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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > July 2005 > Moving Dirt
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| Charlie S. 2005-07-13, 11:25 pm |
| Would like to clear out some dirt from under the porch and pour in some
cement. I am going to call some contractors tomorrow to find out if they
could use it for fill. If I don't have any luck, I may call for a small
dumpster container. (I don't know if they will take dirt???
My plan is to shovel the dirt onto a wheelbarrow. Then, wheel it to the
dump truck or dumpster. Seems like I'd have to shovel the dirt again...
from the wheelbarrow to the truck or dumpster. Is there an easy way to move
the dirt without hiring a truck with some sort of scoop. Ideally, there
would be some sort of ramp I could use. Any suggestions?
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| Edwin Pawlowski 2005-07-14, 4:25 am |
|
"Charlie S." <charliestam@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:OyiBe.7499$jh4.4633@trndny09...
quote:
> Would like to clear out some dirt from under the porch and pour in some
> cement. I am going to call some contractors tomorrow to find out if they
> could use it for fill. If I don't have any luck, I may call for a small
> dumpster container. (I don't know if they will take dirt???
I sometimes see signs in fron of houses "clean fill wanted" by people th at
want to fill in their yard. You can post on the craiglist web site that you
have fill available. If you really get lucky, maybe you can get some help
digging.
quote:
>
> My plan is to shovel the dirt onto a wheelbarrow. Then, wheel it to the
> dump truck or dumpster. Seems like I'd have to shovel the dirt again...
> from the wheelbarrow to the truck or dumpster. Is there an easy way to
> move the dirt without hiring a truck with some sort of scoop. Ideally,
> there would be some sort of ramp I could use. Any suggestions?
None offhand, but I'd consider building a ramp of some sort. At least a 2 x
10 that would get you up to tailgate height of a pickup. Any chance of
backing that pickup right to the dig site?
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| Bob G. 2005-07-14, 12:25 pm |
| On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:43:26 GMT, "Charlie S."
<charliestam@verizon.net> wrote:
quote:
>Would like to clear out some dirt from under the porch and pour in some
>cement. I am going to call some contractors tomorrow to find out if they
>could use it for fill. If I don't have any luck, I may call for a small
>dumpster container. (I don't know if they will take dirt???
>
>My plan is to shovel the dirt onto a wheelbarrow. Then, wheel it to the
>dump truck or dumpster. Seems like I'd have to shovel the dirt again...
>from the wheelbarrow to the truck or dumpster. Is there an easy way to move
>the dirt without hiring a truck with some sort of scoop. Ideally, there
>would be some sort of ramp I could use. Any suggestions?
>
==================================
Do a Google search under FREECYCLE .. I know that in Maryland Yahoo
has about a dozen FreeCycle groups... the purpose is to GIVE away
JUNK .... Sort of one persons junk is another treasure...
Heck some guy was giving away 200 or so 8 inch block the other day
locally....which I missed out on... LOL
always a ton of baby cloths but I bet someone locally has a need for
a little dirt...
Bob G
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| wkearney99 2005-07-14, 12:25 pm |
| > I am going to call some contractors tomorrow to find out if they
quote:
> could use it for fill. If I don't have any luck, I may call for a small
> dumpster container. (I don't know if they will take dirt???
Most dumps charge by weight, it doesn't matter what's in there. Barring
restrictions on materials, of course. I took about 12 tons of clay soil
outta my backyard last summer. Sunbelt rents backhoes. They also rent
trailers. Do NOT get one without the hydraulic dump bed. No sense in
shoveling it into the trailer only to have to shovel it back out again.
Look for new home construction nearby. If you've got clean dirt that's just
the soil, not leaves, sticks or other waste, then they might let you dump a
bit of it. I got rid of several trailer loads this way (after paying the
dump a few times...)
quote:
> My plan is to shovel the dirt onto a wheelbarrow. Then, wheel it to the
> dump truck or dumpster. Seems like I'd have to shovel the dirt again...
> from the wheelbarrow to the truck or dumpster. Is there an easy way to
move
quote:
> the dirt without hiring a truck with some sort of scoop. Ideally, there
> would be some sort of ramp I could use. Any suggestions?
The backhoe cost me around $200 to rent for a couple of days. It was a
Terra-mite; a small backhoe. Really pretty easy to operate once you get the
hang of it. One side's a regular scoop and the other's a backhoe. But
whether or not you could use one depends on just what it'll take to get that
dirt out. Otherwise, get a trailer intended for landscaping use. They
usually have a swing gate/ramp on the back. Then you can just drop the ramp
and wheel in the wheelbarrow. But these don't always have a hydraulic dump
lift and those that do don't always have a ramp gate. Mine didn't, BIG
mistake. I had to shovel the damned stuff back out of there after having
loaded it up sooooo easily with the TerraMite.
Also, some dumpster services will bring a half-container that has a swing
gate. You just roll into it and pile it up.
Dirt is heavy, make sure whatever you tow it with can handle the weight. A
landscape trailer that's entirely filled weighed in at around 8000 pounds.
So don't go filling a trailer unless you're certain the truck can move it.
That and the trailer might not be rated for that much weight. When it blows
a tire you will be *ASTOUNDED* at how easily it just whips you and your
truck around in a 360 across 3 lanes of traffic... Bring spare shorts.
Also consider that dirt will expand when you dig it up. What looks like
only a few cubic yards turns into quite a bit more when dug up. It's all
nice and compacted in the ground but fill of extra space and air when broken
up into shovelfuls.
Spreading it around is good advice but only if the soil's suitable, mine
wasn't due to being almost entirely clay. No sense smearing all that orange
crap on top of already good topsoil.
| |
| wkearney99 2005-07-14, 12:25 pm |
| > A huge mound of it is in the way of some columns I'm putting in to
stabilize
quote:
> the porch. I also have a feeling the dirt may have pushed against the
> granite footing causing some of the structural problems. Although, that
is
quote:
> only a very small part of the overall problem. One concern, I do have is
> that living on a hill is, will the cement migrate some over the course of
> the next 100 years. I wouldn't imagine it would as the incline is very
> slight. But, I may need to pitch it a little away from the house.
>
> I've never cemented before. I was thinking of making sections using 2x4.
I
quote:
> may need to break up the space a bit as cold winters may make for some
> cracking. Although, there isn't any water problem below. I'll be asking
> more procedural questions on this group if and when I get to that stage.
Why does the porch need stabilizing? And if you're in an area with freeze
issues there may be more to the work than you think. Frost heave can affect
porch posts if they're not set deep enough into the soil. The depth varies
depending on where you're located.
Granite footing? Some natural rock already there or something put down just
for the porch? Again, if you've got freezing winters that's not usually
enough for porch supports. If they're just buried on the top only a few
inches deep that's a problem. Sometimes that can be solved just by
installing some temporary steel support columns, removing the current post,
digging and pouring a new footing and replacing the post.
Dirt generally doesn't 'migrate' unless it's on a loose substrate or has a
lot of water running onto it. As in, a pile of soil put on top of a bunch
of construction debris alongside the botton of a hill.
You generally can't just pour a slab and use that as a base for posts.
Well, you COULD but it's certainly not up to building code in many areas.
Better to sink a post hole (to the proper depth) and put down a footing or
two in the needed locations than pour a slab that's going to heave and
crack. Most counties have guidelines on porch/deck installations. Search
the web for the one in your area. Whether or not you follow the code (or
get a permit) is entirely up to you but you'd do well to find out what they
require. Better safe than sorry.
-Bill Kearney
| |
| Charlie S. 2005-07-14, 6:25 pm |
|
"wkearney99" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:HMGdnayaQJb08UvfRVn-jg@speakeasy.net...
quote:
> stabilize
> is
> I
>
> Why does the porch need stabilizing? And if you're in an area with freeze
> issues there may be more to the work than you think.
I'm finding that out the hard way. There a number of issues. Water and
weight distribution are keys.
Frost heave can affect
quote:
> porch posts if they're not set deep enough into the soil. The depth
> varies
> depending on where you're located.
Yes, water is a key culprit. One granite column and a couple 4X4 columns
are supporting the front corner of the porch. The granite situation is not
the best. The blocks are thin and rest vertically on top of each other. On
the other edge of this corner, the mortar has come apart and water damaged
the supporting wooden columns. Thus, no support whatsover here.
quote:
>
> Granite footing? Some natural rock already there or something put down
> just
> for the porch? Again, if you've got freezing winters that's not usually
> enough for porch supports. If they're just buried on the top only a few
> inches deep that's a problem.
You described this porch. It's a fairly large porch. L-shaped.... 19x10
and 16x6 following the L.
Sometimes that can be solved just by
quote:
> installing some temporary steel support columns, removing the current
> post,
> digging and pouring a new footing and replacing the post.
This is a bit of problem. There isn't much room abehind the corners where
the columns now rest.
I was thinking of digging a hole and catching the corner the best I could
with a temporary lally column as best I could. Doesn't appeal to me all
that well. Instead, I was thinking of sinking a number of sona tubes
beneath the porch. Spaced 6 ft apart. (Someone told me that is in the
city's code.) Then, running three 2x8 boards (nailed together) beneath the
rafters while supporting them with wooden posts (or rented lally columns, if
there is such a thing) that would rest upon the sona tubed cement.
I was thinking of running the boards a foot beyond the sill. And, place
lally columns behind the granite base with the new boards resting on them.
The pressure would now be on the boards/lally columns and not on the
granite. That way I could dig out the granite base and dig down 4 feet or so
to build a better footing to rest the base granite on. Afterward, build the
sill up with granite and/or steel posts, then I could cut the extended
boards.
quote:
> Dirt generally doesn't 'migrate' unless it's on a loose substrate or has a
> lot of water running onto it. As in, a pile of soil put on top of a bunch
> of construction debris alongside the botton of a hill.
Makes sense.
quote:
>
> You generally can't just pour a slab and use that as a base for posts.
> Well, you COULD but it's certainly not up to building code in many areas.
> Better to sink a post hole (to the proper depth) and put down a footing or
> two in the needed locations than pour a slab that's going to heave and
> crack. Most counties have guidelines on porch/deck installations.
> Search
> the web for the one in your area. Whether or not you follow the code (or
> get a permit) is entirely up to you but you'd do well to find out what
> they
> require. Better safe than sorry.
This seems like it might be a bit of headache. May try and get someone to
help me here.
quote:
>
> -Bill Kearney
>
| |
| Charlie S. 2005-07-14, 11:25 pm |
| I took a few photos of the porch and put some of them on the web.
Unfortunately, I couldn't use the software very well and couldn't put them
in any particular order.
http://mysite.verizon.net/stamkis/
"wkearney99" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:HMGdnayaQJb08UvfRVn-jg@speakeasy.net...
quote:
> stabilize
> is
> I
>
> Why does the porch need stabilizing? And if you're in an area with freeze
> issues there may be more to the work than you think. Frost heave can
> affect
> porch posts if they're not set deep enough into the soil. The depth
> varies
> depending on where you're located.
>
> Granite footing? Some natural rock already there or something put down
> just
> for the porch? Again, if you've got freezing winters that's not usually
> enough for porch supports. If they're just buried on the top only a few
> inches deep that's a problem. Sometimes that can be solved just by
> installing some temporary steel support columns, removing the current
> post,
> digging and pouring a new footing and replacing the post.
>
> Dirt generally doesn't 'migrate' unless it's on a loose substrate or has a
> lot of water running onto it. As in, a pile of soil put on top of a bunch
> of construction debris alongside the botton of a hill.
>
> You generally can't just pour a slab and use that as a base for posts.
> Well, you COULD but it's certainly not up to building code in many areas.
> Better to sink a post hole (to the proper depth) and put down a footing or
> two in the needed locations than pour a slab that's going to heave and
> crack. Most counties have guidelines on porch/deck installations.
> Search
> the web for the one in your area. Whether or not you follow the code (or
> get a permit) is entirely up to you but you'd do well to find out what
> they
> require. Better safe than sorry.
>
> -Bill Kearney
>
| |
| Stormin Mormon 2005-07-15, 12:25 pm |
| How about scatter the dirt out onto the lawn? It would settle among the
grass, and you'd hardly know it was there.
Hire the neighborhood kids to stomp down all the dirtclods, and it would
hardly raise the lawn any.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com
"Charlie S." <charliestam@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:OyiBe.7499$jh4.4633@trndny09...
Would like to clear out some dirt from under the porch and pour in some
cement. I am going to call some contractors tomorrow to find out if they
could use it for fill. If I don't have any luck, I may call for a small
dumpster container. (I don't know if they will take dirt???
My plan is to shovel the dirt onto a wheelbarrow. Then, wheel it to the
dump truck or dumpster. Seems like I'd have to shovel the dirt again...
from the wheelbarrow to the truck or dumpster. Is there an easy way to move
the dirt without hiring a truck with some sort of scoop. Ideally, there
would be some sort of ramp I could use. Any suggestions?
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