Digging out crawl space - Power tools?
Bill
need to dig it out so I can get in there and do some work.
Are there any power tools or equipment which I can rent which will make this
easier?
I suppose I could find a conveyor belt for dirt removal. But what about the
digging part?
Joseph Meehan
"Bill" <billnoma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:65h90tF...@mid.individual.net...
My uncle hired the neighborhood boys to do it during the depression. I
eventually bought the house and had a basement because of their work. I
also had a lot of neighbors who remembered all the good my uncle had done as
they or their boyfriends had done much of that work and that is how they
came up with a dollar or two during the depression for a date. My uncle had
a few dollars as he was retired navy.
The way the economy is going, we may be back to that soon.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia 's Muire duit
RicodJour
> "Bill" <billnomailnosp...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
You're going to hire neighborhood boys and put in a sub-basement...?
I think you might be sinking money in that house. ;)
To the OP: there's not a lot you can get in to a foot high space to
help out. You don't mention how much work you need to do and how deep
you are planning on going. In similar situations where people are
digging out a basement they'll open up a foundation wall and excavate
a ramp so they can get a Bobcat in.
R
Bill
ft. by 3 ft. (for digging out).
Jim Elbrecht
The only power tool I've used on the enclosed space is a Bosch hammer
with a spade bit to break up the clay. [had a wall open one summer
and was able to scoop a lot with a backhoe- and shovel the hoe full
from under the house for some more]
I've been plugging away at mine for years- working just in the winter,
a couple winters off for back & heart problems. But the floor in
the first 10x20 space [pavers] should go in late this spring.
I will probably set up a conveyor for the second section. [lowering
old floor by 2feet] - but this part has been all bucket work. I
used to do 5 wheelbarrow loads a day- Now I do 3 every other day.
Beats paying for a gym membership.
Jim
willshak
> I'm digging it out about 2 ft. deep and currently have an opening about 3
> ft. by 3 ft. (for digging out).
>
>
>
What work are you going to do in there? With only 3 feet of headroom
there's no standing and barely enough room for sitting.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
BillGill
their stomachs and shoveling it into a tub that was pulled out with a
rope. The tub was a flat oblong with sloping ends, kind of like a sled.
I think it might have been a mortar tub.
But basically I think you are talking about a lot of work. Good luck.
Bill Gill
hal...@aol.com
easier to jack up the home and dig out a proper basement.... with the
proper ,imi excavators etc........
dont forget you will need new foundation supports..........
footers etc
hal...@aol.com
what does the OP plan on doing down there? probably easier to lift the
floor........
digging out may not be the most cost effective approach
jloomis
or do it yourself.....
Using a homeade built box.......4 inch high walls and plywood bottom with
eye hook and rope.
One works inside and one pulls box out and empties.....
cut shovel handle to 12 inches........
small pick
dust mask
coveralls.
good lighting helps
knee pads
gloves.......
"Bill" <billnoma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:65h90tF...@mid.individual.net...
Dioclese
Giganews Berlin area poster,
The tools needed, by hand and power, depend on the type of ground you're
intending to dig.
--
Dave
How about a tax to support any military conflict/police action over 3 months
old?
An actual war, we can do what's been done in the past.
ransley
If its hard pack dirt rent a demolition hammer with a spade bit to get
everything loose fast.
Pete C.
Depends on how much you want to spend on rental vs. how much back
breaking work you want to do, as well as how much rock there is in the
mix. You can rent a towable vacuum excavator from places like United
Rentals that will do the job in a day if you don't have big rocks to
deal with. These units will suck up ~500 gal worth of dirt at a time
between dumps.
Jim Elbrecht
It is absolutely the most *cost* effective. Removal costs are nil.
Whether it makes sense in the long run is entirely up to the digger
(and those effected.]
My basement excavation- like my summetime exterior landscaping by
shovel- is a combination of hobby/exercise/home improvement. The
digging is free. The footers and piers cast little. It is still
cheaper than drinking beer & buying a health club membership.
Jim
RicodJour
You must drink cheap beer. The last three words I don't
recognize. ;)
R
nicks...@ece.villanova.edu
>The crawl space in my 80 year old house has about a foot of space in it. I
>need to dig it out so I can get in there and do some work.
>
>Are there any power tools or equipment which I can rent which will make this
>easier?
A friend of mine turned his crawlspace into a basement using dynamite...
Nick
tb...@bellsouth.net
check the depth of your footings.
you don't want to undermine them.
T
S. Barker
not always easy.
s
"willshak" <will...@00hvc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:LbadnY_526AzGW7a...@supernews.com...
Ivan Vegvary
Bill, I am working on my crawl space. Going for 42" depth so I can move
around and fix plumbing, insulation, HVAC ducts etc.
I do have a Bosch demo hammer but have not had to use it much. I dug a deep
ramp with my Kubota alongside the foundation. I opened up the foundation,
just like you had. Got some "flexible" conveyors on Craigslist. These
expand from 7 feet long to 35 feet and can snake around obstacles. Bought
eight 27 gallon plastic totes.
Starting out was difficult for the first few feet. Now I simply sit on a
stool, use a full length spade and one foot to dig horizontally into the
bank, fill the 8 totes and send them out on the conveyor. My biggest
problem, due to age, is getting the totes out from under the house and not
the digging. Of course the conveyor takes care of all that. I simply give
the string of 8 totes a push and they fly out from under and even empty
themselves. After each group of 8 totes I do have to get out from under (I
can walk bent over in 42" space) and collect the empty totes. After about
10 round trips I remove all the excess dumpings with my Kubota and lose it
on my 4ą acres.
While my dirt (bottom 2 feet) is quite stiff, I stopped using the Bosch
hammer. Taking a horizontal slice against a vertical bank (the slice is
only about 2 inches deep) while sitting down, is very easy. You would be
surprised how much force you can exert with a sharp spade, push of the foot
and a little wiggling.
Write me if you need any more info.
And yes, as many of the replies stated, I have quit going to the gym.
Ivan Vegvary
Jim Elbrecht
-snip-
>eight 27 gallon plastic totes.
-snip-
> My biggest
>problem, due to age, is getting the totes out from under the house and not
>the digging.
What? You can't throw 27 gallons of dirt around? <BG> I hope you
meant 27 quarts- or I'm feeling even whimpier than when I started
going for 3 gallons instead of 5. [though I'm carrying mine up a
flight of stairs- of course that's 3 gallons in each hand.<g>]
-snip-
> After about
>10 round trips I remove all the excess dumpings with my Kubota and lose it
>on my 4ą acres.
Those little machines are handy. I had my brother-in-law's Kubota for
a few weeks a couple years ago. Sure speeds up the process.
>While my dirt (bottom 2 feet) is quite stiff, I stopped using the Bosch
>hammer. Taking a horizontal slice against a vertical bank (the slice is
>only about 2 inches deep) while sitting down, is very easy. You would be
>surprised how much force you can exert with a sharp spade, push of the foot
>and a little wiggling.
*Sharp* spade is a good point. I've got a great little short handled
landscaping spade that is serrated, even. Though it doesn't help
much in my clay. You can peel about 1/4 inch off- but any more and it
is spade bit time. [till I get to the wet spots- but that's a whole
nother headache.]
Jim
Pete C.
The vacuum excavators I noted in my other post would make the process
much faster and easier. Just put the suction hose where you want to dig
and start jabbing that area with the air lance. After sucking out some
500 gal of dirt, take a break to dump the vacuum container and then go
at it again.
Bill
>
> What work are you going to do in there? With only 3 feet of headroom
> there's no standing and barely enough room for sitting.
>
For now I am doing some plumbing (moving bathtub and toilet, insulating hot
water lines), adding support under a heavy woodstove, and adding a beam and
support to fix a sloping floor.
For the future it would be nice to be able to get under there to run wires
or whatever.
The vacuum idea sounds great! Even a shop vac with two people working would
probably be an easier way to get the dirt out. Also dust is created when
disturbing the old top layer of dirt, so the vac could also remove any dust
clouds. Thanks for the idea.
dpb
> The crawl space in my 80 year old house has about a foot of space in it. I
> need to dig it out so I can get in there and do some work.
>
> Are there any power tools or equipment which I can rent which will make this
> easier?
Find a badger and pen him up down there a while... :)
--
Pete C.
The rental vacuum excavator units I mentioned are a far cry from a shop
vac. The units listed in the United Rentals catalog are all 25HP, are
trailer mounted and weigh around 5,000#. The collection vessels are ~500
gal and tilt for dumping the contents. A weekend rental of one of these
units and your project will be done.
Bobk207
I've done the experiment (only to prove the futility) a reasonably
sized shop vac can only do about 1 gpm loose dirt removal. Plus you
need time (or a helper) to empty.
You'll need a vacuum excavator which is serious machine.
cheers
Bob
Bobk207
> "Bill" <billnomailnosp...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:65h90tF...@mid.individual.net...
>
> > The crawl space in my 80 year old house has about a foot of space in it. I
> > need to dig it out so I can get in there and do some work.
>
> > Are there any power tools or equipment which I can rent which will make
> > this easier?
>
> > I suppose I could find a conveyor belt for dirt removal. But what about
> > the digging part?
>
> Bill, I am working on my crawl space. Going for 42" depth so I can move
> around and fix plumbing, insulation, HVAC ducts etc.
> I do have a Bosch demo hammer but have not had to use it much. I dug a deep
> ramp with my Kubota alongside the foundation. I opened up the foundation,
> just like you had. Got some "flexible" conveyors on Craigslist. These
> expand from 7 feet long to 35 feet and can snake around obstacles. Bought
> eight 27 gallon plastic totes.
>
> Starting out was difficult for the first few feet. Now I simply sit on a
> stool, use a full length spade and one foot to dig horizontally into the
> bank, fill the 8 totes and send them out on the conveyor. My biggest
> problem, due to age, is getting the totes out from under the house and not
> the digging. Of course the conveyor takes care of all that. I simply give
> the string of 8 totes a push and they fly out from under and even empty
> themselves. After each group of 8 totes I do have to get out from under (I
> can walk bent over in 42" space) and collect the empty totes. After about
> 10 round trips I remove all the excess dumpings with my Kubota and lose it
>
> While my dirt (bottom 2 feet) is quite stiff, I stopped using the Bosch
> hammer. Taking a horizontal slice against a vertical bank (the slice is
> only about 2 inches deep) while sitting down, is very easy. You would be
> surprised how much force you can exert with a sharp spade, push of the foot
> and a little wiggling.
>
> Write me if you need any more info.
>
> And yes, as many of the replies stated, I have quit going to the gym.
>
> Ivan Vegvary
Ivan-
I remember your post form last year.
How much dirt have you removed and how long as it taken?
I think you estimated about 2 hrs per cubic yard removed.
For my engineering data base... close were our numbers?
cheers
Bob
RicodJour
But they are becoming more available at rental yards and they
certainly have a lot of advantages. Some of the machines have a
reverse flow feature where the excavated material can be deposited
elsewhere on the site or in a truck/dumpster so the machine can keep
going.
http://www.constructionequipment.com/index.asp?layout=nocclamp&articleid=CA6492062&videoID=1283221977
R
Jim Elbrecht
[vacuum excavators]
-snip-
>
>But they are becoming more available at rental yards and they
>certainly have a lot of advantages. Some of the machines have a
>reverse flow feature where the excavated material can be deposited
>elsewhere on the site or in a truck/dumpster so the machine can keep
>going.
>http://www.constructionequipment.com/index.asp?layout=nocclamp&articleid=CA6492062&videoID=1283221977
>
Got a video of one in action? I've called a couple rental places &
haven't found one to look at yet. [near Schenectady, NY]
But this might be the answer to my '10' trencher' question I asked
about on a.h.r a couple weeks ago.
I don't need fast- but I need to dig a 10' long horizontal hole about
4-6" in diameter- then 'elongate' the hole vertically down 7-8 feet.
The soil is hardpan clay.
Jim
RicodJour
> RicodJour <ricodj...@worldemail.com> wrote:
>
> [vacuum excavators]
>
> -snip-
>
>
>
> >But they are becoming more available at rental yards and they
> >certainly have a lot of advantages. Some of the machines have a
> >reverse flow feature where the excavated material can be deposited
> >elsewhere on the site or in a truck/dumpster so the machine can keep
> >going.
>
> Got a video of one in action? I've called a couple rental places &
> haven't found one to look at yet. [near Schenectady, NY]
Nope, I don't. Try YouTube or one of the manufacturers' sites.
> But this might be the answer to my '10' trencher' question I asked
> about on a.h.r a couple weeks ago.
>
> I don't need fast- but I need to dig a 10' long horizontal hole about
> 4-6" in diameter- then 'elongate' the hole vertically down 7-8 feet.
> The soil is hardpan clay.
I'm not sure I understand you. You have to dig a small diameter hole
that extends 10' horizontally then go down 8' starting at the far end
of that hole, or are you saying you have to trench 8' down the whole
10' length? The first one sounds borderline impossible, the second
one _might_ be possible with the vacuum excavator if the soil
conditions are right, but I think that you'd still end up collapsing
the trench as you went due to the vibration.
R
Pete C.
Probably video around somewhere. In my 2006 copy of the United Rentals
catalog there are four units shown on page 9, two Vac-Tron, a DitchWitch
and a Verneer all with similar specs. 1-800-UR-RENTS or
unitedrentals.com should point you to the closest location you can call
for information. I've not used one of these units personally, but I know
they are very versatile and also popular for excavating around utilities
since you aren't digging with any kind of blade.
Chas Hurst
"Pete C." <aux3....@snet.net> wrote in message
news:Bp4Jj.6168$qT6....@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...
I've used my shop vac to clean out trenches for water pipe, and to remove
the loose soil at the bottom of an augered hole. Works quite well.
PeterD
>And dont forget all the rats that are in there and may attack you.
WILLARD! Attacks! Film at 11!
(sorry, had to do it...)
I suspect, if this is a crawlspace that it is either mice, or
chipmonks (damn 'em) doing the damage.
Regardless one needs (must) provide a barrier between the insualtion
and the rodent to prevent reoccurance, even if foam insulation is
used.
Either that or spray the fiberglass with pepper spray? <g>
PeterD
wrote:
>
>
>I've used my shop vac to clean out trenches for water pipe, and to remove
>the loose soil at the bottom of an augered hole. Works quite well.
I used mine to clean out footing holes (had to be 5 ft, and my post
hole digger was not up to bringing the dirt up that high... Mostly
sandy soil however, and was a lot of work regardless. Didn't take long
to fill that sucker up!
Ivan Vegvary
"Jim Elbrecht" <elbr...@email.com> wrote in message
news:j8j9v3ls7ov2a3gn0...@4ax.com...
Hey Jim,
You caught me!! Of course I meant 27 quart containers. Good eye!!!!
Ivan Vegvary
europeanvic
> Crawl space work a lot of times involves laying on your back or side. It's
> not always easy.
>
> s
>
>
> news:LbadnY_526AzGW7a...@supernews.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > What work are you going to do in there? With only 3 feet of headroom
> > there's no standing and barely enough room for sitting.
>
> > --
>
> > Bill
> > In Hamptonburgh, NY
>
> - Show quoted text -
Why just don't you go and talk witha contractor.
http://www.planorealestateadvisor.com
http//www.planorealty.blogspot.com
RicodJour
>
> Why just don't you go and talk with a contractor.
He is. Several in fact.
R
G.Dub
>
> It is absolutely the most *cost* effective. Removal costs are nil.
> Whether it makes sense in the long run is entirely up to the digger
> (and those effected.]
> My basement excavation- like my summetime exterior landscaping by
> shovel- is a combination of hobby/exercise/home improvement. The
> digging is free. The footers and piers cast little. It is still
> cheaper than drinking beer & buying a health club membership.
> Jim
time... I call it no-brain (needed) work... let's my mind think about
important things, feel the satisfaction of progress every day, get
exercise, and save my nickels.
--
TimR
Pico Rico
"TimR" <timot...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:8f575e15-933d-47aa...@googlegroups.com...
after you limber up a bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBMUvAUPTGM#t=72
micky
blacktop 6 feet long by 4 inches thick, by 4 inches wide, I think that
would be good exercise but the only time I used an electric jackhammer,
I was tired in 30 seconds.
Do you think I can do this myself? In a full day's rental time?
Or can I rent a saw that does this?
TimR
> In front of my house, someone needs to jackhammer out a piece of
>
> blacktop 6 feet long by 4 inches thick, by 4 inches wide, I think that
>
> would be good exercise but the only time I used an electric jackhammer,
>
> I was tired in 30 seconds.
Basically you need to cut a 4 inch wide trench six feet long? Saw cut it and pry it up, this is only an hour job. You can rent a saw. I've heard you can do this with your circular saw but not tried it myself.
micky
wrote:
>On Thursday, July 17, 2014 11:11:47 PM UTC-4, micky wrote:
>> In front of my house, someone needs to jackhammer out a piece of
>>
>> blacktop 6 feet long by 4 inches thick, by 4 inches wide, I think that
>>
>> would be good exercise but the only time I used an electric jackhammer,
>>
>> I was tired in 30 seconds.
>
>Blacktop 4 inches thick? unlikely. What's under it? Hope it's not concrete.
out here last week -- he came out the morning after I called, even
though he knew the job was smaller than his company would want to do --
and he said it needs to be cut out, but his minimum was 3000 dollars.
Gave me a list of others with lower minimums, maybe $2000. I asked
him about doing it with a hammer and chisel and he said blacktop was
almost as hard as cement. Of course a pro in most fields thinks its
best if a pro does the work.
>Basically you need to cut a 4 inch wide trench six feet long?
is obstructed by the extra blacktop about 4 inches high. The pro said
he'd never seen anything like it.
> Saw cut it and pry it up, this is only an hour job. You can rent a saw.
can operate while standing up!!
> I've heard you can do this with your circular saw but not tried it myself.
7 1/4 inch saw, at most i could cut out 2 or 3 inches, and then how
would I get the rest. Less than 2 or 3 if I cut at an angle, which
somehow seems like the right thing to do. .
TimR
> The original blacktop. Repaved once, patched once. I had a pro
>
> out here last week -- he came out the morning after I called, even
>
> though he knew the job was smaller than his company would want to do --
>
> and he said it needs to be cut out, but his minimum was 3000 dollars.
>
> Gave me a list of others with lower minimums, maybe $2000. I asked
>
> him about doing it with a hammer and chisel and he said blacktop was
>
> almost as hard as cement. Of course a pro in most fields thinks its
>
> best if a pro does the work.
>
> >
>
> >Basically you need to cut a 4 inch wide trench six feet long?
>
>
>
> Yeah. It's open to a drain on one side, but the original drain opening
>
> is obstructed by the extra blacktop about 4 inches high. The pro said
>
> he'd never seen anything like it.
>
>
>
> > Saw cut it and pry it up, this is only an hour job. You can rent a saw.
>
>
>
> Does the saw have a particular name? I think I read about one that one
>
> can operate while standing up!!
Anyway, I'd go to any tool rental place and tell them what you plan to do. Spend $50 instead of $3000, make the cut and take the saw back, remove the pieces at your leisure.
My neighbor dug a trench for a water or waste line with a weird backhoe. I don't know what it's called. You don't drive it, it's a little tiny thing pulled behind a vehicle. It had a super small bucket, like 4 inches wide maybe, and you stand behind it and move levers, or maybe it had a small seat, but no cab. It took him all day to dig a short trench but it looked good. But that was in soil, it would never work on blacktop without the saw cut.
rbowman
> Does the saw have a particular name? I think I read about one that one
> can operate while standing up!!
http://www6.homedepot.com/tool-truck-
rental/Concrete_Saw_18_Walkbehind/37100HD/
micky
the guy didn't know anything about this. He showed me a saw, a Hilti
700, that you use while kneeling or bending over, I guess, and I asked
him about something I could use standing up, but he had no idea, at
least at his store he said when I asked what he meant.
They should have a catalog and make them read it so the "associates" can
send people to other stores.
I have a reply to Tim, too, but it's probably longer and it's late.
TomR
micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> typed:
> In front of my house, someone needs to jackhammer out a piece of
> blacktop 6 feet long by 4 inches thick, by 4 inches wide, I think
> that would be good exercise but the only time I used an electric
> jackhammer, I was tired in 30 seconds.
>
> Do you think I can do this myself? In a full day's rental time?
>
> Or can I rent a saw that does this?
you may want to post it as a whole new topic.
Any chance that you could post a photo or two? Is the section of asphalt
that you want to cut out easily accessible and in an open area where any
type of saw or jack hammer could be used to get to it? From your
description, I am guessing that you just want to cut out a 4 inch wide strip
out of the existing 4 inch thick asphalt.
I would also be interested in knowing what the purpose of doing this is
(such as to put in a pipe etc. in the 4 inch trench), and if you will be
patching/replacing the asphalt after it is done.
If it is just about cutting out a 4 inch wide section of the asphalt, a
large circular saw does seem like it should work. The walk behind kind that
someone posted about may be fairly heavy and may need a pickup truck or
whatever to get it to and from the rental place. Depending on where you are
located, there may be a general tool rental place nearby, or even a
contractor tool rental place that also rents out heavy equipment etc., and
either one should have the walk-behind saw to rent if you wanted that.
If I were renting a circular saw to do the cut, I don't think that I would
worry about getting one that is a walk-behind type. It is such a short cut
(actually 2 cuts) that I would be fine if it meant kneeling on the ground
next to the saw while cutting. I don't think it would be heavy work, and if
it were me, I would just take my time and do it slowly on a cool day --
maybe in the morning.
Another option may be to just hire a handyman-type contractor to do the cut
with me paying for the saw rental if needed.
Or, I see concrete people cutting out old concrete (sometimes mis-poured
concrete) all the time. I assume that any one of those companies could do
that for you although they may charge more than a handyman-type person would
charge.
Or, maybe just post an ad on Craigslist describing the job as a "small job",
"cut out 4 inch wide strip of asphalt", etc. and maybe throw in a photo or
two. I could picture someone there saying they could do it for 100 bucks,
maybe even using their own saw.
It doesn't sound like a job for an electric jack hammer to me although that
may work. But lugging the jack hammer to and from the work site and lifting
and repositioning the jack hammer a bunch of times could be tedious.
rbowman
> They should have a catalog and make them read it so the "associates" can
> send people to other stores.
they list the aisle and bin of whatever you're looking for. It's not
foolproof but it's saved me from long hikes looking for
a. the thing
b. an associate
I like to walk, but I'd rather be out in the woods while I'm doing it.
rbowman
> I would also be interested in knowing what the purpose of doing this is
> (such as to put in a pipe etc. in the 4 inch trench), and if you will be
> patching/replacing the asphalt after it is done.
to hydraulic his way under the pavement:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/water/msg0714341731539.html
There are commercial machines, but with a little PVC and fittings you can
easily make it through in most soils.
TomR
news:c2vrv2...@mid.individual.net...
One problem may be that the link was about tunneling under concrete, but the
OP is dealing with an asphalt driveway. I think that most likely there is
compacted stone under the asphalt driveway rather than just dirt or soil, so
the water tunneling idea may not work.
micky
separate thread tomorrow with answers to questions and maybe photos.
indianacraw...@gmail.com
> The crawl space in my 80 year old house has about a foot of space in it. I
> need to dig it out so I can get in there and do some work.
>
> Are there any power tools or equipment which I can rent which will make this
> easier?
>
> I suppose I could find a conveyor belt for dirt removal. But what about the
> digging part?
There is no good power tools to dig out a crawl space other than a shovel. The conveyor belt is one option for removal if you are a solo act. If you have more help, I would use sleds. Check out http://www.indianacrawlspacerepair.com/crawl-space-dirt-removal/ for more information on the "how tos"
Oren
indianacraw...@gmail.com wrote:
>On Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 6:29:32 AM UTC-5, Bill wrote:
>> The crawl space in my 80 year old house has about a foot of space in it. I
>> need to dig it out so I can get in there and do some work.
>>
>> Are there any power tools or equipment which I can rent which will make this
>> easier?
>>
>> I suppose I could find a conveyor belt for dirt removal. But what about the
>> digging part?
>
Hornswoggle.
Canada:
_Man digs out basement with R/C construction equipment models_
<http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/man-digs-out-basement-with-rc.html>
...and
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjUOo5XLLJw>
mai...@gmail.com
cl...@snyder.on.ca
>I have a very tight crawlspace that needs to be lowered to at least 24". It's very hard clay so a tool to break it up would be a great idea. Anyway, I've been researching and it seems to be common practice to excavate an external opening and dig out from there. However, I was wondering if I could pull up the floors (which need to be replaced due to mold issues anyway) and access the area from above. One problem I see is getting around the floor joists to dig. Would I be able to move them out of the way (remove/replace them) as we go or is that a bad idea? Are there other concerns I need to consider? Its not a very large area and it has deep footings so I don't think 2 feet down will destabalize them.
a shorh shovel and started out on his belly filling a bucket which his
son pulled out the "window" to the outside. When he got apace big
enoug to stand in he laid 2X4s as a "track", and with a pulley and
rope dragged the bucket out the window when full. Luckilly the city
was doing road work out front so he had no problem disposing of the
"fill" removed. It took him a couple weeks of "spare time" to get it
dug out.
1josh
Stumbled across this thread 8 years later... I hope your job got done by this
time. Posting my comment for anyone else surfing for a solution. Start
punching 'auger' terms into google and look at pictures. Garden auger, ice
auger, earth auger etc. There's some that attach to a regular handheld drill.
Some with a short twist and a long stem, which maybe could be shortened. You
could get or adapt or magiver a plunge stand for the drill if there's no hand
room at first. Giver a look-see though, and I think you'll see the potential.
Heck you could even jimmy up something to auger the dirt out from under the
house instead of a conveyor. Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope you got er done
mate.
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DB
Just hire a vacuum truck, he will do it with no hard labor, all you will have
to do is guide the vacuum hose under your house
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/construction/digging-out-crawl-space-power-tools-13210-.htm
eric
I bought a few shop vacs, expecting to burn them out. I figure cut bottom off
and secure to sealed garbage can to increase payload and reduce emptying
frequency. Haven't tried yet, also looking for screw conveyors for sale from
dismantled grain silos, or turning hay bale conveyors to belt, belt patch like
a live floor trailer conveyor or carpet swatch conveyors. Maybe rent vac
truck and a couple fellas with air chisels and shovels... I really don't want
to use low clearance track loader. Good luck... miserable work.
eric
I use quarter inch aviary (chicken) wire mesh, but must staple or otherwise
secure ends to finish seal