Gearing up for a water excavation in Calgary? In many cases, people wonder how long the project is going to take because nobody wants their yard torn up forever or for things to go on longer than necessary.
Luckily, water excavation is super efficient, even in Calgary. This is rare, especially when the ground freezes and utilities buried underground make it slow and risky.
At Mr. Trenchless, we offer water excavation (hydrovac) for projects across Calgary. Most jobs take a few hours up to a few days, but the timeline can greatly vary. Let’s get into it.
What is Water Excavation?
Water excavation, also known as Water hydrovac or hydro excavation, uses pressurized water to break up soil. How does it work? A powerful vacuum removes the slurry and puts it away into a debris tank in a non-destructive, precise manner that’s safe around underground utilities.
Traditional digging uses heavy machinery. Water excavation does not. That leads to less risk, less mess and in most cases, less time on site.
How Long Does Water Excavation Take?
Most water excavation projects in Calgary take 1 to 8 hours. Small jobs like potholing a single utility can be done in under an hour. Larger projects such as trenching for a new water service or exposing multiple utilities can take a full day.
For context, here are some timelines:
- Potholing (single hole): 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Daylighting: 1 to 3 hours
- Fence post or sign installation: 2 to 4 hours
- Trenching for utility lines: 4 to 8 hours
- Large commercial projects: 4 to 8 hours
Bear in mind that these are only estimates. Your project timeline actually comes down to the site conditions, soil type, depth and weather. We’ll get into that shortly.
What Factors Affect Water Excavation Time?
Every water excavation project is different. The amount of time it will take comes down to the following:
- Soil Type: Loose, sandy soil is easy to excavate. Dense clay or rocky ground takes longer because the water needs additional time to break up.
- Depth of Excavation: Shallow digs don’t take as long. The deeper you need to go, the more the soil needs to be removed and the longer it takes.
- Number of Excavation Points: Potholing a single utility is fast. Exposing an entire utility grid or digging multiple holes for fence posts takes more time.
- Site Accessibility: When the site is easy for a hydrovac truck to access, projects run smoothly. Tight spaces, narrow driveways or obstacles like fences and trees slow things down.
- Weather Conditions: When it rains, you end up with mud. When it’s extremely cold, the job needs heated water, which adds more time onto your project.
- Underground Obstacles: Unexpected utilities, old pipes or debris can slow things down. Knowing where things are before excavation is helpful.
- Permit and Locate Requirements: In Calgary, you need to locate utilities before digging. Waiting for locates often adds days to your project, but the excavation itself won’t take long.
Is Water Excavation Faster Than Traditional Digging?
In short, the answer depends on the project.
When it comes to a large-scale excavation in open areas with utilities like digging a basement or clearing land, traditional digging with heavy machinery is quicker.
Meanwhile, for precise work around buried utilities, in tight spaces or in frozen ground, water excavation makes more sense. Here’s why:
- No time wasted on manual hand-digging around utilities
- Less risk of hitting something, which means delays for repairs
- Works through frozen soil without waiting for a thaw
- Small footprint means less site restoration afterward
Sure, traditional digging moves more dirt per hour. However, water excavation makes precise jobs quicker and safer.
Does Frozen Ground Slow Down Water Excavation?
Yes, but not as much as you think.
Calgary is known for its bitter cold winters that bring traditional excavation to a halt. That said, hydrovac systems can use heated water to cut through frost and ice. The pressurized water melts and loosens the frozen soil, while the vacuum removes it like any other job.
It may take longer than summer excavation. Even then, it’s still much faster than trying to dig frozen ground with machinery or waiting months for warmer weather. Have a winter project in Calgary? Water excavation will keep things on the go.
How Long Does Residential Water Excavation Take?
The majority of residential water excavation projects in Calgary don’t take long. In fact, most take half a day or less.
Check out the timelines for these common residential jobs:
- Locating a water or sewer line: 1 to 2 hours
- Exposing a gas line for repair: 1 to 2 hours
- Digging holes for fence posts: 2 to 4 hours
- Trenching for new water service: 4 to 6 hours
- Exposing a foundation for repair: 4 to 8 hours
Homeowners are usually surprised how quick hydrovac jobs are. It requires minimal disruption and cleanup is easy since the soil is removed entirely instead of piled up on your lawn.
How Can You Speed Up Your Water Excavation Project?
Want to finish your project sooner rather than later? Here’s how you can keep your project moving along:
- Call for Utility Locates Early: In Alberta, you are required to request utility locates before any excavation. Call Alberta One-Call at least a couple days before your work date because waiting for locates is usually the biggest delay.
- Clear the Work Area: Move vehicles, patio furniture and anything else that may block access. Make it easy for the hydrovac truck to get into position and you won’t have to wait as long.
- Know What You Need: Be upfront about the scope of the work. How many holes? How deep? What utilities are you looking for? This makes planning easier.
- Schedule During Off-Peak Times: Spring and summer are busy seasons for excavation. If your project can wait, schedule during the fall or winter.
- Work with an Experienced Crew: Experienced operators are faster and more efficient. At Mr. Trenchless, our team understands Calgary’s soil conditions, utility layouts and permitting requirements so you don’t end up with any surprises.
Book Your Water Excavation in Calgary Today
How long does water excavation take in Calgary? Residential projects typically take a few hours, while commercial projects tend to require days. At Mr. Trenchless, we handle projects of all sizes. Water excavation is fast, safe and one of the least disruptive excavation methods on the market.
Need an estimate for your project? Contact us to schedule your water excavation today!
