Trenching & Underground Utilities

Underground wiring requires protection. Conduit provides that protection, and different situations call for different conduit types. Schedule 40 PVC handles most gate applications. Schedule 80 PVC adds strength where conduit might experience impact or vehicle loads. Rigid metal conduit serves special situations requiring additional protection or grounding.

Conduit sizing follows electrical code and practical considerations. The wire that runs today may need company tomorrow. Upsizing conduit during installation costs little but saves everything if future needs grow. We install conduit sized for current requirements plus reasonable future capacity.

Sweeps and bends must maintain proper radius. Tight bends make wire pulling difficult and stress cables during installation. We use proper fittings and long-radius sweeps that make installation easier and last longer.

Vehicle detection loops require precise sawcut trenches in pavement. These cuts must be straight, at consistent depth, and in correct patterns. The loop wire that goes in these cuts detects vehicles approaching or waiting at gates.

Loop installation starts with layout. The loop must be positioned where vehicles will reliably trigger it, away from reinforcing steel that causes interference, and at proper distance from the gate. We mark the pattern before cutting.

Sawcutting creates the slot for loop wire. Cuts must be deep enough for wire and sealant, but not so deep as to compromise pavement integrity. After wire installation, we seal the cuts with loop sealant that protects wire while remaining flexible with pavement movement.

Before any excavation, we call 811 for utility locate. This is not optional,it is law. Underground utilities are invisible until struck, and striking them can be dangerous, expensive, and disruptive. Locate requests bring utility companies to mark their lines.

Locates show approximate position of known utilities, but they are not perfect. Hand digging within tolerance zones protects against locate inaccuracy. Unknown utilities exist on many properties,private lines, abandoned services, and unmarked installations. Careful excavation protects against surprises.

We document existing utilities and our new installations. Future work on the property needs this information. As-built drawings show what was installed, where, and at what depth. This documentation has value for decades.

What was disturbed must be restored. The standard for restoration depends on what was there before and what the owner expects afterward. Lawn areas receive topsoil and seed or sod. Gravel areas receive matching gravel. Pavement requires proper patching.

Pavement restoration varies by pavement type and owner requirements. Some owners accept cold patch as temporary repair until scheduled repaving. Others require hot mix asphalt matching existing pavement. Concrete restoration requires formed patches with proper curing.

We discuss restoration expectations before work begins. The scope affects cost and scheduling. Matching aged pavement is difficult; new patches show. We set realistic expectations and deliver what we promise.