7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Excavation Contractor in Southern Utah

An excavation contractor is one of the most significant early hires you can make on any construction project, whether it is the construction of a custom home, development of commercial property or laying out utilities to support and provide infrastructure. However, not every contractor will come to work with the same amount of expertise, equipment or responsibility. It is particularly vital to ask the questions in Southern Utah where conditions of soil, terrain, and weather patterns offer a different set of challenges to consider before turning a shovel.

The first thing is to make sure the contractor is licensed and insured in Utah. This is not a box to tick, but it keeps you out of liability and guarantees that the team on the ground is of state safety and competency standards. Another one is experience. Enquire about previous works in the region, especially those that are similar to the one you are doing in terms of size or complexity. A contractor with familiarity with the local permitting process and experience in similar conditions will save you time, money and headaches.

You also want to know what type of equipment the contractor owns and what he or she rents. Having their own machines, such as excavators, loaders, or even custom trenchers, can be a huge difference as far as scheduling and reliability are concerned. Availability of equipment may cause delays that will push your whole schedule back. Meanwhile, probe into the way they manage safety. Do they put their crews through training? Comply with OSHA? Accidents on worksites may be expensive and a professional outfit will have mechanisms that ensure everyone is safe.

Last but not least, inquire about communication and transparency. Will there be a person of contact? How frequently will you be updated? An excellent excavation partner does not only arrive with a piece of equipment, but he assists you in planning, anticipating possible problems, and ensuring that your project runs smoothly without surprises.

After the day ends, excavation predetermines everything that is to be done. When the foundation is not good, all the structures that are constructed on it are weakened. One of the best things you can do to safeguard your investment and make sure your project has a good start is by investing time to ask intelligent questions.