Digging Foundations Shouldn't Be a DIY Job

If you're planning on building an addition to your home or business—or starting a new one from scratch—you'll need a good foundation first. Without one, the structural integrity of your building will likely be compromised, resulting in unwanted repairs and expenses. The importance of digging a foundation correctly is why it's not the kind of thing you should risk doing on your own. Here are a few reasons you should hire a professional excavation company in Traverse City instead.

Professionals Understand Soil

As you walk around your property, you might have a false impression of the kind of soil that lies underneath. That's because the composition of soil just a few feet below the surface could be wildly different than what you see and feel on top. As you dig deeper, you might uncover rocky soil, clay, or sand, and be totally unprepared for the job ahead. Professionals who do landscaping and excavating in Traverse City for a living, however, have the knowledge and tools that are necessary to deal with whatever type of soil they encounter.

They Have the Expertise and Equipment

You may have had success in the past pouring concrete and doing other kinds of DIY projects, so digging a foundation might not seem all that farfetched to you. The reality is that foundations are far more complicated than they appear. That's because they have to satisfy several different roles. A properly built foundation needs to protect a building from outside elements, such as moisture and cold. Also, the ground will shift imperceptibly all the time due to traffic, running water, and even earthquakes and a foundation must be solid enough to withstand vibrations or the entire structure on top of it suffers.

Professional Excavation Contractors, Traverse City

Protect Yourself from Property Damage

Because foundations are complicated and require a lot of work, there's potential for a lot of things to go wrong. If it's not solid enough, a foundation can crack. If it shifts too much after completion, elements of the building, such as walls and ceilings, could crack. Another risk a poorly dug foundation poses is a threat to the things that are buried underneath. If you're not careful, you could be responsible for busting a water main. Even worse, you could put yourself and the community in danger if you breach a gas line. Also, the heavy equipment that's required to dig a foundation is a threat as well. If you're not experienced with the equipment, you could cause all kinds of damage to nearby walls and even endanger yourself or your coworkers.

Better Speed and Quality

Even if you're a skilled DIY expert, there's no substitute for professional contractors when it comes to the quality of a job and the speed with which it's completed. Contractors who have experience digging foundations have a plan of action that they've grown used to and the expertise to manage the heavy equipment and materials that are required to build a solid foundation. Why take a chance on your own when you know there are people who can do the job right the first time?

The next time you need a general contractor in Traverse City, contact Martin Land Improvement at (231) 645-3400. Feel free to give us a call today!