The pool you’ve been dreaming of is only weeks away now. You’ve got the plans, they’ve been approved and you’ve lined up an excavation contractor who came highly recommended by that guy you met at the auto show. He’s coming over this afternoon (the contractor, not the guy you met at the auto show) with a contract for you to sign and you’re pretty sure you’re going to sign it because he seems like a nice guy. But wait. Before you sign on the dotted line you should consider whether you’ve asked all the appropriate questions. Failing to get your ducks in a row beforehand could lead to costly dead-ends.

Put the Excavation Contractor to the Test

Your home is your castle, but your land is your slice of the terrestrial pie and you’re about to let someone with a huge, aggressive piece of machinery treat it like a chew toy. If you’ve racked your brain trying to think of things you may have missed here are a few more questions you might want to ask before the backhoe hits the lawn.

• What Will Happen to All the Dirt? – Whether you’re conducting a basement underpinning, pool installation or home addition the excavation is likely to generate several times more dirt than you imagined it would or should. Make sure the contractor has a plan in place to deal with it.
• What Happens if you Hit a Pipe? – All manner of pipes lie just below ground. They’re the vascular system of any civilization carrying water, sewage, gas, steam and more depending on the area. Your excavation contractor should have contacted all appropriate utility companies before digging begins and have a backup plan in place in case something was missed. Ask to hear it and make sure it’s also in the contract.
• What Happens to My Yard? – You can pretty much kiss your beautiful lawn goodbye for a while and any contractor who tells you otherwise is not to be trusted. Get the contractor to open up about the impact their backhoes and dumptrucks will have on your yard. It won’t be pretty, but it’s better to know the truth up front.

Not asking the right questions before backyard excavation begins could leave you with a muddy pit, ruined lawn and a pile of dirt the size of Mt Etna in your yard with nothing to show for it. Make sure the excavation contractor is prepared to conduct a soil test and has contingency plans in place (expressed in writing in the contract) in case the unforeseen occurs before you put your signature on the contract and work begins.

Integrity Contracting is known for quality work, honesty and professional results that increase value to our customer’s properties.  We know we can provide you with answers and solutions to your projects needs; we are qualified, licensed professionals – proven & trustworthy – who always deliver projects on time and on budget. We specialize in Home Additions, Framing, Basement Underpinning, Demolition and Excavation. Visit us on Google+.