we see specialists performing their tasks with such zeal and expertise that it results in new limits of relentless efficiency. Our excavation projects are no different; we have specialist vacuum trucks available for specific projects. You have the option of choosing between hydrovac units, vacuum trucks, and combo truck units. Vacuum truck rentals have reached a greater level of popularity because of the efficiency it guarantees.

However, this leads to a pressing question in our minds: which of these vacuum trucks is suitable for your project? It depends firmly on the type of excavation you would like to go ahead with.

The Combo Unit

Are you looking for a truck to move damp sludge? Does your project involve the cleaning of sewer lines, storm drains, and catch basins? In that case, a combo unit is an apt solution to your needs. A combo unit is an excellent option when we are considering moving relatively wet material because of the facility of the storage tanks. This functionality makes a combo truck adequate for cleaning purposes in several industrial facilities.

The Hydrovac Truck

A hydrovac truck or a hydro-vacuum truck is also suitable for moving wet material. The advantage of using hydrovac system trucks is that it ensures success even for excavation of hard ground because of the injection of pressurized water into the ground which manages to loosen it. Greater efficiency and directional control give hydrovac trucks the edge when we are considering trenching and mining projects. The sophistication and safety standards of hydrovac trucks guarantee to make hydro vacuum truck rentals immensely popular.

The Traditional Vacuum Truck

Vacuum trucks come with an all-around advantage, but their specialty lies in the excavation of particularly dry and dusty grounds and materials because vacuum trucks come equipped with a special filtration system. This system makes vacuum trucks suitable even in particularly diverse areas such as furnaces and baghouses which involve the collection of flying ash and slurries. This makes vacuum truck rentals quite popular among manufacturing, power, and chemical plants or facilities.

Now that you understand the various options available for your projects, the next step would certainly be reaching out to a trusted, acclaimed vacuum truck rental service provider. When making such a decision, the safety standards which the excavation equipment provides should be your greatest priority. It is for this reason we recommend reaching out to Sierra Hydrovac with your queries. Our hydrovac services and excavation services are greatly respected in the industry.

Hydro Vacuum Excavation Equipment
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Hydrovac Excavation 0 Comments

Why Is Hydro Vacuum Excavation Necessary For The Mining Industry?

Hydrovac or Hydro excavation is a type of excavation method which is non-destructive in nature. This means this operation causes no harm to its nearby surroundings. The process involves the injection of a pressurized jet of water into the ground meant to be excavated, in order to soften it.

The ground, because of the constant supply of water, loosens up substantially before it is collected through a hose with the use of a vacuum system. This sludge (the mix of ground and water) is safely deposited inside an attached storage tank. Mining has evolved substantially over the years and a layman would be surprised to find the extent of sophistication which is in use for modern-day mining operations which employ this vacuum trenching technique.

Here is why hydro excavation is so vastly popular in the mining industry:

Diversity in Soil Textures

Mining is executed on a vast variety of terrains and naturally, this would mean it is executed on an equally vast variety of soil types and ground textures. Hydrovac is an effective option for excavation, regardless of the texture of the soil, gravel, clay, or the soil type. On the other hand, its counterpart, mechanical excavation (which uses metal claws) is not as effective on certain terrains. In particular, Hydrovac is really effective for the hard Canadian soil where it is very difficult to dig into the ground because of the cold.

Hydrovac is Non-Destructive

Hydro vacuum excavation is a non-destructive process and causes no disturbance to its surroundings. This allows for a more precise and accurate operation which is particularly well suited for the mining industry as it is an extremely sensitive activity, known for its fair share of mishaps. The hydro vacuum excavation equipment used is extremely sophisticated in nature and helps maintain the safety standards obligatory for mining operations.

Hydrovac is Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient

Hydro vacuum excavation is surprisingly cost-effective because it manages to get the job done in a relatively short amount of time, thereby reducing the costs associated with prolonged operations. The technological superiority of hydro vacuum excavation equipment also makes sure you do not spend unnecessary financial resources on repairing the damage done to nearby surroundings.

This also helps in avoiding other costs associated with mishaps and labor accidents. The time taken by mechanical means of excavation does not even come close to the efficiency of Hydrovac. In the case of the mining industry where the scale of operations is really vast, this factor is a definite bonus.

Hydrovac Trucks Edmonton

Sierra Hydrovac is one of the leading Hydrovac services contractors, which is particularly well-regarded because of the technological capabilities of its hydro vacuum excavation equipment. You contact them directly to avail a free quote for the excavation services you require for your mining operations.

Basement Excavation Equipment
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Excavation Equipment 0 Comments

Getting A Basement Excavation: What You Need To Know

Are you running out of space for storage at your home or office? Many people who face similar issues eventually opt to have their basements extended. If you are wondering as to the same, then you have certainly come to the right conclusion. Property owners have had a 30% increase in value when they have extended their property and opted for a basement excavation.

However, there are safety and efficiency factors to consider before you start renovating your basement. Additionally, it would also help to put adequate research into an action like this, because excavation is always a tricky business and nobody wants foundational damage. Also, there is widespread uncertainty among property owners about the basement excavation equipment in general. Here is what you should know before you commence the excavation:

Advantages of Basement Excavation

The primary and the greatest advantage of basement excavation would always remain that you gain additional space and monetary value for your property. Securing permissions for the same is not very challenging. Underpinning and waterproofing, the two complementary steps involved in basement excavation, are actually good for safety and stability purposes. Lastly, the presence of additional space helps reduce the load of storage on your existing property.

Need for Permissions

Excavating beneath your existing residence involves making obvious structural changes to your property. One needs to ask the local authorities if they would approve of such an action. They have several guidelines and regulations in place for any new modifications that you make to your property. You would also need the consent of your neighbor if you share a wall with them to initiate the excavation.

Cavity Drain Membrane System

Modern day construction of basement includes adequate waterproofing after excavation. In the previous decades, basements were simply dug and covered with cement, and this led to leakages. Today, the entirety of the area is appropriately tanked on the inside with a heavy waterproofing membrane. This system ensures all the rainwater is directed down the studs and into the gully.

Commonly Associated Risks

The dangers associated with digging a basement increase with the depth of the basement. A higher groundwater table is also a great danger to a successful basement renovation. The other dangers include chances of flooding alongside poor drainage during heavy rainfall.

Basement Excavation Process

This is where most people go wrong. They are neither certain about the trenching method that should be used nor about the basement excavation equipment. Based on our experience, the safest and the most efficient way to successfully excavate your basement is employing the backfill basement procedure. It is crucial to understand the specifications of this procedure and the condition of the soil underneath the property. The basement excavation equipment employed matters as well because special care must be taken, considering the precise nature of the operation.

Sierra Hydrovac is one of the most reliable excavation contractors in the industry. Their excavation services are reliable and respected in the industry, and they come equipped with some of the most effective basement excavation equipment. You could contact them to get a better understanding of your basement excavation plans.