Dig out my basement

[Ralco]

My wife and I bought a small ranch house with a large attacted garage, the garage is built so I can drive in on the end of it. My wife is handicapped I would like to build out into the garage for a bedroom and handicapped access bathroom I still have about 20 ft left for our car(van). We have a partial basement at the other end our house the rest of basement 20 ft is about 18" space from ground to floor joist to run plumbing and electrical not much space to work in. I could use the extra space for bedroom and bath for grandchildren. I am retired and have time to work on this project(more time than money):laughing::laughing: I always have been a do it yourselfer. What I need is a belt conveyor about 20' long and run it through a 15" X 28" window opening I could make the opening deeper to accept for one to fit. I am a machinist by trade and could build one, but I don't have the equipment to work with. I thought about renting one, it would get pretty expensive I would need a couple of months to use one so I'd be better to buy a used one if I can find one. I live in central Minn, Is there any places on the internet I could find one?

 

[gghb]

might be able to convert an old hay conveyor to this purpose if you're shoveling onto it there won't be much weight.

Greg

 

[Ralco]

That might work it shouldn't be hard to find one Thanks

 

[bcp]

You could do it like this Guy, using radio control construction equipment models.



https://www.youtube.com/user/LilGiantsConstrCo/videos


Or rollers on a ladder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUu6dIctZRM

Hand truck-ramp-winch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7zQj8npPrY

Bruce

 

[JerryK]

I know a few guys that put their ' Michigan basements ' in by making a opening large enough to wheel a wheelbarrow up a dirt ramp to ground level.. and taking out X amount of wheelbarrow loads out each night after work. Dumping each load out back and returning to shovel another load full. The conveyor thing sound good, especially if you have a tractor to pile the spoils somewhere else after the conveyor gets it up there... Sounds like a young guy job, though... [ or a prime skid steer job ]

 

[GPintheMitten]

So you're biggest need is to create a crawl space right? What is the depth, width and length?

 

[DJ54]

A buddy of mine just bought a real nice 16' harvest handler elevator at an auction for approx. $300.00. I used a similar one 20 years ago to dig out a partial basement under my house. It took it out, as fast as I wanted to dig.

 

[Ralco]

I got 460 sq. ft. that I like to dig about 8' dp. I know how I would reinforce the walls to make the structure safe. If I do a pickup load a day I should be able to get the dirt out. I bought the property reasonable enough to make it work. I got the time to do it. Thank you for your reply
Ralph

 

[roadhunter]

Another possibility would be to build a little track/rail setup and use a winch to move loads up with a cart. Wouldn't take much at all.

Depending on the soil an electric jackhammer with a spade bit can make digging much easier if there is no equipment access. I also suspect a big drill bit would loosen some soil types so it's would be easier to shovel.

If you want a really off the wall option use a little peg pergo electric toy to get the dirt to the cart. I got my daughter one of the little john deere gator vehicles years ago and I had her haul all sorts of stuff around the yard. They will hold well over 100 pounds.

 

[mddorange]

I got 460 sq. ft. that I like to dig about 8' dp. I know how I would reinforce the walls to make the structure safe. If I do a pickup load a day I should be able to get the dirt out. I bought the property reasonable enough to make it work. I got the time to do it. Thank you for your reply
Ralph

Is the foundation and walls already there for a basement or only a few feet down below the freeze line? That is what my parents did when they added a couple of rooms upstairs and later took out the dirt for the basement later. If so, then your support should already be there but if not then you have to be very careful not to weaken the current foundation while putting up the new walls.