Using a CUT when building foundations/septic

[MHarryE]

Sometimes you need to hire out but now I do most of the work myself except when it comes to hauling lots of material. As an example my house addition and 2 machine sheds are all built on slabs. I spent way more time than a contractor would getting the gravel spread and compacted just the way I wanted it, leveled to a gnat's eyeball. The time I spent would drive a contractor crazy and also drive cost but having time available (both my wife's and mine) I could do it. I did investigate contractors before I started first construction in 2002 when I bought this place from my father. Now I wish that at that time I had more time than money because their work needs tweaking. Do whatever you can yourself. You're the one who has to live with it and the trend is to do more quality work.

 

[dragoneggs]

Sometimes you need to hire out but now I do most of the work myself except when it comes to hauling lots of material. As an example my house addition and 2 machine sheds are all built on slabs. I spent way more time than a contractor would getting the gravel spread and compacted just the way I wanted it, leveled to a gnat's eyeball. The time I spent would drive a contractor crazy and also drive cost but having time available (both my wife's and mine) I could do it. I did investigate contractors before I started first construction in 2002 when I bought this place from my father. Now I wish that at that time I had more time than money because their work needs tweaking. Do whatever you can yourself. You're the one who has to live with it and the trend is to do more quality work.

Yep time and the right tools is most of the equation. The rest is knowing what the heck you are doing. Experience goes a long way in reducing time.

 

[GManBart]

So if we ignore time spent and ignore interfacing with contractors... I'm wondering how much of the job a CUT could handle, given that my site is fairly flat pasture. I'm assuming that I can dig 2 foot trenches, level areas, backfill, spread materials, pretty much everything other than excavating deep holes.

And GMan, that's a sweet 'shed'

A CUT should do all of that, but the trenches might be wider than you want/need...it's not always easy to cut a trench from the side with a scoop bucket. Have you thought about whether you'd do a trench footing, or formed? A tooth bar will definitely help the bucket cut, and dig.

Thanks....it's finally showing real progress!

 

[dochockin]

I'm looking at a few FEL implements: tooth bars, rachet rake, rip and dig, pallet fork 'shovel'. I'm still trying to decide how much some of these might overlap. I'm also going to be digging ponds (I hope) and planting plenty of fruit and nut trees over time, so all of these implements should come in handy for multiple uses.

As for wider trenches... well if that part of the operation won't work... so be it.

 

[dragoneggs]

Digging 2ft trenches with your FEL won't be nearly as easy and clean as with a BH. Whether you rent, hire, or buy, I think you will almost assuredly need a BH/excavator. I assume you are talking about buried water/power line ditches? Yes a BH is a bit of a luxury long term but I am finding it very useful in my landscaping projects on my 1.5 acre (lots of slope). At worst it is a great counterweight for your FEL... just kidding :laughing: The FEL on a CUT is not a powerful digging machine compared to a BH but adding a tooth bar changes that greatly. Stumps and ditches make the BH worth it. Sorry... I know you said that was out of the question but just wanted you to give it a little more thought if you haven't done so already. Many folks here do without and once the 'big' jobs are done, might not use them much. BUT! If you do the site prep and ditching yourself, then the BH seems almost a must to me.

 

[Rock knocker]

.......I spent way more time than a contractor would getting the gravel spread and compacted just the way I wanted it, leveled to a gnat's eyeball. The time I spent would drive a contractor crazy .......

Maybe, maybe not. While you could have been out there with a old optical level and a ruler, contractors can have GPS or laser grading tools. You may think getting a perfect grade is onerous and entails getting on and off the machine a thousand times, it could be routine for a guy with all the gizmos that are common for professionals

 

[MHarryE]

Maybe, maybe not. While you could have been out there with a old optical level and a ruler, contractors can have GPS or laser grading tools. You may think getting a perfect grade is onerous and entails getting on and off the machine a thousand times, it could be routine for a guy with all the gizmos that are common for professionals

I don't find contractors here having laser and GPS equipped machinery if they are doing septic system and rural home sites. Sure if it was a multi-million dollar project. Then again let's take a centimeter accuracy GPS controlled dozer with an 8' blade. The blade will be spot on but that does not guarantee all the material across the span of the blade is evenly touching the blade, nor does it guarantee even compaction across that width. I had to redo part of my sewer line because the contractor screwed up slightly on the grade in part of a 120 foot run and I ended up with a frozen sewer line my first 2 winters. By then I had my own mini-excavator and laser so I could correct the job. If a person has the proper tools to do a job, although they may take more time than a large contractor, they are able to do the job as well or better.

 

[Rock knocker]

I see dirt guys doing foundation work using lasers, whether a SFR or a monstrosity of a type V multi-use building

 

[jenkinsph]

I am building up a laser set up for my tractor and box blade currently. Very few building contractors in my area who have used more than a rotating laser with a stick. I hope that having automatic machine control will help, we will see. Building a good roller too that is about 400 lbs/ft since you have to have firm ground to know what you have.