Digging own foundations..

vaio

And check with your builder how much you will save, if they have to get a digger on site anyway to reduce levels or do drainage then the saving might not be very much.

There’s probably a good clue to the best way to do it if they are getting a digger in, how are you going to get rid of the spoil? Skips?

If you do decide to do it, get a bit of ply the width of the trench and 4 feet long, dig a hole to the right depth, drop the ply in and then use a pick (or better a mattock) to break the earth and let it fall onto the ply where it’s easy to shovel away.

If you can shovel straight into a barrow and have another body there to empty it then you save double handling and can swap jobs which makes it easier.

Having said all that I’d still be thinking really hard about getting a digger out on hire

Grz.26

Thank you for all your replies. I will be getting a builder in to build upwards. I have a initial meeting with him on Saturday.

Do you know a rough price for a digger..

The site is fairly small, and access maybe a issue.

vaio

http://www.speedyhire.com/Light-Plant/Mini-Plant/Micro-Excavator/p-1-8-9-50/

will go through a standard door way

slummymummyof3

If you get a mini digger in and get it to fill a tipper truck, it will be far cheaper than having skips and also loads quicker!

Grz.26

..It also looks much more fun..

slummymummyof3

Indeed it is much more fun than hand digging! Mini digger you are probably looking at approx £150 per day (with driver) and tipper truck prices will vary (ask your mini digger driver - he is bound to have contacts!!)

artha

mervyn11 wrote: »

Of course you can dig your own foundations........only thing to be very careful about is sinking your pickaxe / spade etc through any services that might be buried.
Gas / water / electric / drains / etc etc

Doesn't seem to be limited to DIYers . My builders, on a large extension, went through the mains water supply!

slummymummyof3

At least with a builder you are covered by their insurance - as a diy' er you might find that your buildings insurance doesn't cover you.

House_Hunter

Hiya Grz.26,

Are you planning on doing a thread/blog of your side return extensione? Very interested to hear how it goes.....

Grz.26

Hello there,

I wasent going to, but now you haven mentioned it, very good idea! I shall get on it.

We should be starting in the next couple of months.

Thanks House_Hunter

Richard