starting the build

[oldschool21]

I'm about to start my shop build. It's going to be 24x24x12. One 10ft door one window one small door. Pole barn style Ok heres the question. I live on the side of a hill is it better to have dirt hauled in or dig down. The spot for the shop it has two problems slops down hill and it slops off the back side. If I were to dig down and use dirt from high side on low side I would dig down about 1.5 feet. If i had dirt brought in it would take 2 truck loads ( tandem dump trucks ) Ether way I could be done in a weekend. Just looking for the the best approach oh yea it will be a dirt floor with gravel for about a year then i will have the concrete poured in side thanks

 

[Catadj78]

May help out a little if you could share some pictures.

 

[TonkaJoe]

I have several years of excavation experience.. pictures for this one would be great, it all depends what your base is like. Clay, loam, sand, shale.. drainage etc.. if you can grab some pics of the area that would be a big help!.

 

[rburke65]

Welcome to The Garage Journal from Ohio!

 

[Tdoriot]

Too bad it isn't just that simple. The moved or imported fill has to be compacted AND compactable. Then you have the problem of retaining. I'd suggest digging down and using part of the foundation as a retaining wall. How all this gets configured depends on how everything lays out.

 

[oldschool21]

Thanks for the replys so far. I'm in georgia so it is clay I will take some pictures one looking at the front and one looking from the rear toward the front . It will be Wednesday before I can post them have a bunch of 11 hours day this week (O.T Saving for concrete )

 

[gahrajmahal]

my home in Ohio, also clay soil has a 12 ft wide flat area beyond the house foundation on the hill side. The retaining wall is then away from the structure. Photos are here in my " hide the ugly compressor" post.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164238

 

[Cyberbear]

Generally, it's always better to build on "cut" than it is on "fill." The fill should be used in areas that are not load bearing and subject to later settling, which is never any good. Also, make sure to use plenty of steel in the wall footings, remembering that code requirements are the minimum, I usually increase the required amounts. Structures built on clay need more preventative attention.

 

[RogueFab]

Generally, it's always better to build on "cut" than it is on "fill." The fill should be used in areas that are not load bearing and subject to later settling, which is never any good. Also, make sure to use plenty of steel in the wall footings, remembering that code requirements are the minimum, I usually increase the required amounts. Structures built on clay need more preventative attention.

I agree with building on cut being generally safer and lower risk than building on compacted fill. If you must do cut and fill, be darn sure you have it properly compacted and extremely well retained. It's not just money if it fails, it's safety. Any pics yet?