A little bit of everything

Jim15 · Jul 12, 2015

Landclearer said:
I think your dad did you a service by making you learn how to drive a manual transmission. I think one day manual trans. will be a like a friction crane, not many around and not many who can drive the few that are left.

I guess our Kubota 121 is about the size of your E42 but yours sure looks bigger. We got an Eager Beaver trailer but it is a 20 ton. I think sometimes it would be nice to have a 161 but like you said, getting into the tight places.

Without a doubt, I'm glad he did. Like he said if you can drive an 8 or 10 speed, you can drive an automatic, not so the other way around.

We definitely like the size of the E42. We had 334s before that, which are 7,500 lb machines, which we would push the limits on and always seemed like we wanted another couple feet of reach.

Something we do a lot of, concrete removal. Gotta love night work, got to try out the GC's old Michigan loader. Definitely would rather have our newer Komatsu or Doosan

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

Some recent job pictures. We've been pretty busy around here, trying to finish up before the snow starts flying, and getting the snow stuff ready.

These pictures are from a 6" SDR Sewer service renewal at a church we did. No pictures of the service, but it was pretty straightforward digging. Also had to remove 2 sections of sidewalk and granite curbing, and saw cut and remove asphalt, reset curbing and patch asphalt and concrete.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

These pictures are from the end of demolition on a decent size addition project. Tore off an old 2 room addition to make way for new. The old CMU/ rubble stone foundation wall was deemed inadequate, so after demo and foundation removal were completed, we did a preliminary excavation to allow shoring to be placed, so we could then remove the old CMU return walls and the foundation wall.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

First picture shows the CMU return walls, large rock, and foundation wall to be removed. The rest of the pictures are of the preliminary excavation to allow for shoring placement.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

First picture was one of the only ones I got of the wall and footing removal because I started the day on another project. The rest are from finishing up the excavation.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

Finally, backfill, basement slab prep, and beginning drainage system installation. This one was fun because the GC decided they wanted the deck on first because they were afraid of the walls collapsing. Lot of confidence in the form guy, but looking at his work I don't blame them.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

Last set for now. A little pool and deck removal job. We normally like to take the whole pool out, but customer didn't want to pay for the extra trucking, disposal, and machine time. So we just brought the beam down 2 feet, broke the whole floor up, and got rid of all the deck. There's a gunite spa by the house that had to be saved, and we re-plumbed. Site access was actually through the neighbors yard, since it was a new house construction, and we otherwise had to take down wooden fence and move a bunch of bushes/trees. No room around the pool, so we had to ramp in the deep end, and out the shallow end to get the rest of the deck. My dad came back the next day to bring the grade up in lifts, and prep for the new paver patio we may do in the Spring.

CM1995 · Oct 25, 2015

Nice work! That addition must've been a PITA at times.

Landclearer · Oct 25, 2015

Nice looking work Jim. The demo and foundation job looks like it was a challenge. Makes you feel good when you finally finish a tough job. I hope the guy with the pool doesn't sell the house to someone who wants new a pool. That would be a nasty little surprise

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

Thanks CM. It definitely was a PITA in the sense that we weren't able to get in, get it done, and get on to the next one like we are accustomed to. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but the whole house is being gutted as well, so the project has been dragging. They're about at 3 months in, they have half a deck on, and the basement slab still isn't poured. It also didn't help that the GC's super and PM quit a month in, they've had a temp PM and super for 2 months, now they have other projects to go to, so they'll be on their third set of the project. It's definitely a circus over there.

kshansen · Oct 25, 2015

Jim15 said:
It also didn't help that the GC's super and PM quit a month in, they've had a temp PM and super for 2 months, now they have other projects to go to, so they'll be on their third set of the project. It's definitely a circus over there.

I just hope you got or will get your money fast. Sounds like a messy project in more than one way.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

Thanks Landclearer. Definitely a pretty involved project, but not our first time removing an existing foundation wall. Usually it's because they want 8 or 9' ceilings in the basements of these 75+ year old New England houses. Regardless, you are right that it feels good to bring our part to about 90% completion. We won't be back till early winter, or probably Spring time if it starts snowing. We have to pipe the discharge for the sump out to 4 new infiltrators, possibly connect the downspouts, and spread and power rake some loam.

As for the pool, definitely not our desired decision, but it was also another $5,000 for the 2 machines for a day, a triaxle for a day, and disposal. Can't blame them there, seeing as though they wanted to do a 1,300 sf new patio around the spa and just materials were $15 sf. That whole pile in the second to last picture, as well as some of the bigger pieces in the last picture were all disposed of though, and the whole floor was broken up, so we did the best job possible to stay within their budget.

Jim15 · Oct 25, 2015

kshansen said:
I just hope you got or will get your money fast. Sounds like a messy project in more than one way.

You nailed it. There's no shortage of work or wants. It seems, however, as the years go by there's fewer and fewer quick payers. Everyone wants to be "Construction Managers" now, and not pay subs until the owner pays them, and they line their accounts.

CM1995 · Oct 25, 2015

I hear ya' Jim. Just about every contract we sign has a "paid when paid" clause. One of the largest GC's we work for will pay before paid sometimes but all the small guys are paid when paid.

old-iron-habit · Oct 25, 2015

CM1995 said:
I hear ya' Jim. Just about every contract we sign has a "paid when paid" clause. One of the largest GC's we work for will pay before paid sometimes but all the small guys are paid when paid.

Curious CM1995. In MN on the paid when paid clause the contractor has 5 work days to pass the funds along by law. Any different there?

CM1995 · Oct 25, 2015

old-iron-habit said:
Curious CM1995. In MN on the paid when paid clause the contractor has 5 work days to pass the funds along by law. Any different there?

State law is payment to sub 7 days after GC gets paid from the owner unless the contract says differently.:cool2 That's where reading and understanding the contract before one signs it is prudent.

http://www.alabamaconstructionlaw.com/files/articles/prompt pay overview article.pdf

As it goes in the construction law world, the State sets the rules but two parties entering into a contract willingly is bound by the terms of the contract.

Alabama law sets retention at 10% of the first 50% of contract value, in other words 5% of the total job. Owners, GC's and subs can agree to 10% of the entire job in the contract, which is the standard here, but one can buck that clause if it's negotiated in the contract up front.

With all that said, one has to keep the machine running and sometimes has to accept terms that aren't ideal.

Jim15 · Nov 1, 2015

Here's another new garage project we just finished up. Can't seem to figure out how to get the pictures in the right order, but oh well. All of the old vertical curbing seen in the 3rd picture came from under the asphalt berm in the last picture. The layers went asphalt berm, topcoat, binder, a foot of gravel, then the original topcoat and binder, another foot or so of gravel, then about a 2 foot tall wall made out of stacked old granite curbing laid on its side. That led to overages on asphalt removal and disposal, but we were at least able to sell the granite. That corner of the driveway was approximately 5' below street level. We immediately asked what the new drainage plan is when bidding, and we were told, "The architect said no drainage required."

Jim15 · Nov 1, 2015

Finishing up excavation. The temporary wall is the original garage, which they wanted to match the floor height, so they could use it as a 3rd space.

Jim15 · Nov 1, 2015

Surprise! The dilapidated driveway that the architect told us was staying, and being tied into, the planting bed the architect said was to remain when we asked how the cars were going to get into the garage, and the drainage system we were told was not needed turned into a nice extra.

Didn't get finished pictures, but we designed and installed a similar system as on page 1, with the same precast trough drain along the door, connected the downspouts, and piped it all to 2 infiltrators to the left of the garage.

Landclearer · Nov 1, 2015

Architects seem to be a good source of change orders. A guy told me once that out of confusion comes opportunity. He was right. Job looks good. It's nice having that barn door isn't it?

A little bit of everything

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Administrator

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Administrator

Senior Member

Administrator

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Senior Member