d4dozer
Well-Known Member
We recently performed a swimming pool dig in a confined back yard space. The material from the pool dig needed to be trammed to the front of the property to be removed from site. The only access was through a 1200 mm wide door with 2100 mm head height.
We used a mini cat 301.4 c to do the excavation (took the cabin off) , dumped the material on the ground in the confined area and picked up the material with a Terex PT30 which would just fit through the door with zero clearance on the door. The pool volume was 35m3 though with bulking about 45m3 came out and was all trammed approximately 25 m through the door. to the front.
Total time expenditure for both machines was 22 hours and the task was performed in 1.5 days. We agreed an hourly rate contract (although we offered to fix the price) of $89 dollars per hour which is very reasonable in Western Australia.
The wonderful pool installer declared that we exceeded industry standards for a pool dig and should have completed the task in 11 hours. He has argued that we should have dug the pool with the PT30 Skid Steer to avoid the double handling, used one machine only. Unfortunately we are now in court because he refuses to pay.
Whilst the access was too tight to build a ramp for continued up and down access (getting in and out once with an excavator was obviously possible) and pools are often dug with a skid steer I would like other operators opinion. Ideally excavators are for digging and skid steer are for tramming. leveling and loading. Any machine can do anything with a good operator, though it is inefficient and hard work if using the wrong machine.
Are there any opinions out there as to "industry standards" for swimming pool digs. Obviously I cant use anything said in court but I would be interested in anyone else who has an opinion.
We used a mini cat 301.4 c to do the excavation (took the cabin off) , dumped the material on the ground in the confined area and picked up the material with a Terex PT30 which would just fit through the door with zero clearance on the door. The pool volume was 35m3 though with bulking about 45m3 came out and was all trammed approximately 25 m through the door. to the front.
Total time expenditure for both machines was 22 hours and the task was performed in 1.5 days. We agreed an hourly rate contract (although we offered to fix the price) of $89 dollars per hour which is very reasonable in Western Australia.
The wonderful pool installer declared that we exceeded industry standards for a pool dig and should have completed the task in 11 hours. He has argued that we should have dug the pool with the PT30 Skid Steer to avoid the double handling, used one machine only. Unfortunately we are now in court because he refuses to pay.
Whilst the access was too tight to build a ramp for continued up and down access (getting in and out once with an excavator was obviously possible) and pools are often dug with a skid steer I would like other operators opinion. Ideally excavators are for digging and skid steer are for tramming. leveling and loading. Any machine can do anything with a good operator, though it is inefficient and hard work if using the wrong machine.
Are there any opinions out there as to "industry standards" for swimming pool digs. Obviously I cant use anything said in court but I would be interested in anyone else who has an opinion.