Start with the failure or objective
What should the first site visit settle?
Drainage excavation works only when the collection point, pipe slope, outlet and receiving condition are coordinated. The trench is one part of a system that may include basins, solid pipe, perforated pipe, aggregate and surface grading.
For a drainage & french drain excavation project in Pomona, the useful outcome of the first visit is a defined repair or construction boundary—not just a verbal unit price. Access, neighboring improvements, site operations, drainage and the handoff to other trades should be visible in the written scope.
Ask the estimator to label assumptions and exclusions. A number that omits preparation, disposal, permits, testing, traffic phasing or restoration is not directly comparable to a complete proposal.
