Construction & Contractors Blog
Companies that rent out Bobcats will usually charge by the hour. Therefore, it is important that you make preparations before beginning your DIY project involving a Bobcat. Once the Bobcat arrives, you should be immediately performing excavation tasks. One of the preparatory steps to take prior to excavation is to contact utility companies so they can help you avoid disaster.
Contact Your Local Utilities
More than anything else, you will need to contact your local utilities to have them come to make sure there is not a utility line that might be disrupted as you are digging. These utilities will be marked off with tape, paint, or some other warning sign.
Contacting utility companies is relatively convenient because you can simply call 811 and you will be redirected to a local utility company. After you have told the operator where you plan to dig, the operator will route this information to a local crew that can then locate the utilities.
The utility companies will need to know the proposed digging time so they can respond quickly in the event that you accidentally disrupt the utilities. Do not assume that you will not damage utilities because you are digging shallowly.
Mark the Area Where the Excavation Will Take Place
You should mark the area where the excavation will take place with white paint so the utility companies will not have to waist time looking for utilities that will not be involved in the dig.
Make the Dig Site Accessible
Prior to the company arriving, you will need to make sure that there is a cleared path so that the utility company can make it to the construction site. If you have a gate, it must be left open. If the property has any domesticated animals, they need to be restrained. If you believe that it will be difficult for the utility company to reach the utilities, you should communicate this so that accommodations can be made.
Keep the Markings Visible
Make sure that any markings made by the utility company are always visible. Do not remove them, and contact the utility company to have them replaced if something causes them to be degraded. The marks are usually considered good for 30 days and then should be replaced.
Color Code Utilities
Utility markings are often color coded to indicate different types of utilities. Red is used to indicate electric lines and lighting cables. Yellow is used to indicate a gas line, steam, oil, or petroleum.
Blue indicates that there is a water or irrigation line. Green indicates that the location has a sewer line.
What to Do After You Hit a Utility
If you do hit a utility, you should turn off all machinery and vehicles and evacuate the area. Then, you should contact the utility company so they can shut off the utilities and repair the damage to restore services.
Share18 September 2014
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
