When do you need an excavator?
An excavator is useful wherever a larger amount of soil has to be moved or an excavation has to be dug to match the design. But the size of the plot alone does not decide whether you need one. You also have to consider access, the scope of work and obstacles in the ground.
For a small job, digging by hand may turn out to be possible, but near underground services what matters most is that the work is carried out in the right way. Do not choose the method only by the hourly cost of the machine.
The right machine for the job
An excavator is used mainly for digging and for moving soil within its reach. A backhoe loader combines digging with work using a loader bucket. The choice must suit the site conditions and the actual specifications of the machine.
A bulldozer and a roller do different jobs: the bulldozer moves or shapes the ground, and the roller compacts it. They should not be treated as interchangeable. How the machine will be transported to the plot has to be agreed in the quote.
What to prepare before you order the work
Define the scope of work and the result you expect. For a building excavation, have the design documents and the setting-out ready. Tell us about cables, pipes, existing structures and any access restrictions.
Mark out where the excavated soil will be stockpiled and the route the machine will take. A lack of space for the spoil may change how the work is organised. Taking soil away from the site has to be agreed separately.
The quote and the operator
An hourly rate does not describe the whole job. Confirm how the machine will get to the site, how the work will be charged, any minimum charge and the operator’s working conditions. If the work is to be charged as a whole, the scope should be clearly defined.
At Betoniarnia Jakubowice we work with an excavator, a backhoe loader, a bulldozer and a roller. We offer foundation excavation, land levelling, site preparation, and road and car park sub-bases. We agree the terms of the job when we prepare the quote, and we invoice the work at a fixed price for the whole job, not per machine hour. Earthworks.
Questions about excavators
Will it get onto a small plot?
You need the dimensions of the entrance, the space available for work and the specifications of the particular machine.
Can I hire a machine without an operator?
No — our machines always work with an operator. Confirm the type of equipment and the scope of work when you get the quote.
How is travel to the site charged?
The terms for transporting the equipment or driving it to the site have to be set out in the quote.