Things to think about when doing your own excavation for your new house
When building a new home, the first thing you need to do is to excavate the soil beneath where you want it to fit the foundation. Excavation is a complicated and possibly dangerous project, but you can do it on your own if you have some experience in excavation. If you choose to perform the excavation for your new home yourself, there are a few things you need to know to make sure the project is as safe as possible while still turning out the way you want it to.
Drainage trench
When you start your excavation project, one of the first things you should do is to dig a trench leading from the site where groundwater can be transported if it were to fill you excavation. Make sure the trench is graded downwards in order for the water to flow naturally. If that's impossible, you also need to get a pump for your excavation project that can pump the water out of your main hole into the trench. This is important, as an excavation filling up with water can turn into a highly dangerous situation where you risk drowning. If you plan on doing the excavation in a very wet area, you should consider contacting professional excavation services to do it for you.
Soil testing
Have a professional test the soil before you start digging. This is important, as it might decide how deep you need to dig. If you have sandy soil, for example, you might have to dig deeper to find more compact soil that can hold the foundation of your building. It's also important to know in case you have to treat the soil before you start digging, as it's difficult to treat soil that is being worked on. Muddy soil can, for example, be treated with different substances to become drier and less unstable.
Safety precautions
Make sure you take proper safety precautions throughout the entire excavation process. Get a scanning done of the property to get the current state of pipes and cables running under your property so that you can avoid them. You should also make sure to wear safety gear any time when you're near the workplace. Wear sturdy, heavy boots that you're unlikely to trip in. You should also wear a face mask and safety goggles to protect yourself from dust and particles that might arise as you're excavating. You should also wear a helmet or a hardhat to protect yourself from rocks and soil that might fall from the excavator.
These tips can help you with your excavation, but if you don't have much experience with the work, it's best to leave the job to professional excavation services.