The easier way to find buried sprinkler lines is to use the plan from the professionals who installed the system. If you don’t have professional plans, listen for running water on your lawn when you turn on the system. You may also spot wet areas, giving you an idea of where the heads are. Once you find the sprinkler heads, you’ll likely be able to connect the dots between them, revealing the system below.

Professional installers often include a deep layer of crushed gravel under permeable pavers to allow more runoff to soak through into the soil below. Many installations will include multiple layers of gravel, with coarser aggregate at the base and finer aggregate that sits on top of that bottom layer. Above the gravel, you’ll often find coarse sand that helps reduce paver shifting over time. Some permeable paver designs include a water collection system set into the gravel layer to route runoff to a safe area for disposal.

The average cost for pool excavation is $2,500. This cost can range from $450 to $4,500, depending on the pool shape and size, time of year, and any need to move buried utilities. 

When excavating for your pool, you might have to move existing utilities. You can expect to pay an additional $15 to $25 per linear foot to move gas lines. To move a septic system, it’ll cost an additional $2,000 to $20,000. A pool that is 10 feet by 12 feet averages $450 to excavate, and a 20-foot-by-40-foot pool averages $3,020.

The best type of soil to build on is a mixture of sand and clay, known as loam soil. Loam soil has the best combination of these soil types to build a foundation on. The clay particles help with water retention, so it won’t erode like sandy soil might, and the sandy particles help with drainage, so you won’t see unsafe soil expansion or have an increased risk of leaks from water sitting against your foundation.