What Are The Different Types of Excavation?

A stable base and strong foundation are necessary for commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and houses; which is why professionals must ensure that the ground is level and prepared before constructing buildings and structures. When preparing land before construction, the process of excavating is done. It is an important part and uses various equipment and tools to move rocks, soil, debris, and other earth materials as preparation for the base, sometimes forming a cavity for construction. There are different types of excavations done by different companies and can be classified depending on the materials involved or the purpose of excavating the land.

Excavation by Material:

Topsoil Excavation

The topsoil is the topmost layer or outer surface of the earth’s ground. Topsoil excavation involves removing this exposed layer of soil to get rid of plants, soil, and other materials that may decay or erode through time and compromise the stability of a structure’s base.

Rock Excavation

This type involves the clearing of rock surfaces that could interfere with the construction of buildings. This is usually very tedious compared to the other types because it requires special equipment and techniques such as blasting or drilling rock materials.

Muck Excavation

Muck excavation deals with the removal of the mixture of water and soil, or muck, which is unwanted on the surface before construction. The muck is removed and transported to another area or sometimes distributed across the land in thin layers to allow them to dry up.

Earth Excavation

Earth excavation deals with the removal of large chunks or layers of earth material to prepare the land for the construction of buildings, bridges, or drainage systems. This involves the removal of topsoil alongside the layers beneath it, creating a large cavity that may be necessary for construction.

 

Purpose of Excavation:

Stripping Excavation

This type is also referred to as cut and fill excavation, which is done to clear out large areas. This involves removing layers of rocks, topsoil, sand, and other materials across a wide surface. Grading the surface may also be involved.

Trench Excavation

Trench excavation is usually done to hide service lines, install pipelines and sewage systems, or layout the foundations of a structure. It involves excavating a surface area that is greater than its depth. Trenches are created during this excavation and rely on other aspects such as the ground’s condition, potential obstructions and hindrances, and others.

Basement Excavation

Basement excavation involves excavating land for the construction of underground levels, or basements. This type can get extremely complicated depending on the size of the project and requires skilled professionals.

Dredging

Dredging is done to excavate sediments that may form during the construction period if water is involved. It can be done to create a path for boats or other purposes for construction.

These are the common types of excavation done by many construction companies, but as time passes and new equipment and techniques are employed, other types may be developed for use in construction. Regardless of the excavation done, it is a very important process done prior to any project to ensure the stability and long term safety of structures.