DIGGING UP THE BACKYARD: FOUND MORE THAN JUST DIRT
I hear you on not wanting to overdo it with screening for every little project—most of the time, it does feel like overkill. But I’ve seen enough “surprises” underground to make me a bit wary, even for smaller stuff. One time I was helping a friend put in a simple garden bed and we ended up unearthing an old concrete footing from who-knows-when... turned a one-day job into a whole weekend mess.
I get that a quick rake works for surface debris, but what about stuff deeper down? Especially in older neighborhoods where the previous owners might’ve buried all sorts of junk. Ever had to deal with anything more serious than just pipes—like old tanks or unexpected cables? Sometimes I wonder if we’re all just rolling the dice each time we dig.
Sometimes I wonder if we’re all just rolling the dice each time we dig.
Honestly, it does feel like that sometimes. I tried to save money by skipping a full survey when I put in a fence last year—figured it was just a few holes, right? Ended up hitting what looked like an old metal pipe, no idea if it was live or not. Had to call in someone anyway, so my “budget” plan backfired. Makes me think: is it really worth the risk to skip checks, even for small jobs? Or am I just being too cautious?
Makes me think: is it really worth the risk to skip checks, even for small jobs? Or am I just being too cautious?
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, sometimes I think we go overboard with the checks. For something like a basic fence or garden bed, I’ve had contractors just do a quick call to the local utility line service—no fancy survey, just a quick check. Never had an issue (knock on wood).
That said, I guess it depends on the age of your property too. Older homes can have all sorts of weird stuff underground. Still, if you’re just digging shallow holes, do we really need a full survey every time? Feels like if we did that for every project, nothing would ever get done and the costs would balloon fast.
I’m not saying ignore safety, but maybe there’s a middle ground—like calling the utility locator but skipping the full survey unless you’re doing something major. Otherwise, you end up spending more on prep than the actual project. Just my two cents.
Honestly, I get the urge to cut corners, but in my experience with high-end renovations, even “small” digs can turn into a headache if you hit something unexpected. I’ve seen a simple planter project uncover an old oil tank once—total nightmare. Utility locator calls are a must, but skipping surveys entirely? That’s rolling the dice, especially with older or luxury properties where previous owners might’ve done who-knows-what underground. Sure, you don’t need a full survey for every hole, but I’d rather spend a bit more upfront than risk a disaster later.
DIGGING UP THE BACKYARD: FOUND MORE THAN JUST DIRT
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’m all about saving where I can, but after finding a random chunk of concrete slab under my veggie patch last year, I’m way more cautious. Utility locators are non-negotiable for me now, but I’ll admit—I sometimes skip the full survey if it’s just a small project. Still, that “what if” always lingers... especially with older homes. Sometimes you just have to weigh the risk against your budget and hope you don’t hit the jackpot (or an oil tank).
