Earthworks: what equipment at each stage?

Batirama.com 27/01/20220

The earthworks mark the start of the work by preparing the ground so that it is stable, and to avoid any settling and collapse. It goes through several essential stages, for which construction equipment is necessary, such as a mini-excavator or an excavator depending on the size of the site.

When you want to make a terrace, a swimming pool, an alley, a house, a work room, a warehouse, or another type of work, it is necessary to prepare the ground, by carrying out an earthwork . This ensures its stability, and it is essential to prevent the ground from collapsing, settling, or slipping. Indeed, once the foundations have been laid, it is difficult to resume the work.

This is why the earthworks must be well thought out, and carried out according to the rules of the art, step by step, with the necessary equipment. Earth-moving machinery is needed, as well as specific equipment to dig deep and move large quantities of earth or rock to level the ground.

Earthwork: the different steps to follow

First stage of the earthwork: inspection of the stability and balance of the ground

The ground must be flat. No earthworks can take place if old pipes are still there. They will have to be demolished. Old infrastructure must also be removed. Trees should not be an obstacle either, and it is necessary to pull them out.

Things are more complicated when the terrain is not flat, for example if it is hilly or very steep. Sometimes complications also arise. This is particularly the case when the ground has deep riprap or, on the contrary, it lacks stability. This is the case for a little clayey or sandy ground.

A professional digger will study the land and determine what methods to use, and what equipment is needed based on several criteria.

Second step of the earthwork: staking

Staking, also called boundary marking, consists of delimiting a field so that it is well defined. This is an essential step so that the site is integrated into its environment, without the existing pipes being damaged. To do this, pegs are used. Their location is defined beforehand by an expert surveyor. He is the only one who is empowered to officially demarcate land, by placing boundaries.

When an earthworks project concerns new land, it is essential to call on him if the demarcation has not yet been carried out. Surveyors apply variable rates, between €1.5/m² and €4/m² for a demarcation. This is of course depending on the size of the terrain, and the nature of the work, which can be more or less complex depending on the terrain and its environment.

Third step of the earthworks: clearing

The main purpose of earthwork is to make the ground flat, so that it is buildable. It is therefore essential to clear it. Clearing is also called “disbursement” or “stripping”. The ground level will have to be lowered by removing a first layer of soil (topsoil). Only the layers of the ground on which it is possible to build what is planned will be preserved.

When the ground has been cleared, it must then be smoothed. The cavities must be blocked, in order to obtain a ground that is both flat and smooth: this is the backfilling.

Which construction machine to carry out a clearing?

An earthmoving machine is very expensive to buy. This is why, to carry out clearing, it can be very advantageous to rent a mini-excavator for a small construction site, or a mechanical shovel, its big sister, for larger excavation works. If necessary, you can even rent a Bulldozer.

Tracktor.fr, specialized in construction equipment rental, allows professionals to make a rental very easily, and to reserve equipment instantly with a free estimate in thirty seconds. The platform provides access to more than 30,000 materials. Rental partners are selected according to quality criteria. Each rental is framed by solid contracts and insured by SMABTP. Tracktor.fr takes care of all the administrative documents, up to invoicing. It is even possible to rent a machine with an operator. Indeed, the CACES R482 construction machine is compulsory to drive a mini-excavator. This driving license is valid for 10 years. For mini-excavators, CACES category 1 applies (Excavator – 6T).

Difference between a mini excavator and an excavator

A mini-excavator is not only used for leveling land, breaking up soil, or backfilling land. It is also used to demolish a house, or to dig trenches and foundations. You can also rent a mini-excavator to drill soil, carry out sanitation work, remove tree stumps, create and maintain green spaces.

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A backhoe, also called an excavator or hydraulic shovel, is also used for earthworks, but also for clearing and demolition. It is also used for sanitation works. It is widely used in public works, because it is robust and versatile.

Mini-digger: the different models

• The tracked version is the most common, as it is stable and maneuvers easily. It is ideal for earthworks, especially since it can be used on different types of terrain. Rubber tracks do not damage pavements.

• A wheeled mini excavator has the advantage of being more mobile, and better suited to work areas where the surface is more stable. It is preferred for longer distances to cover.

• A micro-excavator (less than 1 ton) is used in areas that are difficult to access and narrow. Their 360° rotating turret allows them to carry out small earthworks, load and handle rubble. Their frame remains fixed.

Consideration must be given to the rated capacity of the mini excavator (i.e. the maximum possible load for the minimum reach of the machine), as well as the maximum dumping height, and the digging depth.

It is important to carefully check the dimensions of the mini-excavator. It must have the necessary space to do what is asked of it, and not be constrained in terms of length and width.

Several accessories can be rented in addition such as a clamp, a BRH (hydraulic rock breaker), grapples, or hydraulic hammers, cleaning buckets, and buckets of several sizes, leveling blades, hydrofraises, hydraulic augers …

The main brands of mini-excavators are Volvo, Caterpillar, Yanmar, Komatsu, or even Liebherr.

The 3T5 mini excavator is a compact model for working in narrow areas.

Optional step of the earthwork: the laying of a geotextile film

Sometimes a geotextile film is laid on the ground. It is used to separate the earth from the layer of crushed backfill. It is the same type of film used under terraces on a sand bed. Thanks to him, the weeds do not grow back, and the evacuation of the rains can be done anyway.

Fourth stage of earthwork: backfilling

So that a ground is perfectly flat, it is then necessary to fill the hollows or the faults which the ground can comprise to remove any unevenness. This is done by adding, in successive compacted layers, backfill materials. There are many possibilities. You can choose to use rock, rubble, gravel, sand, or even earth, to ensure that the soil is dense.

For small sites, a vibrating plate or a rammer can be used. For a larger site, it is advisable to use a compactor. Then, a dumper evacuates the rubble to a dumpster. All of this equipment can be rented.

Construction may be affected by a flood prevention plan that prohibits backfilling. Before starting the work, it is necessary to provide a fairly large space, and always free, around the ground, to deposit the removed earth.

Fifth stage of the earthworks: transport and evacuation of the earth

To evacuate the soil taken, a mini-loader or even a bulldozer may be necessary. The latter can efficiently move large amounts of material.

Special cases of earthworks: swimming pools and terraces

Before doing any earthwork, it is essential to make a diagnosis to assess the price of each step. This is also the case for a swimming pool or a terrace.

Excavation for a swimming pool: what you need to know

The earthworks stage is essential when building an in-ground swimming pool or a large pond. This prevents the ground from moving. This remedies defects in the ground. The earthwork is also used to drain the water table when there is one. This earthwork is done using a mini-excavator, or a backhoe. It is then essential to dig trenches to make the connections and connect the pipes. The pool specialist must also provide for the removal of the soil by a dump truck.

Earthwork for a terrace: what you need to know

To make a terrace, the earthwork is a mandatory step before building the concrete slab or screed and before mounting a retaining wall in breeze block. It is necessary to start by disbursing (with the same equipment as for the development of a swimming pool). The next steps are to flatten and level.

Source: batirama.com