Construction & Contractors Blog
If you're developing or improving a building site, there are a range of tunneling and excavation strategies that can work, and in most cases, each situation calls for a unique drilling approach. One type of trenchless drilling is microdrilling. Here are five signs you should consider microdrilling for your next project.
1. The Area Is Hard to Access
With many drilling or boring techniques, you need to bring heavy equipment on site. Microdrilling, in contrast, can be done remotely. The operator works off-site and sends the micro-drilling equipment through the hole with a remote control.
The drilling equipment, then, uses tons of force to move the equipment through the space and create a hole. A camera allows the off-site operator to see where he or she is going.
2. You Only Need a Small Tunnel
As suggested by the name, microdrilling is for small tunnels. If you need to add wiring, plumbing pipes or similar relatively long but narrow items to an area, microdrilling may be the right answer. On the other hand, if you are putting in a mine, building a rapid transit centre or doing other large-scale tunneling, microdrilling is not the right option.
3. You Want to Reduce Surface Erosion
With microtunneling, the equipment goes underground. As a result, the surface stays intact. If you are trying to reduce erosion or keep the surface area intact for any other reason, microdrilling allows you to do that.
4. There are Obstructions in the Way
Because microtunneling bores underground without affecting the top surface, it can also go under obstacles. If there are roadways, houses or other obstacles in the way, you may want to explore this option or another type of trenchless drilling.
If you have to use a trench, that can add a lot of time and money to your project. That is especially true if you have to destroy roads or walkways, add the trench and then repair those areas.
5. You're Trying to Minimise Project Waste
Microdrilling is very accurate. In most cases, you only remove enough dirt to slip in your pipework or other items. In some cases, to reduce the chance of the tunnel caving in on itself, microdrilling removes a little more dirt than necessary. However, the process still generates a lot less waste than other types of excavation.
To learn more about whether microdrilling or another type of drilling is right for your project, contact an excavation expert today.
Share2 May 2017
Welcome to my blog, my name is Blake and from now on, I will be writing a series of blogs which will deal with the process of finding and working with contractors when constructing a new building. I am not a construction specialist but last summer I gained a lot of experience in this area when I hired a team of 32 contractors to build a holiday home. When hiring contractors, it is important that you understand how to communicate with them and their ways of working. Below are a series of blogs which will help you to find the best contractors.