Digging up driveway, need advice on skip or grabber

[inchy1981]

Hi guys...

I'm digging my garden up to build a driveway.

My garden measures 7.5m x 8.5m and I want to dig down 200mm.

This works out at 12.75m³ which I worked out to be just short of 14yds³, so would fit in a 16 yd skip...

But, I've been told that when I dig it up, and it's no longer compacted, that it will more likely be 18 or 19yds³, is this right?

I don't want to hire a 16 yard skip and then have to get a 4 yard skip as it may be cheaper to get two 10 yarders? (If they do 10's)

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

 

[alan333]

You are told correctly. The stuff you dig out will aireate to around 50% more, so your 12.75 cubic metres will easily turn into around 20 cu m. Although you do get large skips they are meant to be used for bulk stuff and not for heavy dig as the skip lorry can't lift 20 ton skips. Also the sides of large skips are too high and even if you did find one to hire you'd have problems reaching the top to fill it, even with a small excavator. I'd go for 2 builder's skips and be prepared for a third if necessary. The bulders skips you see in the street are 8 cubic yards.