If you need to hire an excavating company to handle work at a site, it's important to prepare. By taking these seven steps, you can ensure the situation will be ideal when the company begins work.

1. Test the Soil and Rock Composition

The composition of the ground will be critical to the project. It's a good idea to come into the job with tests from professionals. These should establish what sorts of rocks and soils are present. Likewise, they should identify how moist the soil is. If the excavation contractor company needs to bring in more or specific equipment, this information will help them.

2. Establish Engineering Plans

You'll want to know what you're planning to do once the materials are gone. Do you need to shore up a new face, for example?

Also, many civil engineers will want to reuse some materials. Where will you put the materials if you need to store them in the meantime? Similarly, where will they go if you need to put them immediately to use?

3. Conduct a Survey

It's important to not create more problems than you're trying to solve. You need to identify the property boundaries, especially if you're going to excavate near neighboring properties. Also, it's prudent to identify the locations of underground lines, pipes, and tanks before putting a shovel in the ground.

4. Build an Access Road

The excavation company will need to get equipment in and out of the site. Build an access road and make sure it will hold up to the types of machines that will be present. Make use of the survey data to determine the road's placement.

5. Land Clearance

Unless an excavation contractor company clearly states it does land clearance, you should assume it doesn't. Landclearing will be an additional cost. If you're dealing with an undeveloped property, you'll need to remove trees and shrubs. With a developed property, you may need to clear debris, garbage, and even existing buildings.

6. Permits and Regulations

Contact your local compliance office to determine the rules for excavation at the location. Work with the excavation company to determine when the date will be. This will make it easier to limit the permit to a particular range and save you at least one expense.

7. Safety

Establish a safety area around the site if there are any risks unauthorized people might come onto the property. Similarly, post signage to discourage trespassers. Also, supply anyone who will be on-site with appropriate reflective vests, glasses, and hearing protection.

To learn more about excavation, contact a company like Triple J Excavating.