Question moving dirt

[hitekcountry]

I'm considering digging out a basement. The reason for doing this is:
1 The old foundation is brick and needs to be replaced with a more substantial concrete foundation with all the proper hold downs.
2 I want to make it into a full basement, full 8' height where as it is presently a half basement at 6' 6" in height.

Unfortunately it's not convenient to use my tractor. So it will need to be dug out by hand using pick, shovel and electric Hilti with a spade and wheel barrow to move the dirt out about 80 ft. I can hire laborers to do most of the work. I'd like to estimate the feasibility to doing this project and of course the cost.

So my question is - roughly how much dirt (yards) can one man dig and move in an 8 hour day? The dirt here is not very hard to dig.

 

[davedj1]

I can't answer your question but if I understand you correctly you are only going to dig down another 1.5 feet?
Why not dig around one gable wall with backhoe and then drive bucket right in?
We have used a conveyor before, it worked good.
You will probably have to dig all around the outside and support the house while you pour your footings and walls.
Good luck with your project!

 

[hitekcountry]

David

Thanks for your reply.

Half of the basement I'll be going down 1.5 to 2 ft, the other half of the basement I'll be going down about 5 ft.

I can't use a backhoe, I wish I could because I own one. It won't work.

I have the whole project worked out, I just need to figure out how many labors I might need and plan out a schedule.

The conveyor was a consideration.

 

[BeezFun]

I would recommend getting a fixed price from a contractor to remove the dirt. If you're hiring day laborers and they're doing the work by hand you would be lucky to get a yard of dirt a day per person. There's no motivation to work hard for you, they'll never be back again and they can get a job hanging balloons making the same money. A laborer working for a contractor would probably move 3-4 times that much or he wouldn't have a job.

I assume you know you'll need some kind of reinforcement as you dig down against each wall. The load path through dirt is usually considered to be at a 30deg angle, so you're effectively undercutting the footing even if you just dig down straight.

 

[Sonny580]

Ever hear of slip scoops???--- old timers used them to move/dig dirt with horses.---ok,-- take the bucket from a modern 3-pt. model, attach handles,and yoke to pull from, drag it back under the house and pull very slowly out a small hole and dump the bucket just out side the house and move it farther with your hoe.---a couple guys on the scoop can move tons of dirt per hour!---Might take a couple extra cases of Bud-Light but if it motivates the dudes they will treat you right!.!(I would think) thanks; sonny

 

[Code54]

Can't answer your question but can u get a dingo in there ( mini walk behind bobcat)
Lot faster even if u just use it to fill wheel barrels

 

[hitekcountry]

I would recommend getting a fixed price from a contractor to remove the dirt. If you're hiring day laborers and they're doing the work by hand you would be lucky to get a yard of dirt a day per person. There's no motivation to work hard for you, they'll never be back again and they can get a job hanging balloons making the same money. A laborer working for a contractor would probably move 3-4 times that much or he wouldn't have a job.

I assume you know you'll need some kind of reinforcement as you dig down against each wall. The load path through dirt is usually considered to be at a 30deg angle, so you're effectively undercutting the footing even if you just dig down straight.

I would be working right along with them so if they screw around their gone. And of course once I get started I'll quickly answer my own question as to how much can be done in a day. I'm just trying to estimate before I start.

Yes I'm fully aware of the support issues. I own my own foundation jacks I have plenty of cribbing I've done foundation work before, Like I said I have all those details worked out. I've just not moved the volume of dirt by hand that I'll need to move on this project. I only need one thing. To get a good Idea of what to expect can be moved by one man in 8 hours.

 

[brokenknee]

Can't answer your question but can u get a dingo in there ( mini walk behind bobcat)
Lot faster even if u just use it to fill wheel barrels

A dingo would be the ticket. Would be much cheaper than hiring labors.

 

[hitekcountry]

Ever hear of slip scoops???--- old timers used them to move/dig dirt with horses.---ok,-- take the bucket from a modern 3-pt. model, attach handles,and yoke to pull from, drag it back under the house and pull very slowly out a small hole and dump the bucket just out side the house and move it farther with your hoe.---a couple guys on the scoop can move tons of dirt per hour!---Might take a couple extra cases of Bud-Light but if it motivates the dudes they will treat you right!.!(I would think) thanks; sonny

I should mention - this building is in the city I'm very constrained all around it.
Great suggestion though.

Thanks

 

[hitekcountry]

Can't answer your question but can u get a dingo in there ( mini walk behind bobcat)
Lot faster even if u just use it to fill wheel barrels

I'll check that out.

Thanks