Breaking into the bank

[scoutcub]

Thanks Transam!
I was lucky enough to only have to drive most of it less than 2 miles, to my concrete sub's shop, where he needed fill. Then, my block sub said his dad could use some so he brought his Dodge over and said " Fill it up, it'll take whatever you can load".....so I loaded him up....!:laughing:

And, the yard was getting full with equipment....I was like a kid in the candy store....the concrete sub brought in more equipment to move all the dirt faster from behind the house, and they were pouring the rear patio, after they finished the front sidewalk.....wonder why my wife says I take on too many projects at once!

 

[scoutcub]

Other projects completed....front sidewalk/steps....

 

[scoutcub]

And patio behind the house.....

maybe I should consider renaming this "what I did with my summer vacation"..

 

[scoutcub]

Back to the bank. As the first pic shows, the digging is getting a bit more challenging for the Cub. Since I'm on a definite schedule with my work and garage completion, I had arranged with the concrete sub for him to complete the excavation for $600, which I thought was a pretty good deal.
On the morning he was supposed to show, the block sub informed he that concrete sub is in the hospital with a near-burst appendix. Figures my luck!
Plan B - I have an excavator and dozer around 12 miles away on our property that we will someday build our retirement home. I'm in the process of clearing a homesite there with the equipment. (time permitting....ha)
So after a few calls, I found a lowboy to pick up and deliver the 312 to my house for $200, and got a lot more seat time!

 

[scoutcub]

More digging....I never had a full day to get it all done, due to when I could get trucks/drivers...the 42" bucket would fill my F-350 up in 3 scoops...the Dodge had a bigger box, 4-5 scoops....and the IH would take 7-8. It was fun when I had 2 or 3 trucks running at the same time, I just stayed in the seat....but one day I loaded my truck....then drive it to dump....then back to the hill....back on the ex.....repeat.....repeat....

 

[scoutcub]

FINALLY......digging completed!!!!
It was interesting to see the different layers of dirt/clay/loose rock...and my strip of coal!

 

[scoutcub]

Digging and pouring footers.....

 

[scoutcub]

Block going up......

 

[jimmyj]

Awesome project! Thanks for sharing.

 

[MacLawn]

Wha'!? And you don't know much about construction?? Wow, great project! Makes my little projects seem mighty small, tiny rented backhoes, pick axe, shovel, etc. that I use. I need to do some drainage work behind my house - no basement here, but crawl space. Your work has given me some ideas. Great post! What did you put on the ground side of the blocks to keep water out?