Saving Time And Money With Horizontal Drilling Systems
Dilling holes in the surface of the ground is done all the time, but when you need to bore a hole along a horizontal axis, things get a little more complicated. Until recently, putting pipes, electrical conduits, or utility lines under a street or sidewalk meant tearing up concrete or asphalt, but with horizontal directional boring, contractors can do the job faster and with less damage to roads and walkways.
Directional Horizontal Boring Systems
You may have seen one of these boring machines along the road and a crew working at installing orange plastic conduits in the ground. The machine is essentially a pneumatic pounding drill, like well drillers use, but instead of the drill and shafts going vertical, these machines bore a hole along a horizontal plane.
Once the drill has bored the hole, the contractor can pull the conduit or pipes through the hole that the machine created. These boring machines allow crews to install the conduit in long runs, and then utility crews can come behind them and run wires or other utilities in the pipe.
Reducing Impact On The Land
One of the most significant benefits of using a horizontal directional boring system to create these utility runs is reducing damage to the ground at the surface. When a trench is dug for wiring or utilities, the ground remains soft for a long time. Rain and wind can erode that surface soil and cause soil loss in the area that was dug up.
The horizontal directional boring machine will not damage the surface as it opens up a hole for the tubing or conduit to run through. The conduit can reinforce the walls, making it unlikely that the surface will settle or sink over the conduit.
The grass at the surface is only punctured in two spots, and the root structure of the remaining grass over the bore is never damaged, so it remains solid and stable. In most cases, once the job is complete, you will not be able to tell where the line is under the surface unless the utility company marks the line.
Parts And Accessories
If you use a horizontal directional boring machine on your job site, there are many different drill bits, drive rods, and other accessories that can make it easier to operate the machine. Check with the dealer you purchased the machine from for information about additional accessories or if you need replacement parts for the machine.
These machines are also available from equipment rentals if you need one but are not looking to purchase a machine for a single project. Reach out to a professional for more information about horizontal directional boring.