Project Overview
About This Project
NorthPoint Equipment Rentals provided excavator rental to a residential construction crew in Concord, NH for a full basement foundation and site utility installation. The five-day project required deep excavation through mixed glacial till and gravel on a lot with a tight setback on three sides.
Rather than purchasing a $120,000+ machine for a single project, the contractor rented NorthPoint’s Kubota KX080 — a 17,000 lb mid-size track excavator with 18-foot dig depth capability. The machine was delivered to the Concord site from NorthPoint’s Hooksett location, fueled, inspected, and ready to work on day one.
The Challenge
What the Job Demanded
The Concord site presented three compounding challenges that ruled out smaller excavator options:
Excavation depth: The full basement spec called for 9 feet of depth across a 2,400 square foot footprint — requiring a machine with substantial breakout force and long-arm reach. Mixed soil conditions: The site had loamy topsoil transitioning to dense glacial till and cobble at 4–5 feet, requiring a machine with enough hydraulic power to push through without stalling. Tight setbacks: Three of four lot sides had setbacks under 10 feet, limiting swing radius and requiring precise operator control throughout the dig.
The contractor’s alternative was a compact excavator that would have required 2–3 additional days and potentially a second machine for the deeper cobble zones — adding cost and delaying the concrete crew already scheduled for day six.
The Solution
Equipment Deployed
NorthPoint matched the project specifications to the Kubota KX080 — a 17,050 lb compact track excavator with 18-foot maximum dig depth and best-in-class breakout force for the mid-size class. The machine gave the crew everything the job required in a single unit.
Mid-size compact track excavator for residential and light commercial foundation work. Sufficient breakout force to push through dense glacial till and cobble without stalling. Compact enough to work within tight residential setbacks while delivering full-size excavation performance. Ideal for full basement digs, septic system installation, utility trenching, and pond excavation across New Hampshire terrain types.
Implementation Timeline
5-Day Foundation Excavation
NorthPoint delivered the KX080 the evening before day one so the crew could start at 7:30am. The timeline was built around the concrete crew’s day-six arrival.
KX080 delivered to Concord site by NorthPoint Hooksett (8 miles). Operator walk-through completed. Topsoil stripping and rough excavation began — 4 feet depth achieved across full footprint by end of day.
Deeper excavation through glacial till and cobble zones. KX080's 13,183 lbf bucket breakout force handled the dense material without stalling. 9-foot target depth achieved across full 2,400 sq ft footprint.
Utility trenches excavated for water, sewer, and electrical conduit runs. Bucket swapped for narrow trench bucket — same machine, attachment change took 15 minutes. All trenches completed to spec.
Final grading of excavation floor, perimeter drainage channel cut, and machine cleaned for return. Concrete crew pre-inspected site end of day — approved for day-six form installation. KX080 picked up by NorthPoint.
Results
What Was Achieved
The project completed on schedule, within budget, and with zero change orders. The contractor’s concrete crew arrived on day six to a site fully ready for form installation — no delays, no surprises.
NorthPoint matched us with exactly the right machine for the Concord job. The KX080 handled the cobble zones that would have stopped a smaller machine cold. Delivered the night before, picked up when we were done — couldn't ask for more.
Brian C. — Residential Contractor, Concord, NH
Key Takeaways
What This Project Demonstrates
This project illustrates why renting the right-sized excavator from NorthPoint consistently outperforms both undersized machine selection and ownership for project-specific excavation work.