The depth of a trench depends on its purpose. Call 811, the national call-before-you-dig number, or visit the Common Ground Alliance website to check local regulations before digging. For example, I have a client that wanted to pass through national forest roads to connect two parts of a fiber network. Find hiring guides, material costs, expert advice, how-to's and more. Anderson Underground uses boring, cable plowing, and trenching to work on projects such as electric distribution and alternative energy. If budgeting is the biggest concern for you, its probably best to go with trenching. The cost to dig a trench in this scenario is around $2,400. For smaller jobs, good, old-fashioned shovels and spades will do the job and only cost $12 to $100 each. Directional boring vs. Trenching - Quality Directional Boring Larger diameter bores cost more. Some states require a 30 minimum depth instead. This system features a flush grate surface in the ditch to rapidly redirect water and stop it pooling on the driveway. Residential trenches are 12 to 24 deep on average, depending on the purpose: Electrical wire must be buried at least 12 deep if housed in a rigid non-metallic conduit and 18 deep if housed in a weatherproof casing. Electrical trenching for underground service typically costs more in densely populated urban areas. Here are some things to know about directional boring. Auger boring may not be the most practical method when line and grade are important. The cost to dig a trench in this scenario is around $2,400. Several home projects require electrical trenching: Surveillance camera: Installing a security system costs about $1,400. Jeremy Moore, owner of Lighthouse Electrical Designs, gives a crash course on what you need to know about your homes electrical work. Plastic pipe ties easily into older systems. Also available in Spanish. They say it'll cost $800 per 100 linear feet, and the job needs 300 linear feet of trenching. Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles, sonsam / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images. Boring is done using a surface-launched cutting tool. Directional boring contractors dont need to worry about these limitations. Well pump replacement costs $540 to $1,850. Soil conditions / obstructions Directional drilling costs increase if the operator encounters obstructions below the surface. Set Project Zip Code Enter the Zip Code for the location where labor is hired and materials purchased. And finally, the weather can adversely affect trenching as well. Electricians charge $50 to $130 per hour on average. Other plumbing projects that require trenching include: Sprinkler system installation costs $1,800 to $5,200 on average or $500 to $1,000 per zone. After the utility lines are installed, these trenches are filled back in with soil. Underground directional boring or horizontal directional drilling prices depend on the location and ground conditions.