OK, I'm getting closer to getting my dream building. Where I'm putting it, water settles sometimes but its mostly dry in the summer. Is it normal to cost 2k for the site prep work? I just want to do it right. I tried searching but came up empty. One guy said use QP? Any ideas?
Pole building site prep questions
- Thread starter zrxrider
- Start date
matt_i
Well-known member
I think you have to manage "stormwater drainage" with the appropriate slope, even if you have to purposefully create a lower spot.
The soil's ability to hold up loads will be important.
Use of #57 stone under the slab helps to break the surface tension of groundwater which could wick into the concrete slab if the contact was perfectly solid. Also a moisture barrier will help.
As far as the $2k figure...does this include removing trees, hauling off excavated dirt, etc? More specifics would be needed and IMHO you should make your RFQ (request for quote) to be written and detailed. It doesn't have to read like a legal contract, but just be specific about each line item that you want the contractor to do. Then you can ask different firms to quote on the job and have "apples to apples" instead of thinking you are getting a very good savings while instead the lower bidder assumed he didn't have to do one of those unwritten steps.
The soil's ability to hold up loads will be important.
Use of #57 stone under the slab helps to break the surface tension of groundwater which could wick into the concrete slab if the contact was perfectly solid. Also a moisture barrier will help.
As far as the $2k figure...does this include removing trees, hauling off excavated dirt, etc? More specifics would be needed and IMHO you should make your RFQ (request for quote) to be written and detailed. It doesn't have to read like a legal contract, but just be specific about each line item that you want the contractor to do. Then you can ask different firms to quote on the job and have "apples to apples" instead of thinking you are getting a very good savings while instead the lower bidder assumed he didn't have to do one of those unwritten steps.
rcleaver
Well-known member
You may need a soil test to determine the load the ground can take. Often people in a given area assume all the soil in the area is the same. I wouldn't assume that, especially because it effects your foundation.
I once had a water test done. It turned out my water was significantly different from even the neighbors. I then called some companies to give me a quote on a water treatment system. Only one did a test and provided the correct quote.
The moral of the story is that you are ultimately responsible for what you get. Don't assume anything and question everything. Make sure you understand everything that everyone is doing.
Remember, salesman want to sell things. Never take any advice from them.
I once had a water test done. It turned out my water was significantly different from even the neighbors. I then called some companies to give me a quote on a water treatment system. Only one did a test and provided the correct quote.
The moral of the story is that you are ultimately responsible for what you get. Don't assume anything and question everything. Make sure you understand everything that everyone is doing.
Remember, salesman want to sell things. Never take any advice from them.
Thanks for the tips. My neighbor came over and helped me stake it out. He's got big rollers and machines and said I would have no problem. I'm 99.9% I'm going to have him do the job.
I cut the tree's myself but left stumps so someone can pull them out with back hoe. He said, "do everything" so we'll see.
I cut the tree's myself but left stumps so someone can pull them out with back hoe. He said, "do everything" so we'll see.
You will prob need fill to fill in where the stumps came out of , use a transome to shoot the levels of the land, try to tamp or have the fill inplace for the longest amount of time possible a couple of rains ect. i spent close to $1500 in fill and hired a big backhoe to remove about 12 stumps, he got about $100 bucks an hour , he graded and tamped the ground and removed stumps . i too cut my own trees and gave them away on craigslist for free worked out great. good luck mike.
Need help.......ok, my bro came over with a backhoe to remove a few stumps and to dig a test area. In the rear of the building he went down about 3' before hitting shail. He's going to ask some people whats the best thing to do but figured I ask here too. I'm slightly holding back on signing a contract because of this......
krooser
Well-known member
You can always raise the grade by hauling in some fill if you are concerned about the water problem.
I replaced a 20X20 with my 30X50... one end of the site needed about 3' of fill... We built the building then added the fill and compacted it after the posts were installed... worked fine.
I replaced a 20X20 with my 30X50... one end of the site needed about 3' of fill... We built the building then added the fill and compacted it after the posts were installed... worked fine.
hetkind
Banned
I wish it was only 2k of site work...we are looking at 12k plus...
42 major stumps dug, 300' of drainage hose to lay, a couple of hundred yards of dirt to move, plus a culvert, fixing the driveway and road to shop for heavy truck access...
Site work is not simple or cheap.
Howard
42 major stumps dug, 300' of drainage hose to lay, a couple of hundred yards of dirt to move, plus a culvert, fixing the driveway and road to shop for heavy truck access...
Site work is not simple or cheap.
Howard
12k!! Wow, i'd buy a machine and do it myself......
Should I be able just to skim the top layer(6" or so) and lay recycled concrete for a base? My bro sad they have a vib. roller to compact it with too. I just don't any problems down the road.
Should I be able just to skim the top layer(6" or so) and lay recycled concrete for a base? My bro sad they have a vib. roller to compact it with too. I just don't any problems down the road.
hetkind
Banned
We looked into that also...a decent machine would be 15k, backhoe rental is $50/hr and we are getting the backhoe for 60/hr with operator and fuel, plus a D5 Cat dozer for the top soil removal, leveling, grading and road repair AND a vibrating sheepsfoot compactor for the compaction after filling. We are building on the side of a mountain, at the juction of two streams, so not a simple job here.
We got three good days of work in week before last, now after 12 straight days of rain, we are stalled, with a yard full of equipment! I would check to see how the remaing pile of stumps are burning, but it is raining again.
Howard
4-RunDog
Well-known member
For what its worth, I have about $2k in my site prep including rock and I got a deal threw a friend! My grade was only off by about 10" and there were only two stumps.