[bricknblock]

Scenario: Excavate 500 square foot area for brickpaver driveway...would it be uncommon practice to sub-out the excavation to a excavating company, how well would this work? Potential problems? Expected cost per yard? Anybody try this route? Don't have the equipment, and think things may go smoother this way as opposed to renting the equipment and doing it myself...not very skilled with a bobcat or backhoe, thanks in advance for any info

[cutntrim]

Uncommon? No, I don't think so. Should work fine. You might want to get them to put in the gravel as well. Get your utility locates done in advance.

[John Palasek]

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500 sq. ft.?


Why not just rent a loader and do it yourself? If you dig down a foot or so, you'll be removing a little less than 20 cu. yds of material. Rent a 20 cu. yd. dumpster and you're all set.
An excavation like that should only take a few hours. And when you're done, have the base delivered and you can use the rented loader to lay that in as well.\

Even if you had to rent an additional 10 yard dumpster, I still think you'd be saving money since the loader can do other things for you while you have it, such as move paver materials into place.

Usually when I rent a dumpster for these types of ripouts I get a good rate as long as I don't mix the load with any organic debris like tree limbs, grass, etc.

Plain old soil is OK.

Anyway, you know your situation better than I, but going the rental route might be something to consider.



-JP




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[Raj Venugopal]

sub it out. less headache, less fooling around.

You do what you do best, hire someone to do your sitework if they can be sourced reasonably priced.

On the fill up of clean rock, take control back when you're at the screed bed stage.

Ensure proper compaction throughout.
Raj

[Pelican]

Just be sure you know your contractor and his abilities. One risk is over-excavation, in which case you'll run over on your base materials cost. I'd be sure to be there to observe so this doesn't happen.

[familyguy]

you seemed to be looking for more work judging from your other posts.

it would seem to me, if that is the case, that you would be better off doing the work yourself to keep money coming in and stay busy.

as to not being very good with equipment, TRIAL BY FIRE as my former employer used to say. decide if there is anything you could really damage (utilities or structures) and if not, take your time and learn how to use a piece of equipment better.

if you are planning to be in the landscape construction end of things you will probly need to learn sooner or later anyway.

[start2finish]

I agree with Pelican, make sure the operator know what he is doing. We commonly do excavation or hauling for other landscapers in our area. Guys that don't have the equipment and can pay me for 2 hours what it would have taken them all day. My rates for 2 hours are a little cheaper than a days rental and delivery of equipment. Plus I will haul the equipment with a dump truck so they make use of that as well. Seems strange to work for a competitor, but it works great for both parties.

[bricknblock]

start2finish, thanks for the info, didn't even think that this might be charged by the hour, can you give me an idea of what you would charge? do you haul it away as well?

[start2finish]

when we do this type of work we will if needed. Every market and business are different. But a minimum charge will be $300.00
that is for us. and sending one person to the job only. This allows us to keep whatever we have going on from delay.

[HRLand]

For those that own a mini-x and/or loader, at what size job would sub out the excavation? I have both but wonder if I'm better off subbing out the excavation on a 1700 sf driveway. Digging is not a problem but hauling away that much material could take a long time with a 5 ton dump. I could have someone dig and haul for $1500.00.

[dan deutekom]

I will sub out my excavation on anything that is going to require hauling away more than about 5 yards of material. Although I am competant with machinery (and I love running it) I find it is usually faster and cheaper to sub it out to the guys that have the machinery, trucks and dump site for spoils. I have several trusted subs that just need to have the area marked out. I like to install my own base but I will quite often have them do this also, while I am there.