zeek89
Member
Hey everyone. I just wanted to say thanks in advance for all of you who take the time to read this thread and offer your insights.
...Where to start? *takes deep breath*
I'm a residential developer and builder. I've hired my brother to work with me next year. He is an experienced gradesman and he will be attending heavy equipment training over the winter (2 weeks in the seat for excavator & backhoe along with 1 week for dozer). He does have some limited experience operating backhoes, excavators and track loaders. His background is large scale civil construction (highways, dams, overpasses).
I've always subbed out my excavation and site works (completely hands off - price for the job complete) but intend to do the bulk of it in house now. When I say site works, I mean:
- driveways & culverts
- foundation excavation
- sewer/water trenching
- backfilling
- utility trenching
- rough grading
- top soil/final grade
For 2020, this involves site works for two semi-detached dwellings located beside each other. In addition to this, we will be installing a private road (230ft) at another site along with utilities, sewer/water and a catch basin. This road will be for 12 new condo units (6 row houses on each side of the road) with construction of the first 6 starting in 2021. The focus of this thread has to do with the construction of the two semi-detached dwellings. I mention the condo project to help clarify the scope of work we will have in the near future. I should also mention that I own all of these units and will be keeping them as long term rentals. The backhoes secondary use would be snow removal. The condo lot already has 12 driveways and a 230ft road. Once complete there will be a 460ft street with 24 driveways to do on that site alone.
Okay, back to the semi-detached dwellings.
I've uploaded 3 photos showing the site along with an edited site plan (HESP.jpg) showing both buildings side by side.
I've got two game plans in mind and would love to hear your thoughts.
Plan A
Hire operator and machine on an hourly basis. My brother will do all layout, grading, hand raking while the operator digs. We would hire a backhoe and operator for the remaining 2 driveways & culverts and a shovel and operator to dig both foundations and trench the sewer/water. Once the foundation forms are removed and concrete cured, we'd get the shovel and operator back to backfill (native soil outside foundation & probably around 200 tonnes of granular A inside foundation and for underside of exterior porch/patios). For utility trenching, rough grading and spreading of topsoil/final grade, we'd get the backhoe and operator back or rent a mini ex & track loader.
Hourly rate for a backhoe and operator in our area = $85-95
Hourly rate for excavator (20-25 tonne) and operator = $130-140
Initially I thought this was the best gameplan as my brother could watch the operators and learn the specifics relating to residential construction. It would also be less for us to manage (we don't have to worry about the equipment or operating them).
Plan B
Rent / Lease to own / Purchase a backhoe
My brother would essentially do everything listed above in Gameplan A with our backhoe. Yes, it would go slower excavating the basements vs using an excavator but we would also not have to deal with booking guys and their equipment, dealing with floats, no-shows, etc. I also like the idea of keeping him in the seat and letting him gain more experience, especially since he will be fresh out of his training course. Once backfill is complete and the framers take over, we can use the backhoe at the condo project site. My plumbing sub is also always looking for trenching work to be completed on their other jobs. All sites are a short drive from each other as well as the shop. We'd put a snow pusher on it in the winter and use it for snow clearing.
I'm now strongly leaning towards Plan B. But I want to make sure a backhoe is capable of doing the scope of work I described above for the semis. The excavation for the footings & stem wall are only 4'6" below grade. We scrape the topsoil off the top down to undisturbed soil inside the foundation and backfill with compacted granular A. Looking at the pictures I've attached and the site plan, is it reasonable to use a backhoe for this? If yes, what would be the workflow you would recommend to get the foundation trenches dug? The picture of the foundation trench dug is from last years semi which is the same footprint and directly south of the two new semis going up.
Does Plan B make sense or do I just want a new toy?
If you made it this far, I owe you a steak dinner and all the beer you can drink.
Cheers
...Where to start? *takes deep breath*
I'm a residential developer and builder. I've hired my brother to work with me next year. He is an experienced gradesman and he will be attending heavy equipment training over the winter (2 weeks in the seat for excavator & backhoe along with 1 week for dozer). He does have some limited experience operating backhoes, excavators and track loaders. His background is large scale civil construction (highways, dams, overpasses).
I've always subbed out my excavation and site works (completely hands off - price for the job complete) but intend to do the bulk of it in house now. When I say site works, I mean:
- driveways & culverts
- foundation excavation
- sewer/water trenching
- backfilling
- utility trenching
- rough grading
- top soil/final grade
For 2020, this involves site works for two semi-detached dwellings located beside each other. In addition to this, we will be installing a private road (230ft) at another site along with utilities, sewer/water and a catch basin. This road will be for 12 new condo units (6 row houses on each side of the road) with construction of the first 6 starting in 2021. The focus of this thread has to do with the construction of the two semi-detached dwellings. I mention the condo project to help clarify the scope of work we will have in the near future. I should also mention that I own all of these units and will be keeping them as long term rentals. The backhoes secondary use would be snow removal. The condo lot already has 12 driveways and a 230ft road. Once complete there will be a 460ft street with 24 driveways to do on that site alone.
Okay, back to the semi-detached dwellings.
I've uploaded 3 photos showing the site along with an edited site plan (HESP.jpg) showing both buildings side by side.
I've got two game plans in mind and would love to hear your thoughts.
Plan A
Hire operator and machine on an hourly basis. My brother will do all layout, grading, hand raking while the operator digs. We would hire a backhoe and operator for the remaining 2 driveways & culverts and a shovel and operator to dig both foundations and trench the sewer/water. Once the foundation forms are removed and concrete cured, we'd get the shovel and operator back to backfill (native soil outside foundation & probably around 200 tonnes of granular A inside foundation and for underside of exterior porch/patios). For utility trenching, rough grading and spreading of topsoil/final grade, we'd get the backhoe and operator back or rent a mini ex & track loader.
Hourly rate for a backhoe and operator in our area = $85-95
Hourly rate for excavator (20-25 tonne) and operator = $130-140
Initially I thought this was the best gameplan as my brother could watch the operators and learn the specifics relating to residential construction. It would also be less for us to manage (we don't have to worry about the equipment or operating them).
Plan B
Rent / Lease to own / Purchase a backhoe
My brother would essentially do everything listed above in Gameplan A with our backhoe. Yes, it would go slower excavating the basements vs using an excavator but we would also not have to deal with booking guys and their equipment, dealing with floats, no-shows, etc. I also like the idea of keeping him in the seat and letting him gain more experience, especially since he will be fresh out of his training course. Once backfill is complete and the framers take over, we can use the backhoe at the condo project site. My plumbing sub is also always looking for trenching work to be completed on their other jobs. All sites are a short drive from each other as well as the shop. We'd put a snow pusher on it in the winter and use it for snow clearing.
I'm now strongly leaning towards Plan B. But I want to make sure a backhoe is capable of doing the scope of work I described above for the semis. The excavation for the footings & stem wall are only 4'6" below grade. We scrape the topsoil off the top down to undisturbed soil inside the foundation and backfill with compacted granular A. Looking at the pictures I've attached and the site plan, is it reasonable to use a backhoe for this? If yes, what would be the workflow you would recommend to get the foundation trenches dug? The picture of the foundation trench dug is from last years semi which is the same footprint and directly south of the two new semis going up.
Does Plan B make sense or do I just want a new toy?
If you made it this far, I owe you a steak dinner and all the beer you can drink.
Cheers
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