The Big Dig

grumpy · By: **grumpy** On: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:24 pm

So far today..

009to090 · By: **009to090** On: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:41 pm

Is that a stihl TS700 cutting saw? Got one. Man..... do they cut!

Ramp is beginning to take shape :clap:

grumpy · By: **grumpy** On: Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:31 pm

By the end of the day.

009to090 · By: **009to090** On: Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:53 pm

WOW! it must be easy diggin there!

grumpy · By: **grumpy** On: Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:57 pm

009to090 wrote:WOW! it must be easy diggin there!

All I can say is I'm freaking out...

2001Sierra · By: **2001Sierra** On: Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:25 pm

grumpy wrote:All I can say is I'm freaking out...

You will settle down once you get into it, looks like you have the proper equipment, keep up the nice work

CapeCoaler · By: **CapeCoaler** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:19 am

Jackin' it or just underpinning the existing foundation...

grumpy · By: **grumpy** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:57 am

CapeCoaler wrote:Jackin' it or just underpinning the existing foundation...

What I am doing is called benching, it's different from underpinning.

stovepipemike · By: **stovepipemike** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:35 am

Don't forget proper ventilation while working in confined spaces. Mike

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:35 am

009to090 wrote:WOW! it must be easy diggin there!

I'd say it is. The ground here is worst ground I've ever seen. when I dug the hole for flagpole which was 2 feet across and 3 feet down it took me almost 3 hours, it was that bad. If I got anything more than a handful of dirt with the post hole digger it was a good shot. When the guy excavated the trenches for the footer they were twice as wide as he wanted, there was just so much rock he couldn't help it. Worked out good for us though because he didn't use forms and just poured them in the hole. They are three feet across in one place. LOL

Dennis · By: **Dennis** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:40 am

stovepipemike wrote:Don't forget proper ventilation while working in confined spaces. Mike

I will add one more too that. Make sure that if you are in the house above, have the door or windows open since the exhaust C/O from the loader will rise through the floors

freetown fred · By: **freetown fred** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:03 am

Crap Richard, it takes that long here on the hill to sink a T-post.

Richard S. wrote:
009to090 wrote:WOW! it must be easy diggin there!

I'd say it is. The ground here is worst ground I've ever seen. when I dug the hole for flagpole which was 2 feet across and 3 feet down it took me almost 3 hours, it was that bad. If I got anything more than a handful of dirt with the post hole digger it was a good shot. When the guy excavated the trenches for the footer they were twice as wide as he wanted, there was just so much rock he couldn't help it. Worked out good for us though because he didn't use forms and just poured them in the hole. They are three feet across in one place. LOL

LsFarm · By: **LsFarm** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:51 am

Grumpy's house is a concrete block house, so the below-grade blocks become the walls of the house above grade.. so there is NO lifting of his house.

The process is going to be to dig out the basement to withing about 24" of the existing foundation block walls, then put down a footing, and build a block wall to retain the original, undisturbed dirt under the foundation.. The new wall and the 24" 'shelf' will be capped with a concrete slab.. the result will be a 24" shelf all the way around the inside of the basement..
It's the only way to make it work.

I've got to take a road trip and go see the 'big dig' in progress. Maybe tomorrow.

Greg L

CapeCoaler · By: **CapeCoaler** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:35 am

No footers on that old foundation...

SMITTY · By: **SMITTY** On: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:38 pm

See I knew this could be done! I've had this plan in the back of my mind forever to drive under the house with a small bobcat & scoop everything out of there. Now if I could only get around the $500 a day they want to rent one around here ....

Mine is loaded with rocks. Some of them part of the fieldstone foundation, so it would be an interesting job, that's for sure. With all the additions put on this place over the past 160+ years I'd need quite a few lolly columns I'd bet. Praying I hit some gold bars too .... :angel:

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