CT 30 x 30' Foundation Quote

[bmwpowere36m3]

Got my first quote for a 30x30' foundation including site work.

Foundation:
30' x 30' overal size
42" deep footers (12"x24")
10" stem wall, 2' above grade
5" slab

Site Work:
Scrap/pile topsoil from site, plus 1000 sqft of driveway leading to garage
Break 10 CY ledge
Grade/fill ~18" elevation across site
Dig foundation/backfill/compact

Estimates:
10 loads (16 CY/ea) @ $400/ea for foundation infill
5 loads (16 CY/ea) @ $400/ea for driveway
28 CY footer/stem wall @ $125/CY
16 CY slab @ $125/CY

Site Work $6000
Footing & Stem Wall $3360
Slab $1200
Rebar, Wire Mesh, Vapor Barrier Material/Labor $2085
Form Bolts/Ties $185

$13K to contractor, $6K for concrete & $6k for "fill" = 25K total


Getting more estimates... The conundrum is we have a 7K mini-ex and skid-steer. A couple years ago we dug a similar foundation for my father, however he didn't have any ledge. I've tried to attack it with pneumatic jack hammer and 600 lb hydraulic hammer for the mini-ex to slow progress.

The contractor has a 4K hammer for his machine, admittedly a bit big for the job, but its what he has. Downside, he needs to hire to deliver his machine @ $1K roundtrip. If it wasn't for the ledge, he'd bring a smaller machine that he can transport.

I'm debating renting a 40k excavator with 2K hammer for ~$2k and getting the site work done myself.

 

[cvairwerks]

How much is your time worth and do you have the tools and knowledge to shoot the necessary grades? If I were a contractor, unless you can show that it’s done per print and by someone that knows how to do it, I wouldn’t guarantee the work at all.

200+ yards of fill and proper compaction and testing is going to take lots of your time and some equipment rental unless you already have it.

 

[Cryptic1911]

that seems excessive.. I'd do what I could myself

 

[Bretny]

With the equipment you have you can save your self $6k? What kind of contractor cant move equipment they own?

You have alot more equipment than me and i would tackle this my self with my little 3,500lb machine. Just last week i dug out a 32x20ft foundation..no rock ledges though.

Isnt there some chemical that you drill and pour into rock ledges to break them up?

 

[Bretny]

Here it is.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRQ9A2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Never used it but you can buy a really nice big hammer drill, a few buckets of this and be thousands ahead.

 

[HeadsUp]

Definitely get more quotes. Was in similar situation last fall but no ledge. Got multiple quotes for a 28'x32' foundation including site work. Worst was $19.5K just for the concrete. Went with a guy who did the site work and concrete for $13.5k. Another $1.5k for fill materials. Couldn't be happier.

Is this also in CT? PM me if you want and I'll forward his contact info.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

How much is your time worth and do you have the tools and knowledge to shoot the necessary grades? If I were a contractor, unless you can show that it’s done per print and by someone that knows how to do it, I wouldn’t guarantee the work at all.

200+ yards of fill and proper compaction and testing is going to take lots of your time and some equipment rental unless you already have it.

That's a good question... so I'm trying to find the balance. We essentially did all the site work on my father's garage (22x36') with our machines. We also formed and poured the footers. Then hired a concrete guy to do wall forms and slab. All in it was ~10k including concrete

that seems excessive.. I'd do what I could myself

That's what I'm trying to figure out. The ledge is the "problem", though I could move the placement of the garage and not worry about it. Ideally the ledge would be removed and I can set the garage further back into our property.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

With the equipment you have you can save your self $6k? What kind of contractor cant move equipment they own?

You have alot more equipment than me and i would tackle this my self with my little 3,500lb machine. Just last week i dug out a 32x20ft foundation..no rock ledges though.

Isnt there some chemical that you drill and pour into rock ledges to break them up?

Here it is.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRQ9A2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Never used it but you can buy a really nice big hammer drill, a few buckets of this and be thousands ahead.

Interesting... much cheaper, just time-consuming.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Definitely get more quotes. Was in similar situation last fall but no ledge. Got multiple quotes for a 28'x32' foundation including site work. Worst was $19.5K just for the concrete. Went with a guy who did the site work and concrete for $13.5k. Another $1.5k for fill materials. Couldn't be happier.

Is this also in CT? PM me if you want and I'll forward his contact info.

Yup, located in Fairfield County. PM me the details

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Got another set of estimate from an old acquaintance of my father's who's done a lot of resi/commercial work in the area.

Site Work:
$1K to bring machine and break rock or $2.5K to do all excavation

Foundation:
Labor $5300
Rebar $900
Wire Mesh $ 300

$9K to contractors, $6K for concrete = $15K total (not including fill/compaction work)

 

[cvairwerks]

That's a good question... so I'm trying to find the balance.

Figure what your time bills out as, and divide into the labor cost for project. In my case, my time at my normal job, the company bills out around 250$ an hour. My personal side gig, I bill between 75$ and 150$ an hour, plus materials. So, I run the numbers at 100$ an hour for me on average. About the best I can do, is about 6 hours billable a day on weekends and maybe 3 a day during the week.

Based on those numbers, I'd have to get all the site work, leveling, fill and compact work done, all the phone and rental and ordering work in less than 50 manhours to save any money.

The contractor already has contacts for the fill materials and probably can schedule it all in less than 10 minutes. If he's doing a bunch of site work, there are probably several guys on his crew. I would suspect that he can roll in on one day and be done and ready to get the form work up in less than 3 calendar days.

 

[Kaizen]

Second estimate is more in line. The ledge is killing you. Can’t you use an Alaskan slab and leave ledge where it is? Are you required to do a foundation?


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[Bretny]

If your not going to be working at your higher paying regular job just to do this project then your time dosnt cost you anything...unless you need this building up yesterday.

 

[cvairwerks]

Add the fill materials and you’re back to 21k$. Add the cost to spread and compact and you are within 10% or so of the original bid.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Figure what your time bills out as, and divide into the labor cost for project. In my case, my time at my normal job, the company bills out around 250$ an hour. My personal side gig, I bill between 75$ and 150$ an hour, plus materials. So, I run the numbers at 100$ an hour for me on average. About the best I can do, is about 6 hours billable a day on weekends and maybe 3 a day during the week.

Based on those numbers, I'd have to get all the site work, leveling, fill and compact work done, all the phone and rental and ordering work in less than 50 manhours to save any money.

The contractor already has contacts for the fill materials and probably can schedule it all in less than 10 minutes. If he's doing a bunch of site work, there are probably several guys on his crew. I would suspect that he can roll in on one day and be done and ready to get the form work up in less than 3 calendar days.

My day job is engineering, corporate salary gig. No more paid overtime (lots of loopholes to get approval), but I get 1:1 paid time off for each hour worked. I travel a good bit, so I get plenty of time off.

This project is either after work, paid time off, or weekends. I like these kinds of projects. I realize a crew can do it faster, easier, etc... He should be able to break rock and dig in a day with a larger machine. Hell we did 2 days with the mini-ex.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Second estimate is more in line. The ledge is killing you. Can’t you use an Alaskan slab and leave ledge where it is? Are you required to do a foundation?


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It can be built on ledge and actually will be partly built on it.

The ledge presents two problems: its elevation above grade and placement on site. Either problem can be solved by shifting garage location a bit. However, in the long-term, I'd rather remove part of the ledge and put the garage where "I" want.

 

[Bad00SS]

Got multiple quotes for a 28'x32' foundation including site work. Worst was $19.5K just for the concrete. Went with a guy who did the site work and concrete for $13.5k. Another $1.5k for fill materials.

Mine is basically a 28 x 32 also. I experienced similar pricing. We chose to move the garage away from the house and put a sidewalk between them and then you don't need footers. bill dropped from $13,000 all the way down to $7,000. Its the footers that get you. if its not attached you don't need them here in Illinois. I'm on a 4.5" slab on this garage. most cost effective way.

 

[Kaizen]

It can be built on ledge and actually will be partly built on it.



The ledge presents two problems: its elevation above grade and placement on site. Either problem can be solved by shifting garage location a bit. However, in the long-term, I'd rather remove part of the ledge and put the garage where "I" want.

Or.....build a bigger garage to get around all of it. [emoji23]


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[bmwpowere36m3]

Or.....build a bigger garage to get around all of it. [emoji23]


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Then I just have a big garage with a piece of ledge poking thru the middle of the slab

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Talked to the second concrete guy a bit more about the quote... said all the right things, maybe techniques/materials a little different then recommended on this site (likely overkill).

Footer: 3000psi 4-5" slump, #4 rebar in footer, two horizontal runs, vertical placement into wall 4' apart

Walls: 3000psi 4-5" slump, #4 rebar in 3 places (bottom, mid and top of wall)

Floor: 4" thick slab, 3500psi min, W2.5 6x6 mesh on concrete blocks/pieces, 6 mil vapor, and thicken slab from 4" to 12" in area of lift placement + additional rebar.