Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [excavation]

32 questions
35
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8 answers

What are the dangers of operating a mini excavator?

I plan to rent an excavator like this: I am aware that it is quite dangerous if someone walks by and is hit by the bucket, but assuming I can clear the area of passers-by, what are some common dangers to be aware of that could cause harm to the…
Village
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6 answers

What do I use for backfilling septic pipe leaving my home?

I have a 4" PVC septic pipe leaving my house on the cinder block wall about 4 feet below my house. There was a crack inside of the part where it leaves the house and I need to replace it (from settling/35 years old). I am going to do the digging…
math314
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5 answers

Paver installation - excavation limitation

I am trying to install a paver patio in my backyard but have run into some excavation issues. Everything I have read says to dig deep enough to allow for 6" of base material under the paver surface (4" of base gravel and 2" of builder's sand). The…
jm.nida11
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3 answers

What equipment could I use for digging out a basement after the house is built?

My mother and father built the home I live in many years ago. It only had a half basement. My father had started on the other side, but passed away before finishing it. I have now taken this job on. I have removed approximately 100+ 5 gallon buckets…
Leah Carmady
6
votes
5 answers

Wood fence posts in clay

I'm installing a wooden fence around my back yard using prebuilt cedar panels and 10 ft (3+ m) 4x4 pressure treated posts buried 3 1/2 to 4ft (1+ m) deep. The posts are packed in with pea gravel to allow for drainage. Most of the post holes I've dug…
psaxton
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1 answer

How to excavate hole when only 30% of perimeter is accessible to tractor?

I need to dig a circular hole, 20 ft in diameter, and approximately 4 ft deep. The shape is important, it shouldn't be approximately a circle, but a nice clean circle. The bottom can be flat or round, doesn't matter. I can clean it up with a hand…
Village
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1 answer

Can I dig a foundation below flood elevation outside the Floodplain?

Looking for answers from people building foundations near (not in) the 100 year floodplain. Does this trigger a floodplain build permitting process? Am I basically pigeonholed into a monolithic pour to avoid this? No one working on my foundation…
maplemale
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What are the possible consequences of excavating an exterior basement wall?

I just bought my first home and right now we have a storm door entrance into our basement. This kind of baffles me why they put in a below-grade storm door because half of the exterior wall is exposed. On top of that, there is a somewhat steep…
Matthew R.
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2 answers

Dealing with incline from back door to fence

We have plans for a new house build - see my attached crude mockup where the front of the house is on the left and the backyard is the green shaded area. The land has up to 1.8m incline from front to back (these are the elevation values): 99.8m SW…
LeopardSkinPillBoxHat
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3 answers

Easiest way to dig trench along existing fence

My friend cannot currently allow his dogs in his backyard because they dig under his privacy fence. I wanted to fix it for him and just planned on digging a trench (8-10inches deep, 6-8inches wide) and burying chicken wire. Then covering the chicken…
Dylan Buth
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Is my nearby neighbor's foundation excavation a concern for my home?

Hope someone can answer my Question. I live in Milwaukee WI.My neighbor just informed me she will have to have her basement excavated. The side of her house is 14 feet away from the side of my house. I have a bi-level home. On the side of my home is…
Ellen
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Help identify (abandoned?) buried line

I have a pipe of some kind buried about 6" below grade in my backyard. Photos are provided below. I have no idea what this line might be, and was hoping to solicit ideas. Whatever it is, it appears to be abandoned / unused, judging from the poor…
Roberto
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Rebuilding a septic drain field

When rebuilding a drain field, is it imperative to dig individual trenches for each "tine" of the drain pipe "fork", or would it be possible to just dig one big hole to lay all the piping down. If I can just dig one big hole, I can just rent a skid…
Jarrett Down
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1 answer

Power equipment for removing compacted gravel?

I have a gravel driveway in my front yard that I want to remove to put a garden bed. The gravel is large (1/2" to 1" dia.) and very compacted, so it is nearly impossible to remove by hand. I want to rent some small power equipment to do the task,…
user278411
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Minor Crawlspace Excavation: Need permits/structural engineer?

Background: First house, built in the late 60s, bought in October 2014. Original house has crawlspace with combination cinder/concrete foundation. Master bedroom is an addition to the house with a basement underneath. Problems: 1.) The house was…
VanGoghComplex
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