Drilling & boring
Horizontal boring contractors
Horizontal boring covers every method that puts a pipe or casing through the ground sideways instead of digging down to it. Here is how the methods differ and which one your crossing needs.
Three methods under one name
Horizontal boring is the family name. Within it are three methods a contractor might propose. Horizontal directional drilling uses a steerable, fluid-assisted bore and suits curved paths, long runs and flexible or jointed pipe. Auger boring pushes a steel casing on a straight line and grade with a rotating auger removing spoil inside it, and suits short, straight crossings where exact grade matters, such as gravity sewer and road culverts. Pneumatic piercing drives a missile-shaped tool through compacted soil for short, small-diameter service lines under a sidewalk or driveway.
Picking the right one
Length and grade decide most of it. A 60-foot gas service under a driveway may be pierced in an afternoon. A 400-foot fiber run under a county road and two side streets is a directional bore. A 90-foot gravity sewer crossing under a highway that must hold 0.5 percent fall is an auger bore with a steel casing and a carrier pipe set on spacers inside it. Soil overrides all of this: cobbles and boulders defeat piercing tools and challenge HDD, and running sand can collapse an unsupported auger bore without a casing advancing with it.
What a horizontal boring crew brings
Beyond the rig, the crew brings the locating equipment that tracks the bore head, the fluid system or auger train, the pits and shoring, traffic control for work in the right-of-way, and the permits. The experienced ones also bring local knowledge of the ground, which is what keeps a bore from drifting into rock, an old foundation or an unmarked line.
Costs and what changes them
Boring is priced by the finished crossing more than by the foot. The ground, the diameter, the depth the permit forces, and the traffic control the road requires drive the number. Auger boring with casing costs more per foot than HDD but is the only answer where grade is critical. Ask for the quote broken out so the comparison is honest.
Who covers your area
Horizontal boring contractors are listed here by state and city. Across the Southeast the listed contractor is Davis Underground Solutions; elsewhere the national line connects you to a boring contractor working your area. Estimates are free.
Estimates are free. Call now: (855) 804-1434 — or pick your state below to reach the contractor covering your area.
Find a horizontal boring contractor by state
Other drilling and boring services
Directional Drilling
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for new underground utilities: steered bores under roads, driveways, parking lots, creeks and landscaping with no open trench.
Auger Boring
Steel-cased auger bores for road, rail and railroad crossings that need a straight, on-grade casing.
Pipe Boring
Boring and pulling in HDPE or steel product pipe from a few inches up to large-diameter casings.
Fiber Optic Drilling
Directional drilling for fiber and communications duct: long bores, multiple ducts in one pull, tight easements.
Electrical Conduit Drilling
Bores for primary and secondary power conduit, lighting circuits and site electrical feeds.
Utility Drilling
Multi-utility installs for developers and utilities: power, gas, water, sewer and telecom on one site plan.
Sewer Line Drilling
Directional drilling and boring for new gravity-adjusted force mains, laterals and sewer crossings.
Water Main Drilling
HDD installation of new water mains and service lines, including creek and road crossings.
Gas Line Drilling
Bores for new natural gas mains and services, coordinated with the utility and its operator-qualification rules.
Questions about horizontal boring
What is the difference between horizontal boring and directional drilling?+
Directional drilling is one kind of horizontal boring: a steered, fluid-assisted bore. Horizontal boring also includes auger boring with a casing and pneumatic piercing for short service lines. Contractors choose by length, grade and soil.
How much does horizontal boring cost?+
Small service bores under a driveway run a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Utility bores under roads are commonly priced per foot with permits, traffic control and mobilization itemized, and the ground and diameter move the number more than anything else. A free estimate from the listed contractor is the only reliable way to price your crossing.
Can a horizontal bore hold a slope for gravity sewer?+
Auger boring can, because the casing is pushed on a fixed line and grade. Directional drilling can hold a gentle slope on shorter bores with careful steering, but for critical grades a cased auger bore is the standard answer.
How close to other utilities can a bore pass?+
Most utilities and permits require a minimum clearance, often 12 to 24 inches, and more near high-pressure gas or transmission lines. The bore plan shows the clearances, and potholing to expose the existing line at the crossing is common practice when the records are uncertain.
Who handles traffic control for a road bore?+
The contractor, under the permit's traffic-control plan. For a state highway crossing the DOT may require certified flaggers, lane-closure devices and work-hour limits; the quote should include or itemize them.