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.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Grain Threshing in the Early 40's - by Jerry D. Coleman. How many of you can sit there and say that you have plowed with a mule? Well I would say not many, but maybe a few. This story is about the day my Grandfather Brown (true name) decided along with my parents to purchase a new Ford tractor. It wasn't really new except to us. The year was about 1967 and my father found a good used Ford 601 tractor to use on the farm instead of "Bob", our old mule. Now my grandfather had had this mule since the mid 40's and he was getting some age on him. S
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.