OT: "dirt work" when building a home

[jb1020]

So the wife and I are looking to buy a lot sometime soon. While I haven't gotten a firm quote from a "dirt guy" I'm getting a little worried about what all is going to go into building a house. We'd like to know what we're getting into before actually buying a lot.

We're looking at 1+ acre lots on the Rankin side of the Rez. A good friend of mine thats a realtor says expect to pay $30k for dirt work before you can even think about building a 3000 sq ft house on any lot around here.

We even met who he recommended for a dirt guy at a 2 acre lot and he said his guess was $35kish. It is a low looking lot, but its not in a damn gully or anything.

Is that the going rate??? Anyone recommend a guy?

 

[jdbulldog]

It is best to have the soil tested by a qualified firm. From there they can tell you what to do. It is about the quality of dirt more so than the quantity.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I guess it would depend on the yards of dirt you're needing to move in or out. I don't know what it is for residential or commercial but land leveling farm land runs anywhere from .70 to one dollar a yard.

 

[Lettucexxxx]

This is correct. The firm will probe and sample the soil. A lot of problems can occur up to 15-20 feet deep. The yazoo clay sucks, especially around the rez.

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

Beware of lots on the Rankin side of the res. Its fill dirt and is crap to build on. I know several people who have or had homes there and all had severe foundation problems. Just ride around the neighborhoods off of spillway road and you can see many homes with major cracks in the brick and driveways.

 

[ihateolemiss]

We had soil borings done before before buying a lot (as a contingency in the contract). Get someone like Ladner or Burns Cooley to do it. That will tell you how far down the bad dirt is. I think the rule of thumb these days is 7 feet above the bad stuff for post tension? From there you can use your pad size and the depth figure out about how much dirt you will need. Also, after they started the dirt work, we also had Ladner do moisture and compaction tests every 1 ft to make sure everything was going in like it should. The dirt contractor and I both wanted this.

Also, don't underestimate the cost to clear trees off the lot if it is wooded.

 

[CivilDog]

Be aware of what you are asking for when you hire a firm to do your soil testing. Let them know you want a recommendation for building as well. Any Joe Blow can run the test but you need a qualified guy to make a recommendation that both you and the guy can hang your hat on if something happens on down the line.

 

[the dog is on the loose]

I built a 3,000 sq ft house two years ago south of Florence. Soil sample showed pretty good dirt but I had two trees right in slab area that had to be cut which meant once they pulled out the stumps the hole is big enough to set a truck in. Still had to dig down a decent amount. Had about 90 truck loads of good red clay brought in. Because of three car garage and 400 sq ft of back patio the slab was around 4,000 sq ft I believe and the whole thing cost me $10,000. That figure you were told sounds steep as crap to me.

 

[the dog is on the loose]

We had soil borings done before before buying a lot (as a contingency in the contract). Get someone like Ladner or Burns Cooley to do it. That will tell you how far down the bad dirt is. I think the rule of thumb these days is 7 feet above the bad stuff for post tension? From there you can use your pad size and the depth figure out about how much dirt you will need. Also, after they started the dirt work, we also had Ladner do moisture and compaction tests every 1 ft to make sure everything was going in like it should. The dirt contractor and I both wanted this. don't underestimate the cost to clear trees off the lot if it is wooded.

I think they have to do a compaction test per county inspector.

 

[Dash Riprock.sixpack]

Engineers Laboratory in Jackson is a good bulldog and has been in the business a long time. 601-956-3041. Soil testing is about all they do.

 

[RocketDawg]

I built a 3,000 sq ft house two years ago south of Florence. Soil sample showed pretty good dirt but I had two trees right in slab area that had to be cut which meant once they pulled out the stumps the hole is big enough to set a truck in. Still had to dig down a decent amount. Had about 90 truck loads of good red clay brought in. Because of three car garage and 400 sq ft of back patio the slab was around 4,000 sq ft I believe and the whole thing cost me $10,000. That figure you were told sounds steep as crap to me.

Sounds steep to me too unless he's building a full basement.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

You need to figure out where the bad dirt is, end of discussion. The fat clay, that shrinks and swells. That's what will bust your foundation and have you jacking and pouring concrete under it 15 years from now. Don't skimp on that in the Jackson area.

Once you locate it, dig that crap out. For a road you can probably bridge it with 3-4 feet. With a structure I'd want 4-5. As much as you can afford.

Then after you do that, make sure you get good drainage away from the foundation/crawlspace, whichever you prefer. I prefer crawlspace. The less wet/dry cycles the dirt goes through, the less it moves.

 

[ShrubDog]

JB, I don't know exactly where you are talking but I will tell you to dig out at least 8' of existing soil and fill it back with good dirt.

Also, you need to see if you are on PRV land, if so you will need to pay a yearly lease to them, you don't own the land.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

They might can cut it out for $1 but I bet they can't buy dirt and place it back less than $5-$6 per yard. I would estimate $12 for cut and fill total.

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

We had soil borings done before before buying a lot (as a contingency in the contract). Get someone like Ladner or Burns Cooley to do it. That will tell you how far down the bad dirt is. I think the rule of thumb these days is 7 feet above the bad stuff for post tension? From there you can use your pad size and the depth figure out about how much dirt you will need. Also, after they started the dirt work, we also had Ladner do moisture and compaction tests every 1 ft to make sure everything was going in like it should. The dirt contractor and I both wanted this.

Also, don't underestimate the cost to clear trees off the lot if it is wooded.

Lots of good advice in this post....especially the part about having soil borings done and looked at by a professional before you buy the lot.

 

[NewTweederEndzoneDance]

The dirt over there is going to have yazoo clay in it. The real question is how far down is it? If you really want to know, the you need to hire burns Cooley or someone to test. If you don't want to pay for that, you will need to dig it out 6-8 feet at least and then back fill. It won't be cheap. The poster that mentioned the PRV makes a good point as well. Depending on where you are, you have to lease the land from them.

 

[diggidydog]

Sent you a DM.