Executing site preps or excavations in established residential neighborhoods like Braelawn Drive in Burnaby demands absolute control over noise, ground vibration, and footprint. When large, deeply embedded boulders were uncovered during excavation, bringing in heavy hydraulic impact hammers posed a significant risk of shaking neighboring home foundations and disturbing surrounding residential property.
The Rockbusters team was brought in to deliver a low-vibration, highly surgical rock-splitting operation to keep the project moving forward without compromising the surrounding neighborhood.
Project Breakdown
- Location: Braelawn Drive, Burnaby, BC
- Scope: Controlled breaking and clearance of embedded oversized boulders on a residential lot
- Timeline: Completed in 1 day
- Crew: 2-man specialist crew
- Equipment & Technique: Pneumatic rock drills and high-force pneumatic rock splitters
The Challenge & Solution
Massive embedded boulders in residential zones present a delicate balance. Heavy hoe-ramming generates extreme ground vibrations, high decibel levels, and the risk of flying debris in tight suburban spaces.
Our 2-man crew executed a clean, non-explosive mechanical splitting strategy:
- Strategic Relief Drilling: Using precision pneumatic rock drills, the team drilled calculated insertion holes directly along the natural stress lines of the embedded boulders.
- Pneumatic Splitting: High-pressure pneumatic splitters were inserted into the relief holes, applying thousands of pounds of directional outward force to shear the granite cleanly—with zero seismic shockwaves.
- Site Clearing: The reduced rock fragments were systematically cleared and prepped for site grading, leaving a clean footprint for the next stage of construction.
In just 1 single day, the site was completely cleared of rock obstructions with zero structural impact or noise complaints from the neighborhood.
Facing stubborn boulders or bedrock on a residential site?