Directional boring vs. trenching
Which method fits your project, and why we bore under most crossings.
If you need a utility line run under a driveway, road, or finished yard, there are two common ways to get it in the ground: directional boring and open-cut trenching. Here is how they differ and how we pick.
What directional boring is
Directional boring (horizontal directional drilling, or HDD) installs conduit and pipe underground without digging an open trench along the whole route. A steerable drill head bores a path from an entry pit to an exit pit, then the conduit is pulled back through in a single run. The surface above the bore stays intact.
What open-cut trenching is
Open-cut trenching digs a continuous trench along the route, lays the line, then backfills and compacts. It is straightforward and can be cheaper for short, shallow runs in open ground, but it disturbs everything on the surface along the way.
When we bore
Driveways, roads, sidewalks, finished lawns, and any crossing where cutting the surface would be expensive to put back. Boring means no road closure for most crossings and only two small pits to restore.
When trenching still makes sense
Long open runs in bare ground, very shallow utilities, and tie-ins where the trench has to be open anyway. On those jobs an open cut can be the faster, lower-cost choice.