House demolition

[pohorsky]

Down and safe? That backhoe is more than enough to handle dropping a single level dwelling safely. Also, I wouldn't reuse wire I scrap it. Extra $100-$200 bucks is worth it to me.

I was just going off the assumption the as a rookie he could be a little farther away from the structure in case something unexpected happened.

 

[Creamer]

I have never done it with a backhoe but I have torn down two story houses by hand saving the structural lumber in two weeks. With you hoe I think you could have it down in a couple of hours and then it is a matter of breaking it up and putting it into dumpsters. You hoe can do a lot of destruction but a chainsaw and axe and wire cutters are necessary. I am thinking 40 hours should do it for a level space. I am assuming no basement. Do they also want the concrete walkway up and out? how is the lot to be left completely clean? I would certainly get a magnet and be a little careful with the glass. If the lot is supposed to be very clean I would dig a hole and push the top surface into it - this will get all the glass, nails, etc. If it is supposed to be a totally clean lot but OK to bury it i would add another day plus four hours or so to get the concrete up. If not OK to bury it you will need to scrape and have another dumpster and then haul in clean fill or grade it level.

 

[Loadstar]

Yes concrete up and out. It hasn't been discussed deeply but I plan on cleaning over it removing all traces. Probably plow and disc the area and return it to grass. Wonder about the septic... Hmm

 

[FredH]

Here in Oregon , Septic's need to be pumped and then filled with sand or removed . Far cheaper to just fill with sand than to remove . Either way , it has to be pumped .

Get yourself a pair of Large Pallet forks to clamp on your bucket , if You don't already have a set .

Once You knock it down , You can stack stuff on the forks , then dump into dumpster . Makes loading dumpster more useable and organized , thus less
wasted space . We did that with my little TC30 when the neighbors had a large dumpster and tore down a couple of outbuildings plus picked up a buch of stuff from their place and ours . We were able to pack a SH** load of stuff into it that way .

Fred H.

 

[Loadstar]

Good to know. I need to look that up for locally. I would like to know where it is so it doesn't surprise me. Might be a spot for concrete fill too.

I do have forks too might have to chain them. The owner is a machinist and wants to build me a thumb

 

[CurlyDave]

If you do it with the backhoe, a thumb would save a lot of time. A hydraulic thumb is a lot more versatile than a mechanical one. At least 5 times faster for this kind of job, maybe more. And you don't have to traverse construction debris on foot to adjust the thumb.

I am surprised that anyone would hire it out with a 6 month completion schedule. If you started this month, he could not start building until next year.

What is the plan for final use of the land?

 

[D7E]

had to get rid of this one a few years ago . Just dug a big hole pushed the whole house in then burned it , Nice and clean with no nails or glass left .

 

[BuilderML]

An excavator with a hyd thumb is the tool of choice for this type of work. Now back to reality one must work with the tools they have and a hoe is better than using my hands. First thing i would do is put a thumb on,manual or hyd, must have for this type of work. Locate the dumpster(s) close to the house. Don't just go crazy knocking stuff down. Take section by section load in the dumpster and crush it, this is where the thumb really helps. Doing it this way allows you to tightly pack the dumpster crushing and placing as you go. Also the more stuff crushed or broken down over/in the dumpster keeps the mess contained less garbage around on the ground. I have done a few and would not do it without a thumb. Oh did i mention you need/want a thumb.:laughing:. Have fun with your project. Also i see 3-4 30 yard dumpters at $750 a pop and a day worth of work to have the house down.

 

[Will_C]

My brother took down a 30x40 barn for me 2 years ago. He used a 9 ton excavator with a thumb. He took him a day- that was including ripping out a concrete floor that was over a foot thick in places. He filled a 30, a 20, and a 10 yard roll off containers. He also hauled 8 loads of concrete with his single axle dump truck to my neighbors who were making a parking area for trucks.

Will

 

[Loadstar]

End use of land is nothing. It's a house by his that is an eyesore. I would love a thumb on my backhoe and I think I will begin planning one and finding materials. Yet I don't believe it will be done in about a month when I start on this. I told my wife she needs to learn to operate the backhoe, or she will have to be the laborer on the ground lol.