Sometimes, You've Gotta Build

Is Blasting Really the Best Excavating Option?

Excavation projects typically require the help of trained professionals. Moving large volumes of soil takes time, experience, and access to heavy machinery. Many people think that blasting is the best option for quick excavation. Although blasting can rapidly displace large qualities of soil, it could create additional problems in the future.

Trenching is a more reliable excavation technique that can help you achieve the results you need without sacrificing long-term quality. Read on to learn why. 

Trenching Ensures Dimensional Consistency

Excavating in an area that is densely populated can be a real challenge. You want to remove soil without disturbing any of the structures surrounding your excavation site. Blasting poses a risk to any buildings near the excavation site. Also, the dimensions of the hole created through blasting are uneven. Fractures are typically created around the hole, and these fractures can weaken the stability of the surrounding soil.

Contractors can use a specialized rock trencher to remove soil during trenching. The trencher tool creates a hole that has dimensional consistency. This means that none of the surrounding soil or structures are disturbed during the trenching process. Rock trencher heads come in a wide range of sizes, so a hole that meets your needs can easily be generated without causing any unnecessary damage.

Trenching Ensures Wall Regularity

Wall regularity is an important factor when it comes to the amount of time that will be required to complete the excavation process. Blasting produces a hole that has highly irregular walls. This requires manual excavation to even out the walls and create a workable space.

Rock trenchers give excavation experts more control over the creation of a hole. The walls of a trench are vertical, and the bottom of the trench is flat when the rock trencher is removed from the hole. No additional excavation is needed to ready the hole for use, which can significantly reduce the amount of time required to excavate an area.

Trenching Creates Soil Compaction

Once an excavated hole is no longer needed, it must be backfilled to maintain a safe space. New backfill material must be brought in to fill the hole created through blasting. The irregular dimensions of the blasted hole's walls can limit the amount of soil compaction achieved during backfilling. Poor soil compaction can lead to surface sinking and irregular ground as time goes by.

Trenching usually doesn't require additional backfill. The material removed by the rock trencher can be placed back into the trench. The vertical walls of a trench allow for maximum soil compaction, creating a stable surface that will remain flat over time.

To learn more about blasting and trenching, contact local contractors.