The Project or the Tractor...Help!

[KiotiJohn]

I'm just not so sure you should be the one to do this job. An insured expert would be better in my mind. Anything can happen when you're messing around with these walls. That's a big old heavy house, and if you undermine things, you could have more damage than you can shake a backhoe at.
Having said that, I think you could probably do the job with a 71/2 or 81/2' backhoe. I'm not sure how far down you're going to have to dig, but backhoes work the best when they're not at the full length, and in the curling phase they are strongest. If you have to go really deep, in rocks, you're going to start to lose power for digging in the extended position.
I like the idea of a rented or bought used trac hoe. Better reach, stronger hydraulics, and probably a better digger than any CUT backhoe. For all your other jobs a CUT BH should be just great, but I'm just not sure here, because there are too many variables I'm not privy to. Pics are not always worth the extra 1000 words needed.
John

 

[djradz]

With that much area around, he could scrape off a good foot of top soil from that entire side of the building before starting, and that might make the whole production a little less deep.

 

[MaineTWLSB]

The basement it's self is 6'6" deep, give or take a couple inches.

I'm not familar with a Trachoe and don't really want or need another piece of machinery. Mostly just thinking that if I have to take out the loan for the house repair anyways, that I should get as much out of it as possible ie. a BH. But of course I need to feel confident that I can do the job with the BH.

Thanks...keep the thoughts coming....

John

 

[beenthere]

I'd go for it, if it were me.

Support the house well from the inside (already looks like you are not depending on that wall to hold it up, given the steel posts shown in the pics).

If you need some heavy duty digging, hire someone on an hourly basis to come in and do that. Otherwise, give it a try, have a BH for later use, and put some sweat equity into it. Not a better way to build up your tool and toy base. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[AntrimMan]

You have a water problem caused by a poor grade and insufficient attention paid to the accumulation and freezing temps. I know it well. I walked away from what seemed to be good real estate deals because of it. When you fix that rubble stone wall how long will it be until the others need fixed also? This is no small job and it will never end. How much room is left on the lot. Is the house worth moving? There is a lot to be said for modern monolithic foundations and concrete floors.
Whatever you decide please be careful, falling houses take no prisoners.
Best of luck,
Martin

 

[djradz]

Martin, seems like you're being a little overly pessimistic. Looks to me like there is plenty of room to improve drainage and that all that may be required after the repair is some slope away from the house and proper routing of rain gutter runnoff. The area around the house appears to fall off, so there shouldn't be a problem with finding a way to direct the water to lower areas.

 

[MaineTWLSB]

We believe this little flower bed is the culprit (see pic). It was put in last summer and is right where the damaged wall is. Must have let more water into the ground creating more frost?? But the place has stood for at least 110+ years or more and is otherwise is in incredible shape. All floor joists, carrying beams, etc are dry and rot free (or at least very good for a house this old).

The house itself sits up on a hill and water drains away on all sides. I don’t believe drainage will be an issue once it’s done and filled properly.

Thanks again
John

 

[ducksjunk]

Go for the BH. You of course have to support the floor joist just inside the wall. You won't need to dig toward the bank. dig parrallel to the house about 36" out. that's all the room you need for a man to work on the outside of the wall. Most of the work will be done from inside. As for logging... A BH with a hook on the bucket and a few good chains works as well or better than a winch. Sometime a little slower, but more control since you can draw straight in or swing left/right as needed to snake a log out. You just shorten the chain with each draw towards the tractor. You also get some lift when you need it. I've done it this way for many years, and wouldn't be bothered with a winch. Also chains won't wrap around your neck like cables if they break. With that property you'll soon wonder how you ever lived without one. Pulling stumps, digging ditches, burying whatever?, planting trees, loading trucks/trailers. moving all sorts of things. All in all an indespensible tool. Like a third hand.
Richard.

 

[ducksjunk]

Just a P.S. to my previous post. That sounds like a rip off price to excavate the front of that house. Should be able to get that done for not more than $2000.00.
I did a barn foundation a while back in 3 days, and that was slow going, but included taking out the old broken wall. So whatever the hourly rate, you can do the math. A decent sized excavator shouldn't take more than a day to do that.
A backhoe a little longer.
R.

 

[Varmintmist]

Can you do it with a CUT back hoe?? Sure, the guy who put it in the first time used a shovel and a pick. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you have a use for the hoe you might as well give her a try. Dig away from the house itself and pull into your trench from the stuff that is close to the foundation. If you cant get deep enough, take the top of the ground off and lower the tractor.

That problem didnt happen last year, it has been there for a while. Look for drainage problems from the roof or across the front of the house.