Directional Drilling (HDD), Missile Boring & GPR Utility Locating
Stateline Directional Drilling puts conduit and pipe under roads, driveways, slabs and landscaping without open trenches. We work for contractors first (electricians, telecom crews, generator and EV-charger installers, GCs) and homeowners are welcome. Crews are based in Orlando, FL. Across state lines, nationwide.
Trenchless services
Four methods cover nearly every underground utility crossing. Bore length, product diameter and what is already in the ground decide which one fits; compare the methods.
-
GPR Utility Locating
GPR utility locating uses ground penetrating radar to map buried lines, including private ones that 811 member utilities don't mark, such as irrigation, site lighting and private water or electric.
-
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) installs conduit and pipe along a steered, tracked path underground, so roads, driveways, slabs and waterways stay intact.
-
Missile Boring
Missile boring drives a compressed-air piercing tool through the soil in a straight line, pulling small conduit or pipe under a driveway, sidewalk or walkway without cutting it.
-
Trenching
Utility trenching opens a narrow cut to place conduit or pipe at a set depth, then backfills it.
For contractors: send four things, get a priced bore
What to send
- Where: address or nearest intersection and county
- How far: bore length, or a plan sheet with entry and exit marked
- What goes in: conduit or pipe material, size and count
- What it crosses: road, driveway, slab, pond or canal, and whose right-of-way it is
What you get back
A written quote that names the method, lists the assumptions behind the price (soil, access, depth, restoration), and says plainly what would change it. If a missile shot will do the job, we will not sell you a drill rig. If a road crossing needs a permit, the quote says so.
Where we work
Our crews are based in Orlando, FL and cover Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa as service areas. Larger commercial bores farther away are reviewed case by case. See service areas for how far we travel and what changes when we do.
How a bore job runs
Every job follows the same order, from the locate ticket to surface restoration, because most strikes happen when a step gets skipped.
-
811 ticket
A Sunshine 811 locate request goes in at least 2 full business days before digging on land (10 beneath state waters), per Florida Statutes 556.105.
-
Private GPR sweep
Ground penetrating radar and an EM locator check the path for private lines that 811 member utilities do not mark.
-
Bore plan
Entry and exit pits, depth under each crossing, and bend radius are set for the product being pulled.
-
Pilot bore
The drill head is steered rod by rod while a walkover locator reads depth and position.
-
Ream and pullback
The hole is opened to size if needed and the conduit or pipe is pulled back through it.
-
Restoration
Pits are backfilled and compacted, fluid is cleaned up, and the surface is put back.
Notice periods: Florida Statutes 556.105.
Common questions
Short answers to what contractors and owners ask before booking a bore.
What is the difference between directional drilling and missile boring?
Directional drilling (HDD) uses a steerable drill head tracked from the surface, so it can go long distances, curve under obstacles and hold a planned depth. A missile is a compressed-air piercing tool that travels in a straight line and cannot be steered, so it suits short, small-diameter crossings like a driveway.
How far ahead do I need to call 811 in Florida?
At least 2 full business days before digging or boring on land, and 10 full business days for work beneath state waters. A ticket stays valid for 30 calendar days (Florida Statutes 556.105).
Does 811 mark the lines on my property?
Only lines owned by 811 member operators, such as the power, gas, water and telecom companies. Privately owned lines like irrigation, landscape lighting or a feed to a detached garage are not marked, which is why we add a private GPR sweep before boring.
Can you bore under a driveway without cutting it?
Yes, that is the most common crossing. A short straight run of small conduit is usually a missile shot; longer or curved runs use HDD. Either way only small pits are dug on each side.
Do I need a permit to bore under a road?
Usually. Work in a public right-of-way needs a permit from the road owner: the city, the county, or FDOT for state highways. Private driveways normally do not.
What do you need from me for a quote?
The location, the bore length, the product size and count, and what the bore crosses. Photos of both ends help. With those, most jobs can be priced without a site visit.
Get a bore quoted
Send the footage, product size and crossing, and we will reply with a quote or the questions we need answered.