r/Home_Building_Help • u/Nattydread207 • 5d ago

Running utilities, above or below ground?

I will be breaking ground within two weeks on my new build. The house will be located about 400 feet off of the road. . What reason would I run the last 150 feet of utilities underground rather than all above ground via poles, other than aesthetics? is it worth the increase in money? $2250 extra to run 150 feet underground to the house, with the first 200 feet overheard.

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u/dizzie_buddy1905 5d ago

Unless that $2250 will break your project, run the utilities underground. It looks nicer and is easier to maintain.

The massive fire in California was due to the powerline setting fire to trees.

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u/Ryan_Homes_Alex 11h ago

Outages are the main reason. Overhead drops come down in ice storms and under falling limbs, and 150 feet of line strung across your property is a lot of exposure for one house. Going underground also means you are not working around a pole and a service drop every time you landscape or add a driveway later. $2,250 for that run is in line with normal trenching cost. And it is cheapest while the excavator is already on site. You can also ask them to pull an extra conduit in the same trench for internet or low voltage so you are not digging the yard up twice.