Random homeowner question - digging under driveway

O

ObscureRefMan

Member
I'm looking to run an electrical line under my driveway. I've tried the "water boring" method, but the clay soil is too resistant.

I've only managed to find two companies that do this, but since they work at a much larger scale, it's not cost effective for them to take the job (got quoted between $1000 and $1500). Are there smaller companies that do horizontal drilling/boring? Or are there places that rent augering equipment? Thanks!
 
LightRoasted

LightRoasted

If I may ...
For your consideration ...

ObscureRefMan said:
I'm looking to run an electrical line under my driveway. I've tried the "water boring" method, but the clay soil is too resistant.

I've only managed to find two companies that do this, but since they work at a much larger scale, it's not cost effective for them to take the job (got quoted between $1000 and $1500). Are there smaller companies that do horizontal drilling/boring? Or are there places that rent augering equipment? Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you want to do it safe and right ....

1) How wide is the driveway?
2) What is is made of? Concrete or asphalt?

If asphalt, it's fairly easy to make a narrow trench, dig the required depth of at least 2 feet, lay your wire laden conduit pipe, then back fill the dirt and compress/compact the dirt well before filling with new asphalt that can be purchased by the bag from Lowes.

It's a bit laborious by hand, but not difficult.

Concrete would require a cutting machine for clean edges, (which can be rented), and a cement mixer (which can also be rented), and many bags of the proper PSI rated concrete.

Notice again the required depth for laying and running electrical conduit in ground is 2 feet, or better, using conduit piping made for ground contact and run your electrical feeds inside that. I don't think water boring can get that deep. It's a safety issue so that someone digging for planting a garden or doing a little digging for whatever reason something doesn't hit it.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
LightRoasted said:
For your consideration ...


If you want to do it safe and right ....

1) How wide is the driveway?
2) What is is made of? Concrete or asphalt?

If asphalt, it's fairly easy to make a narrow trench, dig the required depth of at least 2 feet, lay your wire laden conduit pipe, then back fill the dirt and compress/compact the dirt well before filling with new asphalt that can be purchased by the bag from Lowes.

It's a bit laborious by hand, but not difficult.

Concrete would require a cutting machine for clean edges, (which can be rented), and a cement mixer (which can also be rented), and many bags of the proper PSI rated concrete.

Notice again the required depth for laying and running electrical conduit in ground is 2 feet, or better, using conduit piping made for ground contact and run your electrical feeds inside that. I don't think water boring can get that deep. It's a safety issue so that someone digging for planting a garden or doing a little digging for whatever reason something doesn't hit it.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure 24 inches is public roads or alleys. Under driveways you can go 18 inches. In conduit, and I would never run power not in conduit. When I ran a new wire to my well, I did 18 inches.
 
Gilligan

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
glhs837 said:
Pretty sure 24 inches is public roads or alleys. Under driveways you can go 18 inches. In conduit, and I would never run power not in conduit. When I ran a new wire to my well, I did 18 inches.
Click to expand...
Electrical contractor that ran power 150' or so to my pier trenched 18" down.
 
willie

willie

Well-Known Member
ObscureRefMan said:
I'm looking to run an electrical line under my driveway. I've tried the "water boring" method, but the clay soil is too resistant.

I've only managed to find two companies that do this, but since they work at a much larger scale, it's not cost effective for them to take the job (got quoted between $1000 and $1500). Are there smaller companies that do horizontal drilling/boring? Or are there places that rent augering equipment? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Find a sub contractor for Comcast installation and talk them into a little after hours work. They bore under sidewalks/driveways every day.
 
TPD

TPD

the poor dad
I saw this truck in Ridge today - not sure if they do what you want but their name would suggest so...

IMG_5913.jpg
 
O

ObscureRefMan

Member
LightRoasted said:
For your consideration ...


If you want to do it safe and right ....

1) How wide is the driveway?
2) What is is made of? Concrete or asphalt?

If asphalt, it's fairly easy to make a narrow trench, dig the required depth of at least 2 feet, lay your wire laden conduit pipe, then back fill the dirt and compress/compact the dirt well before filling with new asphalt that can be purchased by the bag from Lowes.

It's a bit laborious by hand, but not difficult.

Concrete would require a cutting machine for clean edges, (which can be rented), and a cement mixer (which can also be rented), and many bags of the proper PSI rated concrete.

Notice again the required depth for laying and running electrical conduit in ground is 2 feet, or better, using conduit piping made for ground contact and run your electrical feeds inside that. I don't think water boring can get that deep. It's a safety issue so that someone digging for planting a garden or doing a little digging for whatever reason something doesn't hit it.
Click to expand...
Ack. I should have mentioned... Asphalt driveway, 15 feet wide. I would prefer NOT to cut the asphalt.
 
UglyBear

UglyBear

Well-Known Member
ObscureRefMan said:
Ack. I should have mentioned... Asphalt driveway, 15 feet wide. I would prefer NOT to cut the asphalt.
Click to expand...
I’m with @LightRoasted on this.
I had Comcast bore under my asphalt driveway, and sure it was done quick, but it buckled the asphalt and will need to be fixed sometime soon anyways. Especially if you have dense clay, it has to go somewhere — most likely up.
As much hassle as cutting the asphalt sounds, long-term is probably the best solution, and you can do it yourself, so major $$$ savings.
 
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Ken King

Ken King

A little rusty but not crusty
PREMO Member
UglyBear said:
I’m with @LightRoasted on this.
I had Comcast bore under my asphalt driveway, and sure it was done quick, but it buckled the asphalt and will need to be fixed sometime soon anyways. Especially if you have dense clay, it has to go somewhere — most likely up.
As much hassle as cutting the asphalt sounds, long-term is probably the best solution, and you can do it yourself, so major $$$ savings.
Click to expand...
Or a trench around the driveway to get the line to where it needs to be. Might be a longer run but it won't require messing with the driveway.
 
Sneakers

Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
UglyBear said:
I’m with @LightRoasted on this.
I had Comcast bore under my asphalt driveway, and sure it was done quick, but it buckled the asphalt and will need to be fixed sometime soon anyways. Especially if you have dense clay, it has to go somewhere — most likely up.
As much hassle as cutting the asphalt sounds, long-term is probably the best solution, and you can do it yourself, so major $$$ savings.
Click to expand...
That was my suggestion last time he asked the question.
 
black dog

black dog

Free America
Installing irrigation I shot hundreds of bores under sidewalks, driveways and roads.
Call your local irrigation contractor in Bryantown, its getting to the slow time of the years for them.
When the owner or one of the family gets there to give you a quote, offer cash.
Harrigan has done thousands and thousands of bores in the last 25 years.
 
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