5 Factors That Could Affect the Cost of Excavation

Whether your next project requires you to excavate to build additional structures or renovate an existing one, understanding the costs is important. In fact, knowing the costs is vital to the success of any project, especially if it involves excavation. In this guide, we’ll explain all the different factors that could impact the price of your project to help you сost-effectively plan an excavation.

  1. The Type of Project

Excavation can be used for a variety of different renovation projects, such as building an addition, renovating a backyard, or building a foundation. The type of excavation project you’re planning will have a direct impact on the cost of the required work.

For example, if you want to build an addition, you will probably need to remove a certain amount of dirt from the site, and more importantly, you will need to remove it in a specific way. If you are renovating an existing structure, the same principle applies, but you will probably need to remove a different amount of dirt, and in this case, you need to also consider demolition to complete the renovation.

  1. Location of the Construction Site

Dirt is typically measured in cubic yards. The quantity of dirt you need to be removed will affect your project, and the cost will be affected by the distance it has to be transported to the disposal site. If the soil you want to remove is close by, it will be a lot more cost-effective; conversely, if you need to remove it from a place that’s a little farther away, the cost will be higher.

  1. How Much Labor is Needed

While there are plenty of other factors that influence the costs of excavation projects, the number of workers needed to complete the project is one of the most important. The number of workers needed will depend on how big the project is, so the cost will depend on how much the project is expected to grow.

Depending on your project and the amount of dirt to be removed, you will need to hire the right specialists – whether they are excavators, loaders or landscapers. The cost of labor will vary, and it directly influences the overall cost of the project.

  1. Equipment Needs

Excavation jobs are not for the faint of heart. They require a lot of work and a lot of heavy machinery. For example, if you want to demolish the foundation of your old house, you will need to use heavy machinery and excavate the debris at the same time.

Equipment plays a vital role in any excavation job, especially in a large project. If you need to hire heavy machinery to complement your workers, the costs will rise. However, it’s important to remember that using specialized equipment can actually be more cost-effective than using manual labor, so the cost, in the end, will be worth it.

  1. The Time of Year

Many people decide to tackle their renovation projects during the summer when it’s nice and warm out. If this is the case, you don’t have to worry about snow or even rain, for that matter, so you are pretty much good to go. However, if you have a large project in the middle of winter, you might find it hard to get workers in the middle of the cold, so there are many other factors that you should consider besides the weather.

Conclusion

Excavation is a crucial part of any large or even small construction project. Be it a backyard, a commercial center or an addition, excavation is simply necessary. While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact price of a job, the above factors can give you an idea of what to expect.

DL Nagel Excavating Ltd. is a full-service excavating company serving Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan. Our team has over 30 years of extensive experience in mainline and facility pipeline, cisterns and septic systems installation, demolitions, as well as excavating services in Southeast Alberta and surrounding areas. For your next project, consider hiring the experts at DL Nagel Excavating Ltd. Get in touch with us today!