If you’re planning on an excavation project for your home or business property, you might wonder if weather will cause a difference in how quickly the project gets done. The short answer is yes. “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night . . . ” may work for mail carriers, but when it comes to excavation projects, “make hay while the sun shines” rings truer.
Weather changes can cause delays in projects, impacting both the timeline and the budget, so it’s important to plan and adapt. When we say weather changes, we’re not talking about a summer shower that lasts ten minutes, we mean extreme weather conditions that impact the work environment such as:
- Dust storms
- Hail
- Strong winds
- Snow
- High temperatures
Let’s go over some of those conditions and how they might affect your excavation timeline.
Rain
Heavy rain can become a problem for excavation. The ground will be constantly muddy and slippery, and consistent rain can lead to floods. The rain will impact the workers and the equipment by creating slick working conditions.
Even when you plan the project around the rainy season, rains can be unpredictable. Sometimes projects take many months to complete, and it’s not possible to avoid the rain. If your area experiences heavy rains for multiple days in a row, your project might be put on hold until things dry.
Wind
Intense winds cause debris and dust to fly everywhere, making it difficult to see. Harsh winds can even cause machinery and equipment to wobble. These dangerous working conditions can cause injuries to the workers and damage the equipment. You should avoid certain work that requires workers to be out in the open with dangerous equipment during these weather conditions.
Breezy conditions could be annoying, but they likely won’t halt excavation altogether. Strong winds, on the other hand, could put a short stop to excavation.
Extreme Conditions
Extremely hot and cold weather pose different challenges for both workers and machinery. In very hot weather, workers can suffer from dehydration and exhaustion. The extreme heat might limit the hours that your excavation team can work since they need to avoid the heat of midday. To help them keep cool, excavation contractors will need time to rest out of the heat.
In extremely cold weather, the engines on the equipment may require extra time to warm up. Snow and sleet may be blocking various driving paths and may need clearing. It also gets slippery on sleet, which can cause traction problems for the workers and the machinery.
Both kinds of extreme weather will impact the speed at which work is possible. In either case, you should prepare for some slight delays. If the temperature is too high or too low to be outside for hours at a time, your excavation company might push back your project a day or two. The schedule should allow for the extra time workers will need in such conditions.
Bottom Line
All kinds of extreme weather, whether it’s heavy rain, severe winds, snow and sleet, or extreme heat, pose their own challenges. They all impact the workers, the equipment, and the work site in different ways, and each should be accounted for.
These conditions can affect both the timeline for your project and the budget you have for it. A professional excavation company like Rock On Walls & Falls will adjust for these weather conditions. Call us today!
