How to dig a pad?

[DIESELbowhunter]

Hey guys,
This weekend I am going to start excavating for a 18X24 run in style shed. The area is somewhat level, and rocky. My goal is to remove top soil, maybe 4-6? Then bring in modified to fill back up, then have the structure built. I will have Two John Deere 4310´s on-site. One with a loader and a backhoe. One with a loader/grapple and box blade. Never really digging a pad like this before, what would be the best way to use these two machines to accomplish this? Ripping up the area with the box blade scarifiers then removing with loader? Backhoe? Looking for any tips, tricks, and basic excavation strategy ideas for this. Thank you

 

[3Ts]

I've got a similar project coming up so I'm interested in the answers too.

 

[MossRoad]

If its a pole structure, the ones I've seen, the don't bring in the fill or concrete until the frame is up and the base sideboards are in.

 

[sodamo]

Pics might be helpful

 

[DIESELbowhunter]

Here is the best pic I have right now. All wood is already removed from area . It wont be a pole like building it will just be resting on the stone.

 

[nybirdman]

I cleared an area for a 30x40 pole barn with a box blade and tooth bar on my bucket.Single bottom "potato" plow my be used to break the sod.Just did the same for my 24x32 pole barn this summer.

 

[DIESELbowhunter]

I cleared an area for a 30x40 pole barn with a box blade and tooth bar on my bucket.Single bottom "potato" plow my be used to break the sod.Just did the same for my 24x32 pole barn this summer.

Thanks for your input. In this situation is is best to dig a general area, about the size of the tractor, to the desired depth then work your way in?

 

[EddieWalker]

Here is the best pic I have right now. All wood is already removed from area . It wont be a pole like building it will just be resting on the stone.View attachment 617170

Top soil is organic material that is decomposing that you cannot compact. I do not see anything that looks like topsoil in your picture. Do not remove virgin ground. It is VERY VERY hard to get new fill dirt to compact anywhere near as good as virgin soil.

What is your drainage situation? In most cases, it is better to bring in fill to build up a pad so water runs away from it. Even better if you can just remove some material from around the sides of where the building is going to be to increase drainage and not touch the soil where the building is going to be. Spray round up and be done!!!

 

[DIESELbowhunter]

Hi Eddie,
Very interesting. To be completely honest with you, I am not really sure why I automatically assumed it was actual topsoil. I am new to the property and from what I’ve been told, that area used to be wooded and over the course of 30 years, big trees were removed and became the overall area to process firewood. As far as drainage goes, I’ve never seen any water puddle there and everything dries up pretty fast in that section of property so I definitely agree with a raised pad. Assuming no soil needs to be removed, what would the best action be then? Just flattened/level, maybe a little modified ( I prefer that surface inside ) and build? Here is a picture of what is to be built

Again thanks for everyone’s help. New homeowner, new tractor owner, nooby here ��

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm assuming from the picture that no posts where set in the ground, which is why they have those beams going across the ground. Do you plan on drilling holes into the ground for posts? This will tell you more about your soil then anything else.

Here, where I live in East Texas, we have mostly red clay and something called iron ore, which is red dirt mixed in with lots of tiny rocks, some that have enough iron in them to be picked up with a magnet. There closest thing that we have to top soil is where the leaves build up in the trees, but once you rake up all the leaves, you are on solid soil.

Back in CA, where I'm from, it was all topsoil that was called loam, and it grew the best crops, but if you went up in elevation, the soil became rocky and there was no topsoil. Before they went crazy with Code and Earthquakes, foundations where minimal.

From what I see in your pictures, I would drill the holes for the posts and start building.