Pole & Post Holes · Kitchener
Pole and Post Holes by Hydrovac in Kitchener
An auger does not care what is in the ground. When the locate shows a joint-use trench a metre inside the lot line, the posts along that line are a hydrovac job.
Most post holes in Kitchener are dug with an auger, and most of the time that is fine. The hydrovac truck is for the holes where it is not: along a rear lot line where the locate shows gas, hydro and telecom in a shared trench, beside a house wall where the services enter, at a sidewalk where a sign base or a lighting pole has to go in over a duct bank, or anywhere the ground is full of roots, rubble or frozen clay that an auger will only skate across. The water cuts a hole to the diameter and depth asked for, the vacuum removes the spoil, and the service beside it is never touched.
Who books this
- Fence contractors working the new subdivisions in Doon South, Huron Park and around Huron Road, where a full day of rear-lot-line holes sits within the locate tolerance zone of new services. A hydrovac day replaces a day of hand digging beside every mark.
- Deck, pergola and pool enclosure installers, where footings go in tight to the house, the gas meter or the pool equipment pad.
- Utilities and electrical contractors for hydro, telecom and street-lighting pole holes in the boulevard, where the hole is deep, the ground is congested and the City work permit and the locate both apply.
- Sign and municipal contractors for sign bases, bollards and bike rack footings in sidewalks downtown.
- Homeowners replacing a fence or building a deck on an older lot where nobody is sure what is under the grass.
What to expect on the day
Posts are laid out and marked before the truck arrives, by the contractor or with us on a homeowner job. The truck parks on the street or driveway and the hose runs to the line. Each hole is cut to the agreed diameter and depth, typically checked with a rod, and the spoil goes to the debris tank. Holes can be left open for the installer to set posts the same day, or temporarily covered. Where holes are not being used immediately, they are backfilled with clean granular material. On a new-build lot the finished grade around each hole matches the lot-grading plan rather than leaving a soft spot in the swale.
Depth and frost
Fence and deck footings in this region need to go below the depth frost reaches, and the Ontario Building Code requires footings to extend below frost penetration. The depth that applies to your lot is confirmed with the City of Kitchener's building division rather than taken from a website, and the holes are cut to that depth. Hydrovac has an advantage here in that it cuts frozen ground an auger cannot, which is why winter fence repairs and pole replacements come to it.
What sets the quote
Number of holes, diameter and depth, soil type, access and hose run, and whether the holes are on the boulevard and need a permit. Clay produces more slurry per hole than sand, so a day in the south end fills the tank faster than the same count in a sandier area, and disposal loads are part of the price.
Frequently asked questions
How many post holes can you dig in a day?
It depends on depth, diameter and soil. In graded clay with services close by, a typical fence job of thirty to fifty holes at footing depth is a day's work including disposal runs. Sandy or loose ground is faster; frozen ground is slower. The quote states the count the price is based on.
Can the fence contractor set the posts the same day?
Yes, that is the usual arrangement. The holes are cut in the order the installer wants them, left open and marked, and the posts and concrete go in behind the truck. Coordinating the two crews for the same day is the cheapest way to do it.
Can you dig a hole right beside a gas meter?
Yes, that is exactly the kind of hole hydrovac is for. The service to the meter is exposed first so its route is known, then the footing hole is cut beside it. The locate is required, and the gas utility's own requirements for work near its service are followed.
Serving Kitchener and surrounding areas. Contact us for a no-obligation quote specific to your property.