Building project tips to ensure a successful and smooth build

(BPT) - Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion, recently started a huge project: building a race shop for his cars and equipment from the ground up. After deciding to build his own shop, Logano purchased a piece of land and started digging. The massive undertaking brought with it its own trials and learnings, but in the end, Logano took measures to build safely and securely. The project resulted in an impressive race shop that will be used for years to come.

From planning the build and clearing the ground for digging, to physically installing the foundation and power lines, Logano has a fair share of tips to share for anyone looking to plan their own digging project at home.

Define success as a team

An important component to any digging project is defining what success looks like, and making sure everyone working on the project is on the same page. This will help keep your digging project under budget and efficient. Take your time to do things right and achieve your goals.

“Building projects, like racing, are often a team effort,” says Logano. “Identifying goals to achieve along with your team is an important step. With my race shop, we took the time to meticulously plan out and establish what we wanted to accomplish, the same way we game plan for a race and set goals ahead of time.”

Digging and building projects are a lot of work, but when you get your whole team working toward the same goal, you can make sure your building project is a safe and successful experience.

Call 811 before you dig

There is a complex network of pipelines, wires and cables buried underground. Unintentionally striking a line can result in inconvenient outages for entire neighborhoods, harm to yourself or your neighbors, and repair costs. For this reason, it’s important to call 811 before doing any digging.

A quick and easy call to 811 will connect you with a local One Call Center operator who will take down information about your dig location and notify all appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig. Then, the underground facility operators will contact you so they can mark the approximate location of underground utilities such as natural gas and oil pipelines below your project. Once the lines are marked, you can begin to dig, but always dig with care.

“Whenever I’m having anything done or any new projects going that require any sort of digging, I always make it a point to make sure that I or the guys that are working give 811 a call,” says Logano. “Just like we make sure our car is running well every single time we hit the track, it’s key to call 811 and make sure the digging you’re doing goes off smoothly and safely – whether you’re building a race shop or planting shrubs, calling 811 is really important.”

Failing to plan is planning to fail

Before so much as picking up a shovel, make sure your entire project is planned out. A structurally sound design, the correct building materials, and proper funding are all things that cannot be overlooked under any circumstances. Seemingly small details are the difference between a successful and failed project.

“No matter what you’re doing, whether you’re driving a race car or building a race shop, if you don’t adequately prepare, you’re going to be in trouble,” says Logano. “I took a long time to get started on my race shop as I was consulting with professionals, looking over plans and just making sure we were ready to go in general. Preparation is the key to success, no matter what, and building the race shop was no different.”

By making use of these tips, you are more likely to have a successful digging project.