Underground Utility FAQs

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a trenchless method of installing underground utilities such as water lines, gas lines, electric cables, fiber optics, and conduit. A specialized drill rig bores a pilot hole underground along a planned path, then pulls the utility line or pipe back through the bore.

This method avoids the need for open-cut trenching, which means less disruption to your yard, driveway, landscaping, and existing structures. At Sloan Underground Construction, HDD has been our primary method of installation since 1965 — four generations of family expertise — and it's what makes us "The Boring Guys."

We install a wide range of underground utilities, including water lines (new installation and replacement), natural gas lines (residential and commercial), electric lines and power conduit, fiber optic cables, telecommunications conduit, sewer and drainage lines, and irrigation lines.

Whether you need a single residential water line or a large-scale commercial conduit run, Sloan Underground Construction has the equipment and expertise to handle it. As we like to say — if it needs buried, we can bury it.

Trenchless technology refers to a family of methods for installing or replacing underground utilities without digging large open trenches. Horizontal directional drilling is the most common trenchless method we use at Sloan Underground Construction.

Trenchless beats traditional trenching on four fronts: less disruption (your yard, driveway, and landscaping stay intact), faster completion (most projects finish in a single day), lower restoration costs (no torn-up lawns, sidewalks, or driveways to repair), and reduced risk of damaging other underground utilities during installation.

One of the biggest advantages of directional drilling is that it causes minimal surface disruption. Unlike traditional trenching, which requires digging an open trench across your entire property, HDD only requires small entry and exit pits at each end of the bore.

Your lawn, landscaping, driveway, and other structures remain largely untouched. We take great care to leave your property looking as good — or better — than when we arrived.

Absolutely. Boring under driveways, roads, parking lots, and other hardscaped surfaces is one of the primary advantages of horizontal directional drilling. Instead of cutting through concrete or asphalt and then spending additional money on patching and repair, we bore directly underneath the surface without disturbing it at all.

This saves significant time and money, avoids unsightly repairs, and is one of the most common reasons homeowners and businesses choose our services. Our Ditch Witch JT-5, JT-520, and JT-2020 equipment is specifically designed for this kind of precision work in all soil types — including under slabs and crawl spaces.

The cost of underground boring varies depending on several factors: the length and depth of the bore, the type of utility being installed, soil and ground conditions at your site, the diameter of the pipe or conduit being installed, and whether the bore crosses under obstacles like roads, driveways, or waterways.

Residential HDD bores typically start around $1,500–$3,500 for short driveway crossings. Longer bores, commercial runs, or bores through rockier terrain scale to $4,000–$20,000+. Because every project is different, we provide free, no-obligation estimates tailored to your specific needs.

Yes, we provide completely free, no-obligation estimates for every project — same-day quotes available. We've been in business since 1965, and we believe in straightforward, honest pricing with no surprises. Licensed, insured, and bonded.

Give us a call at (864) 386-1649 or fill out the contact form on our website. For more complex projects, we may schedule a site visit to evaluate conditions before finalizing the estimate.

Most residential boring projects can be completed in a single day. A standard water line or gas line bore for a home typically takes just a few hours from setup to cleanup — often 4 to 8 hours total.

Larger commercial projects or longer bore runs may take two to three days depending on the complexity, soil conditions, and total length of the bore. We'll give you a clear timeline during the estimate process so you know exactly what to expect.

Our equipment can bore at varying depths depending on project requirements. Most residential utility installations are bored at depths of 3 to 6 feet, which is standard for water lines, gas lines, and electric conduit.

For projects that require deeper bores — such as crossing under roads, creeks, or other obstacles — we can adjust the bore path to reach the necessary depth. Our fleet of Ditch Witch JT-5, JT-520, and JT-2020 directional drills gives us the power and precision to handle deeper installations in all soil types when needed.

To help us get started quickly and work efficiently, here's what we recommend before our crew arrives: clear the work area (move lawn furniture, garden decorations, vehicles away from entry and exit points), ensure equipment access (room for our drill rig, support truck, and crew), secure pets (keep dogs and other animals safely away from the work zone), and let us know about hidden utilities (underground sprinkler systems, invisible fences, or other non-standard features).

We handle calling 811 to locate all standard underground utilities before we start, so you don't need to worry about that part.

Getting started is easy. Contact us by phone at (864) 386-1649 or via our contact page. Tell us about your project — what utility you need installed, the approximate distance, and your location. We'll get back to you with a free no-obligation quote, usually within 24 hours.

Once you approve the estimate, we'll get you on the schedule. The Boring Guys show up on time, get the job done right, and leave your property clean.

Permit requirements vary by municipality and the type of utility being installed. In most cases, permits are required for water, gas, and electric line installations. Some jurisdictions also require permits for conduit or fiber optic runs.

We help guide you through the permit process and let you know what's needed for your specific project and location. We also coordinate with 811 (Call Before You Dig) before every job to have all existing underground utilities located and marked, ensuring a safe installation.

The Boring Guys have been serving communities across the Carolinas since 1965 — four generations family-owned, licensed, insured, and bonded. Our primary service areas include Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Newberry, Saluda, Abbeville, Greenwood, Union, Aiken, Lexington, Richland County (Columbia metro) in South Carolina, plus Asheville, NC and surrounding Buncombe County areas.

If you're within our service region, give us a call at (864) 386-1649 or view our complete service area directory to find your city.

Yes, we handle both residential and commercial underground utility projects across the Carolinas. With 60+ years of experience since 1965 and four generations of family ownership, we are licensed, insured, and bonded.

Residential projects commonly include water line installations, gas line runs to the house, underground electric service, and conduit for internet or cable — including bores under slabs and crawl spaces in all soil types. Commercial projects include larger-scale utility installations for contractors, developers, municipalities, and businesses. No matter the scale, the owner is on every job to make sure the work meets our standards.

We use professional-grade Ditch Witch equipment, including the JT-5, JT-520, and JT-2020 directional drills. This full fleet allows us to handle projects of any size — from small residential bores to large-scale commercial installations. Our rigs handle all soil types and bore lengths, including under slabs and crawl spaces.

Our fleet also includes electronic locating and tracking equipment for bore path accuracy, mud mixing systems for drilling fluid management, support vehicles and trailers, and pipe and conduit handling tools. We invest in quality equipment because it means better results and fewer problems on your job site.