Utility contractors frequently grind asphalt to different depths in utility trench. They often use an asphalt grinder or cold planer for this. This allows them to insert temporary trench plates level with the pavement surface.
Companies commonly use a skid steer milling attachment or cold planer attachment for utility trench plate recessing. Generally, a skid steer grinder is less expensive and easier to transport. Unfortunately, skid steer grinders struggle to produce precise and even milling depths.
Using a larger asphalt grinder is a cost effective solution for many projects. An asphalt grinder or milling machine will produce a consistent and smooth asphalt milling depth. This allows the trench plate to lie flush with the road surface.
An asphalt grinding machine also completes the process of removing asphalt from a utility trench much quicker. For example, you can complete a utility trench project that used to take 4-6 hours in one hour or less.
It is challenging to decide which equipment to use for your pipe trench or utility trench project. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between an asphalt grinder or cold planer or a skid steer grinder.
Consistent Asphalt Milling Depth
An asphalt grinder or cold planer produces a more consistent asphalt milling depth. This is true whether you need full depth removal or just a few inches for a recessed trench plate. A smaller skid steer asphalt grinder produces less consistent asphalt cutting depth results. Recessed trench plates needs to lie flush with the asphalt surface for driving stability.
An asphalt grinder has an infinitely adjustable milling depth from 0 to 12 inches. This allows for precision depths in the asphalt milling process and flat recessed steel plates. Utility contractors may have difficulty meeting project specs without using an asphalt grinder or cold planer.
Utility Trenching Speed
A smaller skid steer asphalt grinder or cold planer may be able handle asphalt grinding. However, it will take much longer to complete the asphalt removal. An asphalt grinding machine or cold planer grinds the asphalt much more quickly.
In fact, an asphalt grinder can complete the same asphalt removal 20 times faster than a skid-steer milling attachment. A smaller skid steer asphalt grinder attachment may be too slow to complete a longer pipe installation project on time.
Ease of Transport
A skid steer grinder is smaller and easier to transport and handle on the job site. A larger asphalt grinder or cold planer may require additional equipment and special transportation.
There are asphalt grinding attachments on the market that are easy to transport. These asphalt milling machines are portable, and you can pull them behind a pickup truck on their own trailer. They easily attach to a backhoe or loader, providing the power of a larger cold planer but with more versatile transportation.
Size and Frequency of Utility Projects
For a smaller utility trench project, less precise cutting depths and slower asphalt removal may not be a problem. This may prevent you from purchasing an asphalt grinder or cold planer.
If you are completing a bigger pipe trench project, time savings and greater asphalt milling precision make a big difference. From a budget standpoint, this could justify the benefits of asphalt milling with an asphalt grinder or asphalt milling machine. You take minutes to grind utility trench where you used to take hours. This allows you to complete bigger utility projects and more utility trench projects at the same time.
Equipment Flexibility
An asphalt grinder or cold planer can do more than just trench plate recessing. You can use asphalt grinding machines instead of saw cutting for longer utility trench projects.
With an asphalt grinder you can also do pavement milling of existing asphalt with parking lot repair and pothole repair. You can also use it for full depth reclamation and road base stabilization projects. Keep your machine busy on a variety of projects, all with quicker completion times and more precise asphalt milling.
Should I Use an Asphalt Grinder or a Skid Steer Milling Attachment for my Utility Trench Project?
That depends on what you need in terms of pipe trench completion time and precision of asphalt milling depths. If you need precise milling depths, an asphalt grinder is a must for recessing trench plates.
You should also be thinking about equipment transportation. A smaller skid-steer attachment is easier to transport. However, you can also pull some asphalt grinders and cold planers behind a pickup truck.
Finally, you should consider the potential for projects beyond utility trenching. Could you use your asphalt grinder for more than asphalt removal on a utility trench? Because of its job flexibility, an asphalt grinder or cold planer may pay off on other projects as well.