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You need something excavated. But what’s the best way to get it done?
At North Country Unlimited, we provide conventional excavation and hydro excavation services throughout Central Pennsylvania.
As an experienced excavation contractor, we work with utility companies, general contractors, and commercial property owners on everything from utility excavation and trenching to site preparation and drainage improvements.
Our broader sitework capabilities also allow us to handle grading, backfilling, landscaping, and property restoration, helping customers complete more of the project without coordinating additional contractors.
It’s one thing to dig a hole when there’s nothing in the way. It’s another when you know there are pipes, cables, or other utilities buried beneath the surface.
You can’t approach those jobs the same way.
That’s why we offer hydro excavation services.
Instead of digging directly around underground infrastructure with conventional equipment, we use pressurized water to break up the soil and a vacuum system to remove it.
Also known as hydrovac excavation, this form of vacuum excavation gives us greater control when exposing buried utilities and other sensitive infrastructure.
North Country provides hydro excavation services for applications including:
Sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t what’s underground. It’s getting equipment to the work area.
A conventional excavator or backhoe needs room to operate, which can be difficult behind buildings, in developed areas, or on properties with limited access.
With hydro excavation, our crews can extend hoses into areas that larger equipment may have trouble reaching.
That makes it especially useful for utility excavation and other projects where access is limited or there’s little room to work.
Utility pole replacement is one application where our hydro excavation capabilities are particularly valuable.
When a power company needs to replace a pole, our crew can excavate a new hole nearby or carefully remove soil around the existing pole.
Once the utility company removes the old pole and installs its replacement, we can handle the backfilling.
Depending on the project, we can also remove existing concrete or asphalt and break through rock when necessary.
That means the utility company doesn’t necessarily need separate contractors for surface removal, excavation, and backfilling.
Hydro excavation has its advantages, but it’s not the right approach for every job.
When the work area is accessible and there aren’t sensitive underground utilities to work around, conventional excavation equipment may be the more practical choice.
North Country provides commercial excavation services for projects involving trenching, site preparation, drainage improvements, grading, and other earthwork.
We evaluate the conditions and requirements of each project to determine the equipment and approach that make the most sense.
Our capabilities include:
Preparing areas for construction and property improvements
Digging trenches for utilities, drainage, and related infrastructure
Moving and shaping soil to meet project requirements
Excavation associated with drainage systems and water management
Removing accumulated sediment from stormwater facilities
Filling excavated areas and restoring disturbed property
As a commercial excavation provider, we work with customers to determine the equipment, access, and preparation each project requires.
Excavation also plays an important role in maintaining and improving stormwater infrastructure.
For example, on a retention pond dredging project near Philadelphia, North Country was tasked with removing approximately 150 cubic yards of accumulated sediment.
Our crew staged the excavated material so excess water could drain back into the pond before loading it for removal.
We also coordinated with a local trucking company for off-site disposal, with final restoration planned to include a retention pond seed mix and straw matting.
Before excavation begins, we want to understand what the customer is trying to accomplish and what conditions we’re working with.
That often starts with a site visit.
We’ll review the project, discuss the customer’s goals, and evaluate factors such as:
Underground utilities are a major consideration on excavation projects.
North Country follows applicable Pennsylvania One Call requirements and coordinates utility locating as part of the planning process.
Depending on the project, we may also use private locating services to identify additional buried infrastructure.
Excavation depth matters, too. Deeper excavations may require protective measures such as shoring or trench boxes, depending on site conditions and applicable safety requirements.
If we’re working around buried utilities or trying to reach an area with limited access, hydro excavation may make the most sense.
If there’s room for conventional equipment and the work doesn’t involve the same underground obstacles, traditional excavation may be the better option.
We evaluate the conditions and recommend an approach based on what the job requires.
Once the digging is finished, there’s often still plenty of work left to do.
Trenches need to be backfilled. Disturbed ground needs to be graded. Lawns, landscaping, sidewalks, and paved surfaces may need repairs.
Property restoration is one of the most common services we provide alongside excavation, giving North Country the ability to handle more of the work without bringing in additional contractors.
Our background in landscaping and site improvements gives us the experience and equipment to handle many of those finishing requirements ourselves.
Depending on the project, our crews can provide:
North Country has the crews and capabilities to handle those finishing requirements, along with the excavation itself.
Need an excavation contractor in Central Pennsylvania?
Whether you’re planning utility work, looking for a hydro excavation contractor, preparing a site for construction, or dealing with an existing drainage issue, North Country Unlimited can help.
Tell us what you’re working on, where the project is located, and what needs to be accomplished.
We’ll review the requirements, discuss the site conditions, and determine which of our excavation and related services are a good fit.
From the initial excavation through backfilling and restoration, we’re here to help you get the job done.