Service
Trenching
New construction is where trenching shines. On a subdivision or commercial site that is still open ground, an open trench is often the most direct way to put utility conduit and pipe in before the paving, driveways and landscaping go in. We locate first, dig to the depth the plans call for, place the lines, backfill and leave the site ready for the next trade. Where a route has to cross something already built, we can bore that piece instead.
What's included
How we handle it
Locates first
Existing utilities are located and marked before any digging starts.
The trench
The trench is cut along the planned route to the depth and width the plans and the utility standards call for.
Placement
Conduit or pipe is placed in the open trench, where the lines can be seen and checked before backfill. Where the utility standards allow, several lines can share one trench.
Backfill and restore
The trench is backfilled and the surface is put back within the job scope, ready for the next phase of the build.
Boring or trenching
Why trenchless, and when to trench?
Two methods, each with its place. Trenchless boring is the way under what is already built; trenching is often the way to go for new-construction development. We do both, look at your route first, and many jobs use some of each.
| Factor | HDD (trenchless) | Trenching |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Built-up routes: under roads, driveways, landscaping and existing utilities | New-construction development and open sites, before paving and landscaping go in |
| The surface | Stays in place; digging is mostly the entry and exit pits | Opened along the route, then backfilled and restored |
| Traffic | Roads above can often stay open | Planned with the site work; open ground often has no traffic to manage |
| Several lines | Each bore carries the conduit or pipe planned for it | One trench can take several lines side by side, where utility standards allow |
| Seeing the work | The drill head is tracked from the surface and the path is recorded | Lines are placed in the open and checked before backfill |
| Ground | Cobbles, boulders and some hard rock can make boring hard | Handles mixed ground; deeper trenches need protection |
General guide; the right method depends on the route, soil and site.
Answers
Trenching: questions
It depends on the route, the soil and what is already in the ground. We look at your route first and talk through whether trenching or boring fits the job.
Yes. Existing utilities are located and marked before any digging starts.
Yes. The trench is backfilled and the surface is put back within the job scope.
Other services
Horizontal Directional Drilling
Trenchless boring that puts pipe and conduit under roads, driveways and landscaping without digging a long open trench.
Learn moreFiber Optic & Telecom Boring
Conduit placement, fiber pulls, handholes and boxes, and small-cell conduit for telecom and fiber builds.
Learn moreTraffic Control & Permitting
Help with traffic control and the permit paperwork, so the crew can start when the bore is ready.
Learn moreRestoration
Concrete and surface restoration after the bore, so the site is left clean and finished.
Learn moreInfrastructure Builds
The underground utility package for a new development, from the first locate to the finished surface.
Learn moreReady to get underground?
Tell us about your project and we will put together a bid.