So I'm officially on my own now! Once my GC got around to replacing the window on the front of the building that the mason scratched and then hanging a pair of shutters we settled up and I cut them loose. It's kind of a double edged sword... I'm glad to have the structure be complete and know that anything else is left on me but I've since discovered things go much slower when it's all up to me, lol. Not really a surprise but it sure was nice coming home from work each day and being able to usually see progress. Now I've basically just been waiting for the weekend to roll around so I can actually make a dent in things. The only other thing I've had done since then is I did pay a gutter guy to come out and install some gutters on both sides and along the lean to roof out back.
So nearly the entirety of my last two weekends have been spent messing with grading. Around back was my biggest concern where along the left side it dropped off roughly 18" and then directly out back it sloped from around a foot to probably a 6" drop off. Basically on the side where I would want to bring my lawnmower and possibly trailer up and down it was un-useable so I had to do something about it.
I thought I was going to knock it all out in one weekend but realized half way through the first Sat. that I wasn't going to have enough dirt. Which sucked because no one is open or delivers on Sunday and I had the rented Bobcat through the weekend. Which meant I was going to have to rent it again for another $200 the following weekend.
But it needed to be done. I ended up having a total of around 26 yards of fill dirt brought in and then another 6 yards of 50/50 (top soil and compost). It took a fair amount of both Bobcat time and manual labor but I'm pleased with how it turned out. Now I'm just hoping I can get some grass to grow back. It's a little late in the season but it has rained the last two days since putting seed down and it's suppose to do the same again tomorrow. So it'll definitely be good and watered in.
Anyway, below are a few "before" pics. They aren't the greatest but I think you'll get the idea.
So I started things off with renting a Bobcat from Hertz... couldn't have done it without it. It's the smallest skid steer they make (S70) and it worked perfect for getting around between my house and the garage and on the backside where I have trees etc. It also worked out great because it fit in and wasn't too heavy for my utility trailer so I didn't have to borrow or rent something bigger. And my van was capable of pulling it, which it's rated for more but it's only the inline 6 motor and she's got more than a quarter million miles on the original motor and trans (my biggest concern). But she pulled it without a hickup. A little slower than normal, which is already pretty damn slow, but it got the job done. I was also happy to have gone with my 8 ft tall garage door and although it was more just coincidence it has worked out great that I can leave my trailer attached to my van and fit it all inside the garage with the doors closed.
This was the second round of dirt. My son was getting a head start on me.
He even rode along for a few passes. To spite the look on his face he loved it. I asked him a few times if he was OK and he just looked at me and smiled and gave me the thumbs up.
The end results...
All but a little cleanup...
And again my little helper "assisting" with spreading some seed.
Next up is to apply for my electrical permit, rent a trencher and run power from the house over to the garage. Then will come the fun part of wiring it all up. Can't wait to get some lights in there!
