Does anyone have any suggestions about how to dig my own basement and footers for a new home?
Could I use a rental bobcat with a backhoe attachment? Or do I need more power?
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2 Responses to “Does anyone have any suggestions about how to dig my own basement and footers for a new home?”
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For a project that large you will definitely need more power, a full size backhoe is what you want. As for the “footers”, you are talking about a major undertaking and unless you have some experience building foundations I would leave that to the pros. For a basement you need much more than simple footers, you need a footing and a stem wall that is as tall as your basement is deep. This project will require a great deal of material that is very expensive and unless you plan on going into business for yourself much of that material will be wasted. You will probably save yourself money and a lot of work by hiring this portion of your project out to a licensed foundation contractor. This is the most important step in any project, if the footings and stem walls are out of square you will fight through every step of the construction process. Trust me on this, Leave it to the Pros.
Power is not the question- Depth is- a Bobcat hoe, will not dig deep enough. First strip the land of top soil and pile it up away from the hole- then you mark out where the Hole will be and overdig on each side, about 2 to 3 feet- you must set a depth marker, and have a Transit to check you depth. You then hand dig the Footings, and you must be able to Square the Forms, as well as level them- I did it all so can you-
Now what kind of wall- Block , Wood, Poured wall- if you not doing this part of the job, let the contractor do the footings- My first job I hired a Block layer and did the tending myself to save money- back then it cost me 25 cents a block to lay. lol