Trenching
Whether you're burying a line to an outbuilding or running water out to a new well, trenching needs to be done at the right depth and with minimal disruption to the rest of your property. We dig it clean, to spec, and get it backfilled properly.
ERE Excavation | 233119 Co Rd F, Abbotsford, WI 54405 | (715) 613-0011
Trenching Services We Offer
Electrical Line Burial
Trenching for buried electrical lines to outbuildings, shops, or secondary structures, done to the depth and clearance the job calls for.
Water Line Burial
Trenching for water lines run to wells, outbuildings, or new hookups, dug below frost depth so lines don't freeze through a Wisconsin winter.
Outdoor Wood Heater Line Burial
Burying supply lines for outdoor wood furnaces so they're protected and out of the way year-round.
Sump Line Burial
Running sump discharge lines away from the foundation and underground instead of leaving them exposed above grade, where they're prone to freezing and cracking.
Irrigation & Other Utility Trenching
Trenching for irrigation lines and other buried utility runs as a project requires.
Our Trenching Process
811 locate request
Route planning
Trenching
Backfill and compaction
Surface restoration
Why Depth Matters for Wisconsin Utility Trenching
Central Wisconsin's frost depth typically runs 42-48 inches, and any water line or utility that can freeze needs to sit below that line — a water line buried too shallow will freeze solid the first hard winter, and a frozen line that bursts is a far more expensive fix than digging deeper the first time. Electrical lines have their own code-required depth and clearance standards depending on voltage and conduit type. We dig to the standard the specific utility requires, not a one-size-depth for every trench.
Common Questions About Trenching
How deep do utility lines need to be buried in Wisconsin?
Required depth varies by utility type and local code — water lines generally need to sit below the local frost depth (roughly 42-48 inches in this region), while electrical, gas, and other lines each have their own code-required depths. We dig to the applicable depth for the specific line.
Do you call for utility locates before digging?
Yes, existing underground utilities are located before any trenching begins, without exception.
Can you trench around existing landscaping?
In most cases, yes — we can route trenches to minimize disruption, though some disturbance along the trench line is unavoidable.
Do you install the electrical or water line, or just dig the trench?
We handle the excavation and trenching; we typically coordinate with your electrician, plumber, or the relevant trade for the actual line installation unless otherwise arranged.
How long does a typical trenching job take?
It depends on length and depth required, but most residential trenching jobs (a single run to an outbuilding, for example) take less than a day once locates have cleared.
Will trenching leave a visible scar across my yard?
Immediately after, yes — but we backfill, compact, and regrade the area, and it typically blends back in as grass fills back in over one to two growing seasons.