Site prep

[Jpcjguy]

Hi all,

I am looking at doing a detached garage - 30x30 and looking at possible tackling the site prep myself. Here is a picture of the area:

The garage would go right where the shed and garden are located. I would move those. I am in Richmond, VA and my frost line is 18". I would rent a mini excavator to dig the footings. My neighbor has a CASE DX25e with LX110 attachment (turf tires) - would that be enough to strip the top soil? I would have the concrete guy do the final grading/gravel and compaction.
This is all new to me - but feel like my location is as simple as it could be - and it would be nice to save some $$$ possibly.

Thanks
Joe

 

[davesl708]

Sounds like a great project. The Case would probably do ok if the soil is soft and moist. Hard clay would be a lot of work for the DX25.

 

[Jpcjguy]

There is some clay but not rock hard. Worst case is I give it a shot and if too tough, let the concrete guy do it.

 

[bigtiller]

There is some clay but not rock hard. Worst case is I give it a shot and if too tough, let the concrete guy do it.

Let the concrete guy do it. You probably won't do it to his liking and he will re-do-it anyway. Besides, a good skid steer operator can do it faster and cheaper than you can renting and learning how to DIY.

 

[reeltime]

Started my prep for a Contrete slab and found this in the middle of it

 

[Egon]

Time is a problem with a rented machine. Many times it's required again just days after returning it.

 

[reeltime]

You will never know what you are going to find once you start digging it some times it is best to pay then attempt it yourself

 

[Jpcjguy]

Yikes! That is a huge rock!!! You all are probably right and let the concrete guy do the work. I just like learning something new - but not if it will cost me a lot more.
Now if I can find a friend with a mini excavator....

 

[boggen]

i am going to go with others as well. let the contractor do the work. more so if you never done anything of the sorts.

normally you NEVER want to dig deeper than you have to. and then need to bring in fill to fill back in were you dug down to far. mainly due to compaction issues, that will leading to settle issues later down the road, and result is garage concrete floor cracking.

another issue is making sure "water" runs away from the shed. so run off water to ground water does not directly pool in around the ground below shed. causing extra 'frost heave" issues. and causing concrete floor to crack.

you say top soil, you might be just talking top soil just because it is growing grass. vs actual back dirt top soil that is more squishy / does not compact real well (holds to much water in it).