FREQUENTLY ASKED TRENCHING QUESTIONS

National Codes dictate the depth below ground these lines must be buried. Some low voltage underground circuits could be as shallow as 18 inches, while most higher voltage circuits will be deeper than 24 inches.

• 6 inches - Electrical Wire in Rigid Metal Conduit
• 12 inches - GFCI-Protected Underground Feeder Cable 
• 18 inches - Electrical Wire in PVC Conduit.
• 24 inches - Underground Feeder Cable (UF Cable)

• IMC - Intermediate Metal Conduit
• GALV - Galvanized Rigid Steel
• EMT - Electrical Metal Tubing
• FMC - Flexible Metal Conduit
• LFC - Lightweight Fiberglass Conduit

• RED - Electric Power Lines, Cables
• ORANGE - Communication, Alarm
• YELLOW - Gas, Oil, Steam
• BLUE - Potable Water
• GREEN - Sewers and Drain Lines
• PURPLE - Reclaimed Water

In Maryland, RedPlate will contact Miss Utility  no sooner than 3 business days but no later than 12 business days ahead of planned excavation or demolition. Dial 811 or click the link above for more information 

It is suggested that you identify your dig site by using white paint. This will save valuable locate time and eliminate unnecessary paint markings on your property.

Check out our Online Calendar and schedule a FREE consultation and estimate. 

Installing a water line costs an average of $20 to $50 per linear foot. Prices may reach as high as $150 per linear foot in areas with difficult trenching such as jack hammering through bedrock.

Using a minimum slope of 2% will encourage a good flow when directing water to a rain garden. For a 2% slope your pipe height will lower ~¼ inch for every foot of length. You can also approximate this by multiplying the pipe length in inches by .02

The standard depth for water lines in the U.S. is around 36 inches but this can vary from location to location. Reference US Frost Line MAP.

If trench is to be a joint trench (shared with other utilities) the following separations must be maintained: 24 inches between gas and electric lines. 12 inches between water and electric lines. 24 inches between sewer and electric lines.

• RED - Electric Power Lines, Cables
• YELLOW - Gas, Oil, Steam
• ORANGE - Communication, Alarm
• BLUE - Potable Water
• GREEN - Sewers and Drain Lines
• PURPLE - Reclaimed Water

In Maryland, RedPlate will contact Miss Utility  no sooner than 3 business days but no later than 12 business days ahead of planned excavation or demolition. Dial 811 or click the link above for more information

It is suggested that you identify your dig site by using white paint. This will save valuable locate time and eliminate unnecessary paint markings on your property.

Check out our Online Calendar and schedule a FREE consultation and estimate.

Installing a gutter drain line can cost $150 to $350 per downspout for a basic single solution. Home location and surroundings such as city, urban or rural settings will vary the cost as well as the type of underground subsurface system matching the home size.  The average complete system will run approximately $2500

Buried Downspouts: The least expensive option, consisting of a pipe extending from your downspout to a discharge point.

French Drains: A heavy-duty solution with perforated pipes and gravel, suitable for serious drainage issues, and more expensive due to their complexity.

Dry Wells: An underground collection point for water to absorb into the soil, costing more than a simple downspout but less than a French drain. 

Length of Pipe: The longer the drain line, the more materials and labor are required, increasing the total cost. 

Labor and Excavation: Trenching and excavation are significant cost drivers for underground systems, with labor costs often figured by the hour. 

Landscape Repairs: raking, leveling, restoring topsoil and lawn after installation. 

Complexity: the more complex the drainage problems or a larger home will necessitate a more elaborate system, raising the price. 

In Maryland: 

45 inches is the average annual rainfall 

  3 inches is the average hourly rainfall heavy event

The average home size in Maryland is 200 square feet. The average roof area on a 2000 sq ft home is 2500 sq ft. 

Annual Runoff Formula: Roof Area 2500 sq ft x 0.623 = 1557 sf x 45 in. = 70,000 gallons

Hourly Runoff Formula:  Roof Area 2500 sq ft x 0.623 = 1557 sf x    3 in. =   4,700 gallons

A reccommended slope of 1%-2% will encourage a good flow when directing water. For a 2% slope the pipe height will lower ~¼ inch per foot of length. You can also approximate this by multiplying the pipe length in inches by .02 x 1200 = 24 inch drop from start to end

Too little slope = water won’t drain efficiently causing standing water or clogs

Too much slope = water can move too fast, leaving solids behind causing clogs

The standard depth for potable water lines in the U.S. is around 36 inches but this can vary from location to location. This depth is based on US Frost Line MAP.

The standard depth for drain lines can be the same to prevent freezing and cracking in the winter but the minimum should be 12-24 inches deep to protect the pipe from collapse due to surface traffic  

• RED - Electric Power Lines, Cables
• YELLOW - Gas, Oil, Steam
• ORANGE - Communication, Alarm
• BLUE - Potable Water
• GREEN - Sewers and Drain Lines
• PURPLE - Reclaimed Water

In Maryland, RedPlate will contact Miss Utility  no sooner than 3 business days but no later than 12 business days ahead of planned excavation or demolition. Dial 811 or click the link above for more information

It is suggested that you identify your dig site by using white paint. This will save valuable locate time and eliminate unnecessary paint markings on your property.

Check out our Online Calendar and schedule a FREE consultation and estimate.

Installing an average irrigation line system can cost $2500 to $5,000 for a typical small yard 1,000 to 5,000 sq ft. The Price will vary based on yard size, complexity of the system.

In-ground sprinklers: These are the most common and aesthetically pleasing but also the most expensive, with costs average of $0.37 per square foot.

Above-ground systems: Less expensive but more visible and prone to damage.

Drip irrigation: Can be more cost-effective, especially for smaller areas like flower beds or container gardens, costing less than $1,000 to $4,000 for a DIY system. 

Number of Zones: Systems are divided into watering zones, and more zones mean higher installation costs, with some systems costing $500 to $1,000 per zone. 

Materials and Parts: The quality of components like emitters, tubing, and controllers affects the overall price. 

Permits and Fees: Installation may require permits, which are not always included in initial cost estimates. 

A reccommended slope of 1%-2% will encourage a good flow when directing water. For a 2% slope the pipe height will lower ~¼ inch per foot of length. You can also approximate this by multiplying the pipe length in inches by .02 x 1200 = 24 inch drop from start to end

Too little slope = water won’t drain efficiently causing standing water or clogs

Too much slope = water can move too fast, leaving solids behind causing clogs

The standard depth for potable water lines in the U.S. is around 36 inches but this can vary from location to location. This depth is based on US Frost Line MAP.

The standard depth for drain lines can be the same to prevent freezing and cracking in the winter but the minimum should be 12-24 inches deep to protect the pipe from collapse due to surface traffic  

• RED - Electric Power Lines, Cables
• YELLOW - Gas, Oil, Steam
• ORANGE - Communication, Alarm
• BLUE - Potable Water
• GREEN - Sewers and Drain Lines
• PURPLE - Reclaimed Water

In Maryland, RedPlate will contact Miss Utility  no sooner than 3 business days but no later than 12 business days ahead of planned excavation or demolition. Dial 811 or click the link above for more information

It is suggested that you identify your dig site by using white paint. This will save valuable locate time and eliminate unnecessary paint markings on your property.

Check out our Online Calendar and schedule a FREE consultation and estimate.

RedPlate Land offers excavation and digging for septic systems and partners with local plumbing businesses for installation.

3" septic drain pipes must be sloped a minimum of 1/4-inch per foot and a maximum of three inches per foot, OR they must be vertical. A slope of less than 1/4-inch per foot will cause constant drain clogs and a slope of more than three inches will allow the water to drain without the solids.

Through Spectra Precision RedPlate uses the latest grading laser levels on the market. Click HERE for more info.

• GREEN - Sewers and Drain Lines
• RED - Electric Power Lines, Cables
• YELLOW - Gas, Oil, Steam
• ORANGE - Communication, Alarm
• BLUE - Potable Water
• PURPLE - Reclaimed Water

In Maryland, RedPlate will contact Miss Utility  no sooner than 3 business days but no later than 12 business days ahead of planned excavation or demolition. Dial 811 or click the link above for more information

It is suggested that you identify your dig site by using white paint. This will save valuable locate time and eliminate unnecessary paint markings on your property.

Check out our Online Calendar and schedule a FREE consultation and estimate.

Geothermal or "ground source heat pump"  is an  energy-efficient heating and cooling system that uses the natural stable ground temperature to warm homes in the winter and keep them cool in the summer. 

Ground temperature medium is 52 degrees at 6-8 feet of depth.

For a horizontal loop approximately 2000 feet of pipe would be need to be installed 6 - 8 feet deep. For a vertical loop drilling is required to approximately 300 feet deep.