Excavating and Grading Articles
October 11, 2026 | Matt
Building a Drainage Swale
A drainage swale is a shallow graded channel that moves surface water away from a building or yard - here is how to size, slope, and line one that actually works.
October 08, 2026 | Matt
Choosing a Trench Protective System
How sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding differ under OSHA's excavation standard, and how soil type, depth, and space decide which trench protective system fits.
October 06, 2026 | Matt
How to Identify Soil Types on a Jobsite
Field identification of soil types, from USCS symbols to the roll and dilatancy tests, and what each soil means for excavation, fill, and trench safety.
October 05, 2026 | Matt
What Is a Geotechnical Report?
A plain-language guide to geotechnical reports: what soil borings and SPT testing reveal, how to read boring logs and bearing capacity, when IBC requires an investigation, and what a report costs.
October 04, 2026 | Matt
Seeding and Stabilization After Grading
A practical guide to seeding and stabilizing a graded site: temporary versus permanent stabilization, seedbed preparation, lime and fertilizer, seed and mulch selection, erosion control blankets, and the permit deadlines that govern final cover.
October 03, 2026 | Matt
Trenching for Underground Electrical Lines
A practical guide to trenching for underground electrical lines: NEC 300.5 cover depths by wiring method, the residential GFCI exception, warning ribbon and backfill rules, riser protection, and how to dig a code-compliant trench.
October 01, 2026 | Matt
Gravel and Stone Sizes Explained
A practical guide to gravel and stone sizes: what aggregate size numbers like #57, #67, #411, and crusher run actually mean, open-graded vs. dense-graded stone, and how to pick the right aggregate for driveways, drainage, slab base, and retaining walls.
September 30, 2026 | Matt
Soil Swell and Shrinkage Factors Explained
A practical guide to soil swell and shrinkage: bank, loose, and compacted cubic yards, swell percentages and load factors by soil type, shrink factors, worked hauling and fill examples, and the volume mistakes that wreck earthwork estimates.
September 28, 2026 | Matt
Trenchless Technology for Underground Utilities
A practical guide to trenchless technology: how horizontal directional drilling, auger boring, pipe ramming, microtunneling and pipe bursting install underground utilities, when each method wins over open-cut trenching, and how geology, cover, drilling fluids, locating and permits shape the job.
September 27, 2026 | Matt
Riprap for Erosion Control
A practical guide to riprap: how angular stone is sized by D50 and class, why a geotextile filter layer is not optional, how layer thickness and toe depth are set, and how to install and maintain rock armor on ditches, culvert outlets, shorelines, and slopes.
September 26, 2026 | Matt
How Is Soil Compaction Tested?
A practical guide to soil compaction testing: how the Proctor test sets the target density, how nuclear gauges, sand cones and rubber balloon tests measure the field result, how often tests are required, and what to do when a lift fails.
September 25, 2026 | Matt
Dredging a Pond
A practical guide to dredging a pond: measuring accumulated sediment, choosing mechanical, hydraulic, or drawdown removal methods, 404 permitting, sediment testing and disposal, timing, and real cost ranges.
