I am pricing a stucco wall/fence for a client that will abut a sidewalk. 24 inches from the sidewalk there are buried power lines. The lines SHOULD be 24 inches deep. My footing for the fence/wall should be 16 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Any advice on excavation in proximity to buried lines would be helpful.
Constructing in metric…
every inch of the way.
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Replies
24" sounds shallow but if that's what the POCO there does... I've found that I can always tell when I'm digging in someone elses trench line because the digging is easy compared the regular undisturbed soil. There might be some sort of marker (enigneer tape laid a few inches above the line while they backfill is one method) laid in the POCO trench, but I've not seen them do that since they bury 'em 4' here.
and be sure to call before you dig even if you KNOW where the lines are. call before you dig.
1-800-424-5555 call before you dig.
mebbe for your locale but here in GA it's a differnet number (800-282-7411) (don't know why I remember that, can't remember anything else) or 811. The OP needs to check with his locals.
Thanks for all the replies. I already had the underground utilities marked. (It was free by the way) That's how I know the power lines are 24 inches from the sidewalk. The soil here in coastal South Carolina is mostly sandy unless you get inland where you can run into pockets of clay. I will look for marking tape when digging, good tip.I will also excavate with a plastic beach shovel once I get down in the vicinity of the lines.Good tip on having the lines physically located as a separate contract.Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
Be careful; they're not always in a straight line. If they hit a big rock or something they go around. On one job guy hit main line for the block. Blew the post hole diggers out like a rocket.Good thing his head wasn't there.
"Be careful; they're not always in a straight line. "Yeah, this job gives me the willies. I'm allergic to electricity.:-) I am trying to see if the power company can de-energize the line while we are excavating. It might mean disrupting service to either a few houses or the whole block. The houses are packed in like sardines though.Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
I'm like the previous poster, surprised that you can build a permanent structure over these lines. The easements I've seen give the utility company access rights for repair and the ability to demolish anything in their way. John
Underground SE cable from the pole or pad mount transformer is generally not an easement issue on private property. The distribution lines either overhead or underground doe have easment.
Don't trust the "markings." Have a guy with a shovel standing right next to the BH watching for sand. Usually elec, gas, fiber-optic or other dangerous or expensive lines are bedded with sand for warning.
Had a "dial-before-you-dig" idiot mis-mark a 16" Valero gas line and a rig drilling 36" footers for an IH35 over pass nicked it. Slow leak, but it cost over $35K to shut down the line, cut a section out and re-locate it to miss the footiings by 2'.
Many, many other horror stories here...
As I recall pounding nails a couple of decades ago; the dirt in developments was pushed around and run over so much, trench lines were indistingishible.
Edited 1/27/2009 1:19 pm ET by habilis
1. Call USADig. wait for their markings
2. Dig down carefully (think archeological dig- brushes and dinosaur bones) and find the lines before going to town with a post hole digger.
I don't know how you bid without doing this first. Maybe you do a one off job of physically locating the line- If the client doesn't hire you for the whole fence, they'll at least have the line exposed for whoever they do hire.
k
Note: the Call Before You Dig service is free.
yeah, but they wan't you to lay out lines where your digging will be, and then he's gotta figure out if the depth will interfere with his project, all before giving a price to a client.
I guess I'd view that in itself as a small job.
k
free for home owners.
in PA I pay $50 ... that first $50 of the year covers the rest of the year.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Seriously? Wow.
Free for everybody in CA., although it can take a couple of days.
Wonder about the OP's Locale...
k
You might want to check and see what easement the power co has.
It might not be posible to put the wall in where you want to. Their easement might require five feet of clear space.
Hand dig.
I'm bringing sexy back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yIqwyR1ays
No backhoe?Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
No. They are trouble.
I'm bringing sexy back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yIqwyR1ays
No shovel?Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
If you have to ask that you might be too dumb to do the digging.
I'm bringing sexy back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yIqwyR1ays
Yeah, I can't dig cause I gotta left handed shovel and I'm right handed.:-)Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
Well, just rent a Mexican drag-line...
Hands Only?Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
All of it.
I'm bringing sexy back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yIqwyR1ays
No adventure in a backache....
That's the point. LOL
I'm bringing sexy back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yIqwyR1ays