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We dig trenches and lay ESB and utility ducting for new connections, extensions, rewires and site services across Dublin and surrounding counties. Backfill, reinstatement and road opening licence work are all part of the job.
At a glance
Trenching and ESB ducting is the job of digging a trench, laying the duct or ducting run, backfilling properly, and reinstating the surface so the site looks as it did before we arrived. It covers new ESB connections to houses and extensions, rewires, and site services where a duct needs to go in the ground. We handle road opening licence work too, for any trench that crosses a public road or footpath. Every job is quoted in writing before work starts.
What varies most between jobs is the surface you're cutting through. A trench across a back garden is a different operation from one crossing a tarmac driveway or a concrete footpath, and the reinstatement method changes accordingly. Depth matters too: a shallow duct run for a domestic rewire is straightforward, while a deeper trench for site services is a bigger dig with more to reinstate. We assess the ground conditions before we start, so nothing about the reinstatement catches us off guard.
Safe Pass and CSCS excavator tickets
Our team holds the required tickets for machine excavation on Irish construction sites.
Licensed waste carrier removes all spoil
Excavated material leaves the site with a licensed carrier, so disposal is fully covered.
Road opening licences applied for per job
We handle the local authority paperwork ourselves when a trench crosses a public road or footpath.
Same crew as all Dylex groundworks
The team that does ESB ducting is the one that does our drainage excavation and civils.
Need a trench dug for a new ESB connection
New ESB connections to houses and extensions require a ducted trench from the meter position to the supply point. We dig, lay the duct, backfill and reinstate, and deal with the road opening licence if the trench crosses the footpath.
Rewire or extension needs underground ducting
Electricians often need ducting in the ground before they can complete a rewire or extension. We provide the trench and duct as a standalone job, coordinating access with your electrician so the project keeps moving.
Trench crosses a public road or footpath
Any cut into a public road or footpath legally requires a road opening licence from the local authority. We apply for it per job, so you know the work is covered and the council is notified before the ground opens.
Site services ducting for a new build or development
Larger sites often need multiple duct runs for power, telecoms and other services. We lay them as one job and reinstate the surfaces properly.
Driveway or garden left in poor condition after a previous dig
Poor reinstatement after a trench is a common complaint. We backfill, compact and match the surface material, whether it's tarmac, block paving, concrete or topsoil, so the finished job is tidy.
Our team holds Safe Pass and CSCS excavator tickets for machine work, so machine excavation is done by our own crew. Spoil is removed by a licensed waste carrier at the end of the job, not left on your driveway. Where a trench crosses a public road or footpath, we apply for the road opening licence from the local authority ourselves, per job, so you don't have to chase it. We're the same crew that handles all of Dylex's drainage excavation and civils & groundworks.
Most customers ask two things before booking: how long will the ground be open, and what will the surface look like afterwards? Backfill and reinstatement are part of the job, not an add-on, and the written quote says how long the ground will be open. If you need drain mapping or a CCTV drain survey as part of the same project, we can coordinate both. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation written quote.
Homeowners and self-builders
New ESB connections, rewires and extensions all require underground ducting. We handle the full trench and reinstatement so your electrician can get on with the connection.
Contractors and developers
Site services on new builds and larger developments need a reliable groundworks crew with the right tickets. Our CSCS and Safe Pass-qualified team removes spoil through a licensed carrier.
Property managers and landlords
Upgrading power supplies or running new services to outbuildings and rental units often requires a fresh duct run. We quote each job in writing, work cleanly, and leave the surface reinstated.
Written quote before work starts
Every job is priced individually on its surface, depth and route, free and without obligation.
Machine excavation of the trench
Machine excavation where access allows, hand dig where it does not.
Duct or ducting run laid
ESB, telecoms or utility ducting laid in the trench.
Backfill and compaction
Backfilled and compacted before the surface goes back.
Surface reinstatement
Tarmac, block paving, concrete or topsoil matched and finished.
Spoil removal by a licensed waste carrier
All excavated material is removed from site. We do not leave spoil for the customer to dispose of.
Road opening licence application where required
Where the trench affects a public road or footpath, we apply for the licence from the local authority as part of the job.
Quote
We assess the route, surface type, depth required and any road opening licence need before pricing the job.
Licence application if needed
Where the trench crosses a public footpath or road, we apply to the local authority before work starts.
Excavation and duct laying
We open the trench and lay the ducting.
Backfill and compaction
The trench is backfilled and compacted before the surface goes back.
Reinstatement and spoil removal
The surface is reinstated to match the surrounding area, and all excavated spoil leaves the site with a licensed carrier.
Coverage
We cover Meath, Wicklow, Dublin and Kildare. Fast response times across every area listed here.
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01
Full drainage civils capability for excavation, pipe replacement, duct laying and reinstatement across Dublin and surrounding counties. Quoted after a CCTV survey, never over the phone.
02
We produce accurate maps of your underground drainage system using CCTV cameras with GPS equipment, providing pipe locations, depths, materials and flow directions in detailed CAD drawings.
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We use waterproof cameras to inspect your drains from the inside, identifying blockages, cracks, root damage and collapsed pipes without any digging. You get a full written report and video footage.
If the trench crosses a public road, footpath or verge, a road opening licence is legally required from the local authority. We apply for it ourselves as part of the job, so you don't have to deal with the council paperwork. Jobs entirely on private property don't need one.
Yes. If you're also having drainage work, a CCTV survey or groundworks done, we can coordinate the visits so the ground is only opened once. It's worth planning this upfront so the trench route doesn't conflict with any existing buried services.
It depends on the route, the surface and whether a road opening licence is needed, so we say how long the ground will be open in the written quote. A licence job waits on the local authority before it can start.
We reinstate the surface to match the surrounding material, whether that's tarmac, block paving, concrete or topsoil. Excavated spoil is removed by a licensed carrier, so there's nothing left behind for you to deal with.
The cost depends on surface type, trench depth, route length and whether a road opening licence is needed, so we quote each job individually. You get a free, no-obligation fixed written quote before any work starts.
Yes. We provide the trench and laid ducting as a groundworks job. The electrical connection itself is the electrician's work. We're happy to coordinate timing with your electrician so the duct is ready when they need it.
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