When you are planning a commercial construction project, it can be easy to become consumed with the physical end product — steel beams, glass walls, parking lots, and landscaping. But what’s underneath it all? That’s when your investment actually starts. Quality excavation is the base (quite literally) of the rest of your project. Done wrong or done too fast, without putting any serious thought into it, can end up costing you a whole lot more than the price of not doing it right the first time.

At Thomas Excavation, we do more than just dig. We think long-term. Each site we touch is graded, compacted, prepped, knowing the action we take today will in some way affect what happens 5, 10, 20 years from now. Mismanaging water is among most frequent problems in commercial real estate. Improper grading may also lead to drainage problems which can manifest themselves as foundation cracks, potholes in parking lots or even structural shifting. These are not just nuisances, they are costly repairs and liabilities.

Another intangible cost is soil destabilization. Poorly compacted or tested subgrade can result in your building settling unevenly. That impacts everything from the way the doors hang to the plumbing. Again, the solution is never cheap and sometimes involves ripping out work that has already been done.

Quality Excavation Work vs. Cut Corners 

So what really separates a great quality excavation job from a bad one? At Thomas Excavation, we don’t just come in with equipment using a standard method to grade a lot, we spend time accessing the soil, drawing up a custom grading plan, and using  the right tools and techniques to cater to the particular soil on your site.

Engineers and architects join us throughout the process so that our work complements their designs. This tendency of working together, similar to the client-architect relationship, eliminates the potential for arguments later in the project, and also gives the client a safer, better build overall.

In addition to foundations, our excavation work also includes utilities — water, sewer, electrical, and fiber optics. Properly backfilling and laying a stable trench keeps these systems running without failure or expensive maintenance later.

Exposure to risk 

Elements of your excavation project can go wrong and can be costly if you do not hire a licensed, professional excavation professional. Our “build-ready tool kit” includes laser-leveling instruments, compaction testing equipment, accurate grading techniques, and so much more to ensure your site is really build-ready. Though it may be tempting to choose the lowest bid, don’t forget: you get what you pay for. A less expensive excavation today could be a six-figure issue down the line.

Thomas Excavation brings know-how, equipment and vision to every commercial project. We’d rather do it right than twice. Because when the dirt work is done properly, everything above it is stronger, lasts longer and costs less to maintain.