It isn’t something land developers look forward to when they discover a rocky site. Rock excavation services can add time to your construction timeline if your team doesn’t have a clear view of the amount of rock present before construction begins. Depending on the terms of your excavating contract, rock excavation costs may surprise you.
Unexpected underground conditions can be unexpected, but an experienced and qualified excavator will be able to handle these potentially frustrating situations. The site contractor should be able to walk you through each step and provide an estimate of the impact on your project, so that you can move forward smoothly.
Greenbar Excavation is a company that has been excavating construction sites for many decades. We have developed proven methods to remove the rock from construction sites. This blog will cover everything you need to know about rock in construction projects.
Determine If Rock Is Available Before Construction Starts
To get an idea of what is ahead for you and the contractors, it’s worth checking for rock before you start any construction project. You have many options, but the best way to do this is to have a geotechnical expert conduct boring logs on your site.
They will drill holes in the ground at different locations around the site during this process. These holes will reveal what’s beneath the surface, whether it is dirt, rock, water or topsoil. This will show how deep each layer is.
However, the more bores drilled, the more expensive and accurate the report. You may not get a complete picture if you have only a few bores drilled on a site of several dozen acres. The geotechnical engineer can help you create a plan that analyzes your site and gives you accurate information.
Concentrating bore holes in areas that require trenching and excavation is a good way to save money. This could affect more than your building footprint. More goes below the foundation than just the building’s base, including utility line installation, grading and other aspects.
Greenbar Excavation will input the boring log data into software that extrapolates it and gives us a complete picture of what is happening below grade.
Boring logs may not be the best option for your project. There are other options that can help you see what might be beneath the surface.
One way to do this is to use past experience as a guide. Local excavators who have worked in the same area before should know how hardy the ground is. It’s possible that they were on a less than a mile away. This will make it more likely that you will find a lot of rock at your site.
Excavators can also visit the site and surrounding areas in person or with aerial maps online. These methods, while not all-inclusive, can provide small clues about the amount of rock in the area.
Rock Excavation Costs
There’s also the element of surprise. You and your contractors might not know how much rock you will need to remove before digging begins, depending on whether there was a geotechnical or comprehensive report. A significant amount of rock can cause delays and add man-hours to your project.
The owner must decide during the bidding stage and before signing the contract, whether to pay the excavator a per-cubic yard cost for rock removal or leave it to them.
The excavator will include a line item in their budget for the removal of rock. This number is only an estimate without a detailed geotechnical analysis. They will have to lose any additional rock found on the site that is greater than they anticipated. The owner might have to pay slightly more if there is less rock than expected.
It’s not in the excavator’s best interests to increase the cost of this to cover excessive risk or get more money. Although price shouldn’t be the primary factor in choosing a contractor to work with, it is an important factor. Contractors who have a lower budget for rock removal than their competitors are at greater risk of not being awarded the project.
The second option allows the owner to agree to pay a standard price for the removal of the rock. The contractor will charge more for more rock. They’ll pay less if they take out less rock.
Each owner can choose the option that is best for them. It’s a gamble in any case. The more detailed the geotechnical report, the more precise the pricing will be for rock removal, regardless of whether or not the contractor charges a flat fee or per cubic yard.
How Rock Is Removed
The excavator has run into rocks on the site and must be removed before the project can proceed. How is this done?
It is best to blast the rock first. This is best done by digging down enough to leave a layer of dirt over the rock. This dirt layer will act as a blanket and prevent the rock from flying around, potentially causing serious damage.
The rock will then be taken out of the ground. You can use an excavator equipped with a hoe-ram attachment and a crusher to break down most of the rock and make it suitable for onsite fill material.
Blasting may not be necessary if the rocks aren’t too deep. You can remove them with a dozer or a ripper.
Rock Excavation On Construction Sites
Start by taking a detailed look at the ground below if you are concerned about your project running into rocks. Although aerial photography and contextual clues can be cheaper, a detailed geotechnical analysis will be much more accurate.
Greenbar Excavation has been providing quality excavation services to central Oregon for over ten years. We understand the importance of knowing your project. Greenbar Excavation is a fully licensed, insured, and accredited Excavation company based in Prineville, Oregon. Greenbar Excavation is one of the top Excavation companies in Central Oregon. Don’t look any further, go with the company with your best interest in mind! We offer a multitude of services which include:
- Septic pumping
- Drainage Services
- Landscape prep
- Site grading
- Foundation excavation
- Concrete/ prep finish
- Utility trenching
- Driveways
- Septic tank replacement
- Complete septic system replacement
Call us today with any questions about our rock excavation and check out our 5-star reviews!