How Long Would You Expect it to Take to Dig Foundations

WoOt · 18 May 2021

Looking to get foundations dug for an extension. 1.2m deep, 18m long (in total) and 600mm wide. Soil is sand and clay. No rocks.

Struggling to get a hold of people at the moment (industry seems to be booming), but have managed to get 1 guy over.

I had initially expected it to be a 2 day job, but he surprised me by saying it would take at least 5 days for 2 people. 1 on digger, 1 on dumper. Just curious whether I got this all backwards.

There is reasonable access for a digger and 1 ton dumper.

KenGMac · 18 May 2021

Where is the excavated soil intended to be dumped? and what distance from the dig site?

Ken.

^woody^ · 18 May 2021

Two days on a price, 5 days on dayworks

WoOt · 18 May 2021

KenGMac said:
Where is the excavated soil intended to be dumped? and what distance from the dig site?

Front garden, about 30 metres away as you have to go around the house.

KenGMac · 18 May 2021

As "woody" above.

if these guys are on a rate per hour as opposed to a firmly agreed fixed cost then ???

Your original 2 days will more than cover this extent of work.

Ken

WoOt · 18 May 2021

Thanks. Will have another chat with him. I'm trying to save cost by splitting the work up and getting people in to do parts of the build, and doing parts myself. Even if I have to pay him for a week it'll still work out a lot cheaper than the initial quote I got from a company that would manage and complete the build in house. Sounds like it's either that, or wait for someone else to become available and they're all booked until November by the sound of it.

KenGMac · 18 May 2021

Understood, welcome to the world of Project Management?

If nothing else you can add that title to your CV???

Chunkytfg · 18 May 2021

WoOt said:
Looking to get foundations dug for an extension. 1.2m deep, 18m long (in total) and 600mm wide. Soil is sand and clay. No rocks.

Struggling to get a hold of people at the moment (industry seems to be booming), but have managed to get 1 guy over.

I had initially expected it to be a 2 day job, but he surprised me by saying it would take at least 5 days for 2 people. 1 on digger, 1 on dumper. Just curious whether I got this all backwards.

There is reasonable access for a digger and 1 ton dumper.

If its any guide it took me 2 days to dig 1.2m deep, 500mm wide 6m total length by hand, by myself. Horrible ballast, flint ridden sandy soil you couldn't get a shovel into

WoOt · 18 May 2021

It is. Thanks! Did consider that as I don't mind digging, but with it being 3 times what you had to do I think I would've struggled doing it for 6 days. Especially as I typically sit behind a desk all day.

Chunkytfg · 18 May 2021

To be fair my total amount dug was about 14m total but the extra was done over a couple of weeks between work commitments.

diynot

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How Long Would You Expect it to Take to Dig Foundations

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