Ready to Start your Excavation or Demolition Project? Why You Need to Call 811 First

Planning a project in Delaware County, PA, that involves digging? Whether you’re breaking ground on a major construction site or tackling a backyard improvement, one crucial step should always come first: calling 811. This free service ensures the safety of your property, project, and community by identifying underground utilities before any digging begins.

At Scavo Solutions, located in Aston, PA, we take excavation safety seriously. As OSHA-trained and certified professionals, we bring an unmatched commitment to safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. With certifications like OSHA 10, OSHA 30, and OSHA 3015, our team ensures every project is completed safely and responsibly. In this article, we’ll explore what 811 is, how it works, and how partnering with Scavo Solutions guarantees your excavation or demolition project is a success from the ground up.

What is 811?

811 is a nationwide “call-before-you-dig” service designed to protect people from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines. By calling 811 or visiting your state’s 811 website before you start any digging project, you can request the approximate location of underground utilities to be marked with paint or flags. This helps prevent accidental damage to utility lines like gas, water, electric, and cable. Damaging these lines can disrupt services, lead to costly repairs, and even cause serious injury.

Call Before you Dig

Calling 811 is essential for safety and legal compliance. Utility lines can be just inches below the surface, and even a small project like planting a shrub can lead to hitting one. Contacting 811 not only protects your project but also your neighborhood and community. Damaging an underground line can knock out services for entire blocks, causing delays and additional expenses. Scavo Solutions, as a leading excavation service provider in Aston, PA, always adheres to 811 guidelines, ensuring each project runs safely and smoothly.

When to Call 811?

Before starting any project that involves digging, call 811 at least a few business days ahead. This is important for even small jobs, like:



• Planting trees, shrubs, or gardens
• Installing mailboxes or fences
• Building decks or patios

Each state has specific timing requirements, so check your state’s 811 guidelines to ensure you allow enough time for utility companies to respond and mark the area.

When contacting 811, be ready to provide:

• The exact address where you plan to dig, including the nearest cross street
• The type of project you are doing
• The specific area on the property where digging will occur

You can call 811 or make the request online, and you’ll receive a ticket number and instructions on how much time utilities have to respond.

What Happens After Calling 811?

Once you contact 811, wait for a few business days. Utility companies will send out professionals to mark the approximate location of their lines with colored flags or paint, each color representing a different type of utility. For example, yellow marks gas lines, blue marks water lines, and red marks electric lines. Ensure that all utilities have responded and marked their lines before you begin your project.

• Wait for the markings: Each utility company has a few days to respond. Check that all necessary utilities have marked their lines.
• Confirm the markings: Confirm that all affected utilities have responded by cross-referencing your 811 ticket number and checking the marked areas on your site.
• Respect the markings: Always dig carefully around, not on, the marked lines. Stay clear of flagged areas by at least 18-24 inches on each side, known as the “tolerance zone.”

Once all lines are marked, you can begin digging – but proceed with caution. Even with markers, it’s possible to accidentally damage a shallow line. Always use a hand tool for digging near marked lines, as erosion, shifting soil, or root growth can alter the depth of utility lines.

Why Scavo Solutions Emphasizes Calling 811

At Scavo Solutions, safety is a top priority. We follow 811 protocols on all projects to protect our team, clients, and the community. For any excavation or demolition job, we handle the 811 process to ensure safe, compliant work. By making 811 part of your planning, you’re taking an important step toward a successful and secure project.

Scavo Solutions in Aston, PA, provides professional excavation and demolition services for residential and commercial projects in Delaware County. Contact us today to discuss your project needs, and let us help you navigate the 811 process for a safe start. Visit our website or call us to learn more about how Scavo Solutions can make your project successful, efficient, and safe from start to finish.