Do I Need a Utility Locate Before a Retaining Wall?
Yes. A footing trench, a cut into the slope, a drain behind the wall and a machine crossing the yard, through lines 811 does not mark.
Retaining walls and regrading
A footing trench, a cut into the slope, and a machine crossing the yard
Yes, you need a locate before a retaining wall. A wall is three digs in one: a footing trench, a cut into the slope, and a drain line behind the wall, plus a skid steer or an excavator crossing the yard to get there. That path runs through the irrigation main, the buried downspout drains, the sewer lateral, the water service, the gas line and the power to the outbuildings. On a country lot east of the Springs or up in Tri-Lakes, add the well line and the propane run. 811 marks the utility companies' lines up to your meter and stops; all of that is past it.
The order that works. Call 811 first; it is free and takes two business days. Then have the private lines marked. Then cut, and hand-dig wherever the footing or the drain crosses a mark instead of letting the bucket find it.
What we do. We trace what carries a signal with an electromagnetic locator, sweep the wall line and the machine path with ground-penetrating radar for what does not, and paint the results in APWA color code. No depth; a mark means hand-dig here. Anything we could not find goes in writing. A residential wall is a flat-rate visit; a contractor regrading a whole lot can book a half-day.
Send the address and where the wall and the drain will run through the request form, or call or text (719) 800-4937, and we send a firm number, within one business day.
Wall going in this week?
Call 811 first, then send us the address and where the wall runs, or call or text (719) 800-4937. Firm quote within one business day, often the same day.