Site Work · Gloucester, MA
Excavation contractor in Gloucester, MA
Almost every patio, walkway, set of steps, retaining wall and driveway we build starts with digging, and George Hardscaping also offers excavation and grading as site work. This page explains how the ground work goes on our jobs and what to settle at an estimate visit on the North Shore.
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How We Dig
The ground work behind our builds
The first visit is about the ground. For a patio we measure the terrain, check drainage and look for obstacles such as underground utilities or large tree roots. Digging comes after that: we remove the grass and topsoil and set the ground to slope away from the house, so water does not run toward the foundation.
Depth depends on the job. On a paver driveway we take out the existing surface and dig 12 to 15 inches in New England's freeze-thaw climate, to make room for a deep base. Steps and stairs begin with excavation and foundation work before any stone is set.
Our team handles the machinery excavation calls for, with care for the lawn and landscaping around it. Where a skid steer or mini-excavator can get into the yard, the work goes faster. Where it cannot, material moves by hand and labor goes up. Retaining wall sites usually need significant excavation and grading, and clay or rocky soil makes that harder.
- Site visit to check terrain, drainage and obstacles
- Grass and topsoil removed, ground pitched away from the house
- Existing surface taken out where there is one
- Utility marking through Dig Safe before digging
Before the First Shovel
Dig Safe comes before any digging
We call Dig Safe before digging so gas, water, electric and communication lines are marked. Tell us about anything you already know is buried, such as irrigation, a septic system, a drain line or an invisible fence.
The notice has to go in at least 72 hours ahead, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and not more than 30 days ahead (M.G.L. c.82, s.40A). A Massachusetts ticket expires 30 days after it is issued, so timing matters. The marked safety zone reaches 15 feet in any direction from the premark, and near an exposed line the law calls for hand digging as needed (s.40C).
If a line is damaged, Dig Safe says to stop work, call 911 for a gas release, and not backfill until the utility gives permission. Dig Safe asks everyone who digs, contractor or homeowner, to call 811 first.
74 Essex Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930At the Estimate Visit
What to settle before digging starts
Digging makes decisions that are hard to undo. These five belong in the quote.
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01
What goes on top
A patio, a wall, steps and a driveway each need a different depth and shape of hole. Start with what you want built.
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02
Where the extra soil goes
A dug-out makes more soil than goes back in. Ask whether leftover soil is used elsewhere on your property or exported, and whether hauling and dump fees are in the price.
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03
Ledge, boulders and stumps
The City of Gloucester's geology page describes granite bedrock with glacial boulders left across Cape Ann. If ledge, a large boulder or a stump turns up while digging, the job can change, so ask how that is handled and priced before it happens.
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04
Access and protection
A narrow gate, a fence, a steep side yard or a finished lawn all change the work. Fences sometimes come down temporarily to let equipment in.
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05
Water
Photograph the area after a hard rain. Where water sits or runs decides the slope of the finished ground and whether a drain is needed.
Tell us what is going on the ground
Send the address and what you want built. We will talk through the dig, the access and the Dig Safe timing at the visit.
Questions
Excavation questions
What excavation does George Hardscaping do?
The digging and grading that go with our patios, walkways, steps, retaining walls and driveways, and we also offer excavation as site work. Send the address and describe the job, and we will confirm it is work we take on at that location.
Who calls Dig Safe, you or me?
On our jobs we call Dig Safe before digging. If you plan any digging yourself, Dig Safe asks homeowners to call 811 first as well.
How long does the Dig Safe notice take?
State law calls for notice at least 72 hours before digging, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and not more than 30 days before. You can reach Dig Safe at 811 or 888-DIG-SAFE.
How deep do you dig?
Each project and each yard sets its own depth. For a paver driveway we dig 12 to 15 inches in New England's freeze-thaw climate. The estimate visit settles the depth for your yard.
What if you hit ledge or a boulder?
Cape Ann sits on granite bedrock with glacial boulders, so it can happen. Ask before work starts how it would be handled and priced. Rock breaking and stump removal are common allowances on dig jobs.
Will my lawn and landscaping be protected?
Our team digs with care to protect existing lawn and landscaping as much as possible. Tell us what you most want protected and how equipment can reach the work.
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