What to do: Stump grinding leftovers
- Thread starter Bamaram
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sandman2234
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$150 for 10 yards is expensive in this neighborhood. Going price right now is $90 to $100 for an 18 yard dumptruck. Everywhere is different, so shop around a little, at least for a bigger truckload. You would be surprised at how far an 18 yard dumptruck load of dirt WON't GO! It seems like a lot if your shoveling it, but if your filling holes, it goes away fast.
Like others already posted, I agree with getting the mulch out of the hole as best you can. I came home years ago and my Father in law was raking the chips back into the hole on a stump that was right on the edge of my driveway (dirt drive). I got into an arguement with him about it, him saying it would be ok, and me knowing better. Wife got onto me for argueing with him over it, saying he was just trying to help. I left it alone, and to this day I have something to remind me of him, a soft spot in the edge of my driveway. (I have other better things to remind me of him also, so don't take that wrong)
David from jax
Like others already posted, I agree with getting the mulch out of the hole as best you can. I came home years ago and my Father in law was raking the chips back into the hole on a stump that was right on the edge of my driveway (dirt drive). I got into an arguement with him about it, him saying it would be ok, and me knowing better. Wife got onto me for argueing with him over it, saying he was just trying to help. I left it alone, and to this day I have something to remind me of him, a soft spot in the edge of my driveway. (I have other better things to remind me of him also, so don't take that wrong)
David from jax
RxRatedZ71
Gold Member
I, too, have MANY stumps that i need ground down. If you dont mind me asking, what did they charge you for that number of stumps? Ive got some 30"+ ones that i just hate to use a rental on and cant seem to find a vermeer rental unit. I have always wondered if they give a bulk discount for a large number of stumps.
Carl_NH
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Bamaram,
$150 for 10 yds delivered is same it is here in NH but as Sandman said 10yds doesnt go far with what 28 stumps usually the hole if done right is 3X the original stump to get the outlying roots. I can see a that taking a 1/3 yard per hole or more if you need to level the ground around the stumps which is usually the case.
I would get 18 yards as thats a "normal" sized load for most. I had the same problem a fellow came in with a 75HP Vermeer 24" cutter head and would do a whole 30" stump in about 15 minutes. Went so fast I didnt rake everything away until the next weekend to find some root tailings leftover - I just used the BH and some more dirt to cover these.
RX - most guys will do a "day rate" and as long as the stumps are accessible and not in a pile of rocks $350 a day is about right for a Rayco or similar 30HP size with operator - if larger like the VErmeer I had here they get a bit more because they can do more. If the guy wants to only charge by the inch look around for someone else is my suggestion.
Ive rented them for $150 a day and for what I got done vs $350 a day I won't rent again.
Carl
$150 for 10 yds delivered is same it is here in NH but as Sandman said 10yds doesnt go far with what 28 stumps usually the hole if done right is 3X the original stump to get the outlying roots. I can see a that taking a 1/3 yard per hole or more if you need to level the ground around the stumps which is usually the case.
I would get 18 yards as thats a "normal" sized load for most. I had the same problem a fellow came in with a 75HP Vermeer 24" cutter head and would do a whole 30" stump in about 15 minutes. Went so fast I didnt rake everything away until the next weekend to find some root tailings leftover - I just used the BH and some more dirt to cover these.
RX - most guys will do a "day rate" and as long as the stumps are accessible and not in a pile of rocks $350 a day is about right for a Rayco or similar 30HP size with operator - if larger like the VErmeer I had here they get a bit more because they can do more. If the guy wants to only charge by the inch look around for someone else is my suggestion.
Ive rented them for $150 a day and for what I got done vs $350 a day I won't rent again.
Carl
missingstexas
Silver Member
sandman2234 said:
Wish I lived closer to you guys! Around here topsoil (not river sand or clay) is closer to $250 for a 10 yd truck. Then again most land only has a good 12 to 18 inches of the stuff before you get clay so it's hard to find.
No problem! Prices vary so much from region to region. I know I got an absolute deal here in Alabama as I compared it to renting a machine ($185 for a Vermeer SC252 and it would have took me at least 4 days never having used one before) and also comparing other contractor's prices. I had the most luck negotiating a deal per stump. I was able to get the guy down to $35 a stump and I had 34 stumps which I felt was great for my area. I measured the stumps before hand and the smallest was 18" and the largest was 34" all the rest came in around 24 to 25" and all were pine with the exception of a few Bradford Pear trees which were very small. Carl has a good idea of getting a day rate, but I have found most stump grinders think they can do a whole lot more in a day than they actually can so will you pay them another full day if they don't finish? I would wonder about their incentive to work hard with that as well, but that too may differ in your area or if you know them well. Also ask if they are willing to come back and finish off any roots that are leftover. I know my contractor told me that was part of the deal. I'm going to be plowing up the area where my stumps were so that was huge to me. One section will be all finished lawn and the other will be a vegetable garden.
As for the top soil $150 is about as cheap as I can find here. Another guy offer to fill up a pickup truck bed for $80 dollars a load, but that seemed very high. I agree I will definitely need more than one load, but the guy I'm getting the soil from only has a single axle converted dump truck. Maybe a dumb question here, but he says all the soil is top soil and no rocks/roots in it. Should I go and check the dirt out before I have it delivered? I don't want him showing up with a pile of clay/ chirt and thinking that is goin in my yard. I don't expect black organic mass, but if I'm paying for it I don't want garbage either. Any advice? Thanks for all the replies!
Carl_NH
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Bamaram,
On the topsoil @ $15 a yard it should be at least 3/4" or 1/2" screened - maybe little rocks and thats about it.
A single axle dump with higher sides should hold 10yds but thats a loaded truck. You can inspect it when he/she shows up and before they dump it. If it has a lot of rocks then you can send it back or use it as a base in the stump holes but pay less.
Since you dont have a FEL see if they will drop 2-3 smaller piles to makes spreading easier too.
On the topsoil @ $15 a yard it should be at least 3/4" or 1/2" screened - maybe little rocks and thats about it.
A single axle dump with higher sides should hold 10yds but thats a loaded truck. You can inspect it when he/she shows up and before they dump it. If it has a lot of rocks then you can send it back or use it as a base in the stump holes but pay less.
Since you dont have a FEL see if they will drop 2-3 smaller piles to makes spreading easier too.
sandman2234
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I didn't pay for my stump grinding. Wood Borers were coming thru the adjoining properties and I went ahead and had my trees cut prior to getting hit with them. The cutter negoiated with my neighbors to cut theirs also, but had no way to get them out short of building a road. He had also purchased the trees on another section behind that which couldn't be reached, but with my access he was able to harvest all of them and haul them out on my property. I got paid the agreed upon rate, plus all my stumps ground down, plus a couple loads of dirt to fill in the truck tracks (I spread it by MY choice) and had all of my limbs/tops piled up for burning, waiting a burn ban lift. He would have come back and burnt them if I had called him, but I handled the piles myself. All in all it turned out pretty good for me, though I hated loosing the trees.
Have you considered renting a backhoe rather than grinding the stumps? I read an article once about a tree farm that was cut, and the stumps had to be removed and everyone was sky high on the price of grinding them. One guy underbid everyone, rented a serious track hoe and in three swipes with the bucket had each stump out. Might be worth considering...
David from jax
Have you considered renting a backhoe rather than grinding the stumps? I read an article once about a tree farm that was cut, and the stumps had to be removed and everyone was sky high on the price of grinding them. One guy underbid everyone, rented a serious track hoe and in three swipes with the bucket had each stump out. Might be worth considering...
David from jax
Some folks have all the luck! Definitely check the price of renting an excavator. They will make quick work of even large stumps. BUT remember where your underground utilitites are especially sewer/field lines and septic tanks. Also you will need quite a load of dirt to cover those holes if you use a track hoe.
