How to Excavate a Trench
Call the local or government utility location service., Plan a route that causes minimal damage., Determine the depth your project requires., Determine the type of soil you will be digging in., Get the excavation equipment., Remove the topsoil...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Call the local or government utility location service.
Before you begin any digging project, call a utility location service.
This will locate underground gas, electric, water, and communications pipes and cables in the area, to protect you from injury or liability in the event they are damaged.
These flags are placed by the utility spotter, indicating a buried telephone cable.
In the US, by law, you must call Digline before beginning any digging project.
Call 811 to contact a local call center.
The service is completely free to use. -
Step 2: Plan a route that causes minimal damage.
Take your time in the planning phase to find a layout that meets your needs, avoids utility lines, and minimizes damage to valuable property.
With careful planning, the materials you purchase should be sufficient to complete the trench, and you won't have to change your plan after you start digging.
Trees, shrubs and other plants may suffer injury or die if their roots are damaged in excavation.
Driveways, sidewalks, and structures can collapse if they are undermined.
Small plants, even turf grasses, can be removed and stored for replanting with proper care. , The trench's depth requirements (for example, the required depth of a utility line) is a factor in choosing excavation equipment and other materials.
Some plumbing systems are gravity operated, and require a slope so the waste or water will flow unaided to the discharge location.
In this situation, you may find the trench will be deeper on one end than the other. , Sandy soils, loose stony soils, and wet, mucky material will make excavating a straight, deep ditch difficult and dangerous.
In these scenarios, you may have to plan additional measures to complete your project successfully:
Shoring:
This process uses a support structure for your ditch sides so they do not cave in and injure anyone, or undo the digging you have done before the project is complete.
For example, a small excavation could use sheets of plywood supported by posts.
Large excavations could use steel trench boxes or sheet piling.
Anything deeper than 3 feet (0.91 m) should be shored up.
Never enter a trench deeper than your waist if it is not shored up.
De-watering:
This removes the excess water from the soil to help stabilize it while working.
This can be accomplished either with a well point system, or a sock pipe and mud-hog type diaphragm pump to remove the water as it seeps into the excavation.
Benching the excavation:
If you are digging in loose soil, a deep vertical trench wall is at risk of collapse.
Benching involves digging the trench in steps or tiers instead, so the banks do not have to support more material than they are capable of.
These benches are usually at intervals
2.5–3 feet (0.76–0.91 m) deep and twice as wide.
They do take quite a bit of sidewall digging, which can require extensive area to complete.
Keep in mind that it can still collapse the deeper the trench goes. , Shovels, pickaxes, and other hand tools will suffice for minor excavations, but renting a mini excavator can save a lot of work on large jobs.
Backhoes and even trackhoes may be needed if the project requires a very deep and/or long trench.
Unless you are already experienced with these types of equipment, it may be cheaper and safer in the long run to hire a professional excavator. , Excavate 10–20 centimeter (3.9–7.9 in) of soil, depending on the depth of the topsoil layer.
Store the topsoil away from other spoil material to avoid contamination.
Ensure that the topsoil heap does not exceed 1–1.5 meter (3.3–4.9 ft) in height to avoid compaction.
For the same reason, either demarcate the topsoil heap or locate it away from frequent foot and vehicle traffic.
If the topsoil is going to be stored for prolonged periods of time, over-seed with non-invasive grass species to reduce erosion, or cover it with a heavy tarp or plastic sheet.
You may be charged fines if heavy soil or muddy water runs off your work site.
Installing erosion control wattles or rolls can contain the water and prevent fines.
These can be purchased at landscape and\or construction supply outlets. , Line your workers or equipment up with the ditch line, and start to dig.
Be careful to observe soil conditions so that the trench embankments do not yield, allowing them to cave in. , If the trench needs to be "benched" (excavated in steps), dig to the depth of the first bench.
Otherwise, dig the first section to the full depth of the trench.
If you need to bench, make subsequent entrenchments to the depth of each bench prior to digging deeper, so the banks of each bench will remain stable throughout the process. , Throw the spoil (the removed soil) far enough that it will not encumber you while working in and around the trench.
This will also prevent the removed material from creating an overburdening of the trench's banks or sides, which would increase the risk of collapse. , Check the depth with a laser level or builder's level where the grade is critical to ensure the finished trench will not require adjustments.
It is very difficult to 'walk' a piece of equipment back down an excavated trench.
The heavy weight of the tools or machinery can increase the risk of collapsing trench walls.
If you are operating equipment on your own, always keep it on undisturbed solid ground for as much of the process as possible. , Once the entire trench has been excavated, recheck the depth throughout its length.
Check the embankments for stability, and do any smoothing or finished grading of the trench bottom necessary to install the material the trench was dug for., For example, you may be removing an obsolete utility line, installing a new one, or installing a drainage system or sanitary sewer. , If you have access to one, a gasoline operated plate tamp will enable you to pack the soil as it is replaced in the trench.
For deep trenches, backfilling in lifts (layers) of about 8–10 inches (200–250 mm) and compacting the material as it is placed will reduce the amount of settling that will occur after the project is completed., Roll out a heavy geotextile barrier over the soil first to prevent topsoil from mixing with gravel in the trench.
Then replace the topsoil in the trench.
This will ensure fertile soil and easy re-vegetation without having to resort to costly fertilizers., Attend to surface conditions after connecting any utilities you have installed. -
Step 3: Determine the depth your project requires.
-
Step 4: Determine the type of soil you will be digging in.
-
Step 5: Get the excavation equipment.
-
Step 6: Remove the topsoil.
-
Step 7: Begin the digging.
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Step 8: Dig your first cut to the appropriate depth.
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Step 9: Keep the removed soil as far from the excavation as possible.
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Step 10: Move along the length of your trench as each section is excavated to the required depth.
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Step 11: Check the completed trench.
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Step 12: Complete the project.
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Step 13: Backfill the trench.
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Step 14: Replace topsoil as soon as all the spoil has been back-filled.
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Step 15: Regrade and relandscape the area.
Detailed Guide
Before you begin any digging project, call a utility location service.
This will locate underground gas, electric, water, and communications pipes and cables in the area, to protect you from injury or liability in the event they are damaged.
These flags are placed by the utility spotter, indicating a buried telephone cable.
In the US, by law, you must call Digline before beginning any digging project.
Call 811 to contact a local call center.
The service is completely free to use.
Take your time in the planning phase to find a layout that meets your needs, avoids utility lines, and minimizes damage to valuable property.
With careful planning, the materials you purchase should be sufficient to complete the trench, and you won't have to change your plan after you start digging.
Trees, shrubs and other plants may suffer injury or die if their roots are damaged in excavation.
Driveways, sidewalks, and structures can collapse if they are undermined.
Small plants, even turf grasses, can be removed and stored for replanting with proper care. , The trench's depth requirements (for example, the required depth of a utility line) is a factor in choosing excavation equipment and other materials.
Some plumbing systems are gravity operated, and require a slope so the waste or water will flow unaided to the discharge location.
In this situation, you may find the trench will be deeper on one end than the other. , Sandy soils, loose stony soils, and wet, mucky material will make excavating a straight, deep ditch difficult and dangerous.
In these scenarios, you may have to plan additional measures to complete your project successfully:
Shoring:
This process uses a support structure for your ditch sides so they do not cave in and injure anyone, or undo the digging you have done before the project is complete.
For example, a small excavation could use sheets of plywood supported by posts.
Large excavations could use steel trench boxes or sheet piling.
Anything deeper than 3 feet (0.91 m) should be shored up.
Never enter a trench deeper than your waist if it is not shored up.
De-watering:
This removes the excess water from the soil to help stabilize it while working.
This can be accomplished either with a well point system, or a sock pipe and mud-hog type diaphragm pump to remove the water as it seeps into the excavation.
Benching the excavation:
If you are digging in loose soil, a deep vertical trench wall is at risk of collapse.
Benching involves digging the trench in steps or tiers instead, so the banks do not have to support more material than they are capable of.
These benches are usually at intervals
2.5–3 feet (0.76–0.91 m) deep and twice as wide.
They do take quite a bit of sidewall digging, which can require extensive area to complete.
Keep in mind that it can still collapse the deeper the trench goes. , Shovels, pickaxes, and other hand tools will suffice for minor excavations, but renting a mini excavator can save a lot of work on large jobs.
Backhoes and even trackhoes may be needed if the project requires a very deep and/or long trench.
Unless you are already experienced with these types of equipment, it may be cheaper and safer in the long run to hire a professional excavator. , Excavate 10–20 centimeter (3.9–7.9 in) of soil, depending on the depth of the topsoil layer.
Store the topsoil away from other spoil material to avoid contamination.
Ensure that the topsoil heap does not exceed 1–1.5 meter (3.3–4.9 ft) in height to avoid compaction.
For the same reason, either demarcate the topsoil heap or locate it away from frequent foot and vehicle traffic.
If the topsoil is going to be stored for prolonged periods of time, over-seed with non-invasive grass species to reduce erosion, or cover it with a heavy tarp or plastic sheet.
You may be charged fines if heavy soil or muddy water runs off your work site.
Installing erosion control wattles or rolls can contain the water and prevent fines.
These can be purchased at landscape and\or construction supply outlets. , Line your workers or equipment up with the ditch line, and start to dig.
Be careful to observe soil conditions so that the trench embankments do not yield, allowing them to cave in. , If the trench needs to be "benched" (excavated in steps), dig to the depth of the first bench.
Otherwise, dig the first section to the full depth of the trench.
If you need to bench, make subsequent entrenchments to the depth of each bench prior to digging deeper, so the banks of each bench will remain stable throughout the process. , Throw the spoil (the removed soil) far enough that it will not encumber you while working in and around the trench.
This will also prevent the removed material from creating an overburdening of the trench's banks or sides, which would increase the risk of collapse. , Check the depth with a laser level or builder's level where the grade is critical to ensure the finished trench will not require adjustments.
It is very difficult to 'walk' a piece of equipment back down an excavated trench.
The heavy weight of the tools or machinery can increase the risk of collapsing trench walls.
If you are operating equipment on your own, always keep it on undisturbed solid ground for as much of the process as possible. , Once the entire trench has been excavated, recheck the depth throughout its length.
Check the embankments for stability, and do any smoothing or finished grading of the trench bottom necessary to install the material the trench was dug for., For example, you may be removing an obsolete utility line, installing a new one, or installing a drainage system or sanitary sewer. , If you have access to one, a gasoline operated plate tamp will enable you to pack the soil as it is replaced in the trench.
For deep trenches, backfilling in lifts (layers) of about 8–10 inches (200–250 mm) and compacting the material as it is placed will reduce the amount of settling that will occur after the project is completed., Roll out a heavy geotextile barrier over the soil first to prevent topsoil from mixing with gravel in the trench.
Then replace the topsoil in the trench.
This will ensure fertile soil and easy re-vegetation without having to resort to costly fertilizers., Attend to surface conditions after connecting any utilities you have installed.
About the Author
James Rivera
Enthusiastic about teaching DIY projects techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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