Posted by gmd on December 05, 2008 at 04:34:20 from (68.50.63.83):
In Reply to: OTdigging a basement posted by Fudpucker on December 04, 2008 at 16:57:15:
just my .02 worth, but in my area we have just about every type of soil from sand to clay to solid rock. That backhoe will be worthless if you run into rock. Great machines, but you have to be experienced to run a backhoe and get on grade. They simply aren't like trackloaders or trackhoes. Hire a man to come in with a 953 cat to do it and be done in a day on grade, topsoil separated, nice fill piles away from house and done right. Now if you want to run your own footers, Go for it. Check grade in your basement and the lowest point sets your trench grade. Its easier to run out extra dirt thats high than run formed footers. Be absolutely Certain though that you are 100% correct where you run your ditch. If your trench is not square your house walls wont fit. Practice Practice Practice and do the math check it then measure twice. Also Very Important: NEVER Fill your footers. If you go too deep, Order more concrete, use taller stakes. That is why you practice. Filling footers is generally not worth possible problems. Also be sure you add piers in the correct places for columns. If they are wrong, you are stuck hand digging. Keep the hoe till after footers are dry to run out excess dirt and also to sort of fine grade your basement. Run the loader right over the concrete, break out any excess spill etc. That will make it easier when doing basement floor concrete. After thats done dig out sump pit in corner about 4x4x4 or so. Much easier with hoe than by hand. Then run in about 4 inches of sixes or 57s whatever you want for basement floor prep.
As a sidenote: Most companies that do poured walls will do the footers too. The company we used did a pretty good job and used more rebar on one job than we ever did. Keep in mind it will be expensive $$$ but for ease and speed its hard to beat. If you hire out, dont be afraid to check numbers on everything to ensure accuracy. We always did the stakeouts for footers and houses because we knew we were accurate and had rechecked everything. The time it takes to check the math is worth it. Fixing one little problem through addition and division can save a lot of money and headaches later on down the road.
One more thing- CALL EVERYONE in the phone book for an estimate. Estimates should be free, never pay for one. If they send you a bill, don't pay it and never consider them again. Everyone is so hungry for work right now that you are bound to get a very good price on the job.
Sorry for the long post, but just some things to think about.
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