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Posted: 4/13/2016 7:30:15 AM EDT
A guy wants me to dig a footing for him. 100 feet long, 42 inches deep, it needs to be done by hand. The ground is pretty soft, it's sandy. What would you charge ?
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You can't get a power shovel in there?
If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. |
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Rent a mini excavator. Such as a cat 300.9
Some are small enough to go through doorways. |
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Rent a mini excavator. Such as a cat 300.9 Some are small enough to go through doorways. View Quote My rental yard has one about the size of a lawn mower, if you drop the rops it stands about 4 feet high. It's tiny, and hilarious, but you can fit it just about anywhere you can walk. |
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$1,200. Then go down to the local undocumented worker mom and pop taco shop and hire yourself a couple of undocumented trenching machines.
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T&M only. I'd hire a couple laborers for $15/hr.each, and charge him $30/hr. each.
Or rent one of these little guys and do it myself. $200 a day near me, dfw rental. |
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two.
you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? No bid, show him the mini excavater and say if you could use that, you'll bid. Kharn Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Tell him to gather up his hippie friends to dig the fucking hole. |
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Any chance of the trench caving?
How wide? One person or even two, that is a two day job. Two guys by eight hours a day = 32 hours minimum. Also, is he taking care of the spoils? Do you have to move the spoils at all? |
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? |
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two. you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. View Quote I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. |
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No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. |
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I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two. you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. If you know how long it will take multiply that by your hourly rate and add 10%. |
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The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. He sounds like some kind of creepy weirdo with a labor fetish or something. |
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33 yds x 1.5yds (guessing) x 1yd+ = 50 to 55 cubic yards by hand. Some of which you'll throw twice trying to pitch it out of a 42" trench. If the material is too soft the sides will slough and you'll have that much more to excavate, add 50 % to quantity in that case. I'd figure 5 yds a day, $200 a day per head. If you get to backfill it, I think that would go faster, maybe 7-8 yds/ day.
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The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. Ah. Usually with a request like that, there is a better reason than "because I said so". Did you ever question him on it out of your own curiosity? |
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I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two. you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. 1. if you already know the answer, why are you asking? 2. you can't get 3.5' deep one foot wide by hand. you have to be wider up top so you have someplace to stand as you work your way down. |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? I would charge $2k, and then hire someone else to do it for a grand. |
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33 yds x 1.5yds (guessing) x 1yd+ = 50 to 55 cubic yards by hand. Some of which you'll throw twice trying to pitch it out of a 42" trench. If the material is too soft the sides will slough and you'll have that much more to excavate, add 50 % to quantity in that case. I'd figure 5 yds a day, $200 a day per head. If you get to backfill it, I think that would go faster, maybe 7-8 yds/ day. View Quote How wide op? That's a pretty important piece of knowledge if you want us to quote it for you. edit: 1 foot. How are you going 42" in soft material at only 1 foot wide? Have you done this before? You realize dirt weighs a ton a yard? |
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The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? The man said he wants it done by hand, it's that simple. Better explain to him that it's going to cost double because it's going to take 3 fucking days. A machine could do that in a few hours. |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Well considering when I dug my water and electric line from my garage to my house, it was 114ft long, 48-52 inches deep, and 14 inches wide with two working holes on either side (3x4ft), it took me 7~ hours. And I was using a CAT 301.5 mini excavator and I'm a decent operator. But I was in clay soil. I'd guess for you to dig the same thing, you would need to go wider. So you'll have more material there. Depending on your physical condition, I'm guessing you would have 30-40 hours into it at least. Plus all the pain. So I would bill your time accordingly. Whatever you want to make per hour, at least $15-20. Plus pain and suffering from doing all that. |
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Only you know what your time is worth so only you can answer your question.
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That is a 5 dollar an hour job. 60 bucks for 12 hours of labor sounds about right.
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1. if you already know the answer, why are you asking? 2. you can't get 3.5' deep one foot wide by hand. you have to be wider up top so you have someplace to stand as you work your way down. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two. you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. 1. if you already know the answer, why are you asking? 2. you can't get 3.5' deep one foot wide by hand. you have to be wider up top so you have someplace to stand as you work your way down. What question did I already know that's I asked about ? And your right my footings usually go about 15 inches wide at the top. |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? $587.50 per 10' is what we used to charge for excavation at the plumbing company i used to work for......though, that did include some $$ for the pipe, but pipe is cheap.....i'd say if he insists on it being hand dug, $500/10'......so, ~$5000. |
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What question did I already know that's I asked about ? And your right my footings usually go about 15 inches wide at the top. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two. you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. 1. if you already know the answer, why are you asking? 2. you can't get 3.5' deep one foot wide by hand. you have to be wider up top so you have someplace to stand as you work your way down. What question did I already know that's I asked about ? And your right my footings usually go about 15 inches wide at the top. You are entering a world of pain. |
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Quoted: No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? Because drama. |
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Fuck digging that by hand, that isnt going to take 1.5 days by yourself. No fucking way. I wouldnt touch that job without a machine. Rent one for a day for $200 bucks and put 2k in your pocket while you sit in a seat.
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3.5' deep but 12" wide? By hand? Good luck with that.........
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By hand?
Tell him $29.95, hand him a shovel and let him do it himself. |
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you are talking an all week job, for probably one tough guy. More likely two. you need locates, you have fall in issues (42" is deep). that deep is going to require "excavation insurance" (which is probably not covered under your standard business insurance. You do have business liability insurance don't you? At least 2 grand, and I'd hire a couple laborers to do most of the work. I'm a human excavator, I can do it in 1.5 days. It's only one foot wide trench. This is a side job I'll do on a Saturday and Sunday, I'm not bringing anyone on the job but myself. 1. if you already know the answer, why are you asking? 2. you can't get 3.5' deep one foot wide by hand. you have to be wider up top so you have someplace to stand as you work your way down. What question did I already know that's I asked about ? And your right my footings usually go about 15 inches wide at the top. You are entering a world of pain. I've dug three footings in the last week, although much smaller. Once your a few weeks into the new season your pretty much used to it. |
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ask him what it pays...he already has figured what he has budgeted it for...4 hours of rain can wreck a trench also.
30 years of this type of work. lots can go wrong so go big. |
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Quoted: 33 yds x 1.5yds (guessing) x 1yd+ = 50 to 55 cubic yards by hand. Some of which you'll throw twice trying to pitch it out of a 42" trench. If the material is too soft the sides will slough and you'll have that much more to excavate, add 50 % to quantity in that case. I'd figure 5 yds a day, $200 a day per head. If you get to backfill it, I think that would go faster, maybe 7-8 yds/ day. View Quote |
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? Why? No kiddin'. Why does it take an act of congress to get details around here? Because drama. Tell me about it, bunch of men asking why why why like a bunch of women. |
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Digging footers by hand is the equivalent of cutting yourself with a razor. It's pain for the sake of pain. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I've dug three footings in the last week, although much smaller. Once your a few weeks into the new season your pretty much used to it. Digging footers by hand is the equivalent of cutting yourself with a razor. It's pain for the sake of pain. This is true, only upside here is all the areas I work are usually a clay/sand mix. |
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All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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You can't get a power shovel in there? If I found myself in that situation, a dingo with trencher would be my friend, it would probably cost near $2000. All power equipment is out, he wants it done by hand, what would you charge for this job ? More than he would be willing to pay. |
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$20k. Fuck digging by hand View Quote This man speaks the truth. The only hand digging to be completed is the first two feet adjacent to existing structures, or over buried utilities. Otherwise put away the armstrong shovel and start the hydraulic shovel. Sorry, OP I know this isnt the answer you seek. The bottom line is only you can value your time. If you know the guy and want to have a beer with him it might be a cheaper price. If you are trying to use time that you'd steal from other interests then you need to charge more. |
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What happens when you hit rock, or underground utilities, or water table, or any number of unforseen things? If the ground is that sandy, then you'd better plan on the sides caving in.
I'd charge a lot for something like that. Without anything going wrong a minimum of $1600.00 |
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