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319-350-7425
Location
Solon, IA 52333, USA
Trenching & Plowing
Brokaw Electric offers comprehensive trenching and plowing services tailored to the unique needs of customers in the greater Iowa City area. Our comprehensive underground utility installation services leverage a range of advanced trenching and plowing techniques to ensure efficient and reliable project execution. We specialize in providing tailored solutions for diverse utility needs, including electrical, telecommunications, gas, and water line installations.
Trenching & Plowing Services Offered
- Open Trenching (Conventional Trenching): For situations requiring direct access and precise depth control, we employ traditional open trenching methods, utilizing heavy-duty excavators and backhoes to create stable and accurately dimensioned trenches. This is the most traditional trenching method, involving the excavation of a continuous ditch.
- Applications: Ideal for projects requiring direct access to the utility line, precise depth and width control, and situations where soil conditions permit. It’s commonly used for installing water mains, sewer lines, and larger diameter pipes.
- Advantages: Provides clear visibility and access for installation and maintenance, allows for accurate depth control, and is suitable for a wide range of soil types.
- Disadvantages: Can cause significant surface disruption, requires extensive back-filling and restoration, and may be time-consuming compared to other methods.
- Narrow Trenching: This method focuses on creating a very narrow trench, minimizing surface disruption. Specialized trenchers with narrow cutting teeth are used.
- Applications: Commonly used for installing fiber optic cables, small diameter pipes, and electrical cables in residential areas or where minimal surface damage is desired.
- Advantages: Reduces the amount of excavated material, minimizes restoration costs, and causes less disruption to existing landscaping.
- Disadvantages: Limited to smaller diameter utilities, may not be suitable for all soil types, and requires specialized equipment.
- Vibratory Plowing: This method utilizes a specialized plow blade equipped with a vibrator that creates a narrow slit in the soil. The utility line is then fed through the plow blade and installed directly into the ground as the plow moves forward.
- Applications: Commonly used for installing flexible utilities such as electrical cables, fiber optic cables, and small diameter pipes in relatively soft soils.
- Advantages: Minimal surface disruption, faster installation compared to trenching, reduced restoration costs, and less impact on existing landscaping.
- Disadvantages: Limited to certain soil types (avoiding rocky or heavily compacted soils), may not be suitable for rigid pipes or large diameter utilities, and requires specialized equipment.