If you’re thinking about remodeling your home, you might be tempted to take care of the excavation on your own to save some money. This is a job that should definitely be left to the professionals for numerous safety reasons. There are a lot of risk associated with excavating, and if the proper precautions aren’t taken you may wind up injured or worse. 

What You Must Hire a Professional to Perform Excavation

1. Holes and Trenches May Collapse

Professional excavators know what to do to prevent collapse of the area they’re working in. Methods like benching, which involves digging steps into the sides of the trench, allow easy exit when necessary. Excavators may also install braces to keep the side walls from collapsing, which is known as shoring. The process is more complex than simply digging a hole, and when you lack the proper knowledge you put yourself and others at risk. 

2. Underground Utilities Can Pose a Hazard

Before getting started, an excavator will take the necessary steps to locate underground utilities in the excavation area. This prevents a piece of machinery from digging into a gas line, which can have disastrous consequences for your entire neighborhood. Locating underground lines can be complex, and your lack of knowledge might mean you end up digging in areas that you didn’t originally intend to. 

3. Excavating Equipment Can Be Deadly

You’ll probably need to rent equipment like backhoes and bulldozers if your work site is sizable. These pieces of equipment are not like driving a vehicle. Their controls are complex, and operators must undergo many hours of training before they can competently use them. If there are others helping you during your project, you run the risk of harming them if you lose control. You can also seriously harm yourself if the machinery falls into the hole or trench or turns over. 

Why leave an excavation to chance when professional help is just a call away? Valley Excavating has the experience and manpower necessary to tackle even the toughest job. Back by two decades of service in Kalispell, MT, they perform land clearing, septic installation, site preparation, building of retaining walls, and more. They’re also equipped to handle residential and commercial work, so be sure to contact them about a free estimate today. Call (406) 857-2086 today to learn more, or visit them online for the full listing of services.