Chances are that you are likely in the market for a firm that could take on grading, demolition, clearing, erosion control, stone base, or asphalt paving in the tri-county area. In that case, you are in luck because OL Thompson has established itself as a premier site work construction firm in the Lowcountry. We delve into OL Thompson’s company profile to inform your decision to choose the firm as your site work contractor.

History of OL Thompson

OL Thompson was founded in 1948 by O.L Thompson Jr. in Hanahan, South Carolina. Initially, the company was a small grading and hauling company that took on smaller site contracts. Steadily, the company has grown to take on more significant projects cementing it as one of the largest and most sought-after contracting firms in South Carolina. The core business model and support base have equally evolved to include Thompson Trucking Co., Inc. and various development, material, and management facets.

Notably, while the company has a long tradition of maintaining long-term employees, it is equally committed to bringing in new talent. As part of the continuity plan, management works towards bringing in a steady influx of talent.

As a prospective client, the management in place and the continuity plan presented by the company means that you are assured that no internal turbulence will halt or bring perturbation to your project. Regardless of any changes, you are sure that the project or contract in place stays on course.

In hindsight, the long history translates to a wealth of experience, which you would then be leveraging if you went with OL Thompson as your site work contractor. You are assured that your project will be completed safely and within the agreed-upon time and budget.

Scope of Work

As it pertains to the scope of work, OL Thompson takes contracts on commercial, government, industrial, and residential projects. Seeing as most sites will have to deal with the transport of bulk materials, OL Thompson has within its portfolio up to 100 haulers per day. This means that the company is capable of hauling as much material as you need safely and efficiently. Other than being able to haul large amounts of dirt and debris, the company is well versed in clearing, grubbing, excavation, storm drainage, sanitary sewers, curbing, asphalt paving, and material recycling.

As it pertains to licensing, the company has all the proper paperwork. For starters, the firm has the South Carolina Unlimited Contractor license, which is proof of the company’s commitment to doing things the right way on the first try.

Recent Projects

As part of the firm’s portfolio, the firm was involved in signature projects which stand as some of the most recognizable landmarks in Lowcountry. Some of the projects include The Ravenel Bridge Project, Nucor Steel, Daniel Island Development, North Charleston Coliseum, Boeing, and the Volvo Car Tennis Stadium, among others.

This wealth of experience shows the trust the local community has in the firm. What’s more, these previous projects are evidence of expertise within residential, multifamily, commercial, and industrial projects. Note that while the firm has been involved in a host of mega projects, it still takes on seemingly smaller projects. You can trust that the amount of attention to detail you will find in the bigger projects is what will be replicated when they work with individual entities. Overall, there is evidence of commitment to quality site work regardless of the project’s scope.

Commitment to Safety

Liability is a great cause for concern for anyone considering having a third party on-site for any construction or clean-up work. It is in consideration of this that OL Thompson has safety measures in place to prevent any accidents on site. The company’s mantra is that safety doesn’t happen by accident.

To best understand the firm’s commitment to safety, it would be best first to understand the sheer magnitude of the projects they have been involved in. In total, OL Thompson employees have clocked in 700,000 hours while working with 3,000,000 cubic yards of soil, laying 270,000 tons of stone base and 50,000 tons of asphalt. Additionally, the subcontractors have worked with 90,000 tons of CTB and laid 8 miles of underground storm systems. For all these projects, there hasn’t been even a single lost time accident. When you consider the numbers and the most adverse conditions that the employees work in, this is quite impressive. As a prospective client, this should matter to you as you want a site work contractor that has a zero lost time statistic and one that creates a safe environment for everyone that works at the site. Safety is quite important, seeing as you do not want to have work potentially halted or incur the financial ramifications of having someone get hurt on site.

Concisely, as a site manager or owner, there are a couple of factors to consider when looking for a contractor. You want to find a contractor that has the proper licensing, a contractor insurance policy that covers you from the ramifications when someone gets hurt on-site, and a steady and trained pool of experts. What’s more, you want to find one with a positive reputation and an almost 100% satisfaction rate. Finally, be conscious of how the contractor performs as it pertains to the turnaround time.

It would be best if you considered choosing OL Thompson as your site work contractor in South Carolina based on the firm’s location, the accrued experience, the capabilities of the experts we have on board, and their ability to perform regardless of the scope of the project. Besides, the firm is financially stable with a bonding capability which would mean no financial constraints when working on the site. If you would like more information about the company or a pre-construction or planning budget or value engineering, be sure to contact us.

Asphalt pavements are quite common in the United States. According to the National Asphalt Pavement Association, there are about 18 billion tons of asphalt pavement on roads in the United States. While asphalt is quite durable, it has a limited lifespan like any other material. This is why you need to be able to identify when it’s time to repave. Here are some signs that you need to find asphalt paving companies.

Potholes
Potholes are the main reasons why most people consider repaving their asphalt surfaces. That said, this doesn’t mean that each time you see a pothole you need to eliminate the existing surface and repave it. Sometimes you can get away with simple and cost-effective repairs. You should only consider repaving if the foundation has been affected too. That type of damage won’t be easy to repair with cold asphalt patches. Another sign that it’s time to repave is when your surface has more potholes than intact pavement.

Too Many Cracks
This is another sign that you need to find asphalt paving companies. Cracks are never a good thing to see on your surface; they are indicative of water damage and can lead to more severe issues. While smaller cracks are easy to repair, if your surface now looks like a spider web, you should find a professional and get a replacement quote. You may also notice the asphalt starting to crumble and break up. No amount of DIY crack repair on its own will be able to fix this.

The Age of Your Blacktop
As mentioned before, asphalt surfaces have a lifespan. Even if you keep up with the maintenance needs, a 30-year-old blacktop is still susceptible to damage. Once your surface is older than that, repairs and patches won’t cut it. You will likely need fresh paving. This is why you must always keep the last date you had your surface paved in mind when you are assessing your damages. That way, you or other people will be able to tell when it’s time to repave.

The Surface Has Narrowed
With time, your asphalt surface generally starts narrowing. If the edges are not framed using concrete, they will start crumbling heavily. You will start noticing the crumbling getting worse yearly unless you do something about it. If left uncontrolled, things will eventually get to a point where the surface is very narrow and needs replacement.

These are some of the reasons why you may want to repave your asphalt surface. If you are looking for reliable asphalt paving companies, get in touch with O.L. Thompson today.

Sitework refers to the scope of work relating to the project exterior, and that is not part of a building’s physical structure. It includes clearing, soil erosion control, grading, excavation, sewer systems installation, asphalt paving, and other utilities.

Sitework is a preliminary task performed on a site before the construction begins. But technically, it is any part of the construction project that does not involve the actual building. In short, it involves the preparation of the area you want to construct a physical structure. Site work helps keep your project moving seamlessly. If you have a construction project in Charleston, SC, O.L. Thompson Construction (OLTC) is a reputable construction company with experienced experts in site work.

Below are the sitework projects you can have on your Charleston, SC site.

1. Surveying
The first step to all ground-up projects is surveying to set the lay of the land. A surveyor positions, measure, create an accurate topographical map, establish locations for foundations and map out boundaries in this process.

2. Clearing
The contractor clears the site to get rid of shrubs, trees, and bushes. Regulatory and environmental concerns may dictate clearing and grubbing processes based on the quantity and types of vegetation on the site. Areas with enormous trees may consume more time and resources, since they must be cut down in a thickly wooded location. Any necessary demolitions can also occur in this stage.

3. Erosion Control and Shoring
General contractors can install erosion control after mapping out the land. A construction site may experience problems such as erosion, collapse, or weathering as the construction continues. Therefore, erosion control and shoring are essential to prevent that from happening. Failure to have that in place makes the entire site unsafe for workers and equipment.

4. Stabilizing
Moving soil during the excavation process can make it soft and less stable. When the soil is less stable, it means the particles are large. Stabilization eliminates air pockets or holes that could be present below the earth’s surface. Subgrade stabilization is also essential to eliminate cracks and other structural problems in your Charleston, SC site.

It also stabilizes the soil below the topsoil to prevent shifting or collapse. Stabilization is a crucial aspect of site work that helps ensure project integrity. A heavy roller or a vibration compactor can help compact the soil.

5. Excavating
The excavation process removes excess dirt and rocks from the construction site. Since this process can be time-consuming at your Charleston, SC job site, it may frequently necessitate employing large machinery to perform the task properly.

Fortunately, OLTC has experienced excavators with the skills and knowledge necessary for this tough task. They excavate the section to remove surplus soil which could entail chopping down the hillsides and creating a way for the new structure. They can also dig a hole to accommodate a new septic system. The surplus soil can fill the low locations on the site. Also known as grading, this process prevents problems such as foundation damage, basement flooding, and erosion in residential or commercial buildings.

6. Leveling
Once the soil is in the proper location, it is time for leveling. The contractor employs a skid loader or a backhoe to move the dirt to the appropriate spots. After that, they use a leveling device to maintain a uniform level across the board.
Creating a graded slope is a crucial aspect of leveling. That means that water won’t flow towards the structure but away from it. Smoothing out of dirt helps ensure the slope does not become too shallow or steep.

7. Site Utilities
Site utilities help bring water, fire mains, electric, gas, sewer, and storm to the building. They come with various materials, including metal, thermoplastic pipes, concrete, or cast iron. The process begins with excavating and laying down the pipes on top of the bedding material. Backfilling and leveling to grade can occur after inspection.

8. Concrete
Concrete can either be pre-cast or cast-in-place type. The cast-in-place type involves pouring concrete into forms to create patios, sidewalks, foundations, foundation walls, etc. On the other hand, pre-cast concrete is in a reusable form that is cured and in a controlled environment before taking it to the installation site.

Although pre-cast concrete is not suitable for all situations, it offers the general contractors more control over material quality and final product. Cast-in-place concrete is great in insulation, versatility, strength, and construction speed.

9. Asphalt Paving
Paving as part of the site work projects begins before construction. It involves pouring concrete or asphalt over sections of the construction site. Paving offers a good surface that allows construction during bad weather, helps control erosion, and provides a solid surface for storing materials.
Asphalt paving is appealing, long-lasting, and quick to install. People may take driveways for granted without considering its benefits if it consists of the right material. A well-implemented asphalt is excellent for overall appearance, driveability, environment, and budget.

This paving consists of sand, aggregate, liquid asphalt, and additives. Liquid asphalt (bitumen) is a sticky substance that binds materials in these pavements. Before applying asphalt paving, the contractor must have completed the aforementioned preparations, including clearing, excavation, and ground compaction. That is unless the contractor is laying it over existing asphalt.

10. Water Systems and Drainage
Installation of a water system helps bring in clean water for use in the building once constructed while pumping out the wastewater. Storm drainage is a crucial part of the site work process that draws a distinct line between beautifully accomplished structures and poorly made products. Therefore, general contractors are responsible for ensuring pooling rainwater does not erode your building by providing the system. Contractors should also install septic tanks and filtration systems where required.

Final Thoughts
It is easy to concentrate on constructing the new building while overlooking the project’s site work. However, the work done on the site before actual construction is just as critical, if not more so, than the new structure. That is why you must consider working with experienced general contractors to carry out site work on your Charleston, SC project for guaranteed structural quality.