Design/Plan/DIY Build NorCal pool

[kimkats]

Put an add in Nextdoor or facebook market place offer the dirt for free. Make sure to state they must load and haul on their own.

 

[manoweb]

I was thinking about about that but it's a lot of dirt and while I have a staging area, the risk is that it would sit for weeks and then I'd have to rent the front loader again to get rid of it on dump trucks. Ideally it'd be hauled away while I dig. I guess it will depend on the quotes I get

 

[jimmythegreek]

It's a pain to get rid of dirt. Nobody wants it bad enough to come load amd haul, I have ads all over for free fill delivered amd it's still hard. The 100 a load is cheap I'd do a soil report now amd be ready to go when they dig to just haul it off. 100 yards is nothing that's 5 tri axle loads

 

[manoweb]

Thanks for the comment @jimmythegreek . It's good to hear from a pro I'm just worried that the 100+ yards of compacted soil I need to excavate will become double that when moved around. Staging area to the road where a tri-axle can easily stop is about 150ft, that will slow down loading. Also, before I order soil analysis I want to check with the dump site how long that stays valid for, and double check the dump price - yeah, 100 a load sounds kinda cheap. I haven't set a date for excavation yet as I still don't know when more of the pool structure will be delivered.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Yes definitely find out the details and the pricing. Some areas require a witness signature from property owner dirt is coming from. Just rent the largest skidsteer available. Full size machines have at least a half yard bucket if not more. A track machine wont tear you all up amd cam reach to load a triaxle or tandem. A good operator can load a truck in a few min if not far

 

[manoweb]

@jimmythegreek yeah the local rental yard has machines with buckets at least that size. I have rented both track and skid steer in the past. I love the track ones because they can easily go up and down slopes that one can barely climb on foot, while transporting large amounts of material like gravel and cinder blocks. A skid steer in the same location would need to be winched up (ask me how I know).
In this particular case however I am not totally sure from your workding if you suggest ot rent a tracked one (which is also 2x the price) or a skid steer.

 

[manoweb]

I called the trucking company and they charge 115$/hr for a tri-axle that they say can be loaded by a bobcat. The landfill management charges 75$ for a 10 wheeler and 150$ for a semi, but I need to perform soil analysis that stays valid for 90 days. The company that was suggested by the landfill gave me confusing answers whether they work with "residential customers" and I'm waiting to be called back. Apparently I need to test for: cam17 - btex - tph gas oil diesel - pah - pcb and pesticides. I'll be looking for testing companies now...

 

[jimmythegreek]

75 for a tandem is cheap, I'd be all over that. Make sure the yard will accept a tri axle if he has his drop axle down, that makes him a 14 wheeler.
Track machines lift more amd are stable with a load up high, time is money, you want to sling full buckets fast. Might be worth to look for an owner operator for the day via craigslist or facebook, he will run double the dirt loading a truck compared to a novice. Here its 750 to 800 a day for hauling, I'm sure there's tons of guys in your neck of the woods as well.

 

[manoweb]

OK so the equipment pad has been poured... Yeah it's a little dirty. What I plan to do next is to install a 125A electrical panel.

 

[bmoreswim]

Great! Does the next update come in 2027?

 

[manoweb]

Great! Does the next update come in 2027?

AHahahah

well, we have done several other improvements that we realized were pre-conditions for the pool project, and guess what, it took way longer than originally anticipated. In particular the utility upgrades have been a lot of work.

In the meanwhile however, wifey got her commercial class A driver license so we will be more flexible with the excavation and haul of the dirt. She also opened a company and got authorized in order to be able to rent heavy construction equipment.

Next however, is to install the electrical line from my new main panel to the equipment pad.

 

[bmoreswim]

I'm glad you've gotten past the prerequisites for the project. Not always the most fulfilling but needed. Nice to see things moving. Will you be doing electrical with oversight or by others?

Pad looks nice and allows for optimal layout of equipment, however that pans out. And you wife's ability to now haul, if needed, is particularly unique.

Did you get all of your equipment squared away previously? I know you were having trouble wrapping up the acquisition of some pieces.

 

[manoweb]

I have made the whole 400A upgrade myself that included a new main panel, 150 feet trench next to high pressure gas lines, cutting into my neighbor's yard, dealing with the exacting standards of the power company (that had to place a new transformer), building my own conduit mandrel, switching over the house to the new main, so I'm confident a simple subpanel is not going to be a big deal; however my neighbor is a retired master electrician and he likes to check everything before I call for an inspection. It doesn't hurt I worked as electrician when I was a kid. Unfortunately I had to travel internationally and I had to delay the new work


And yeah I got pretty much all the equipment save for the lights. I still have to figure those out

 

[setsailsoon]

I have made the whole 400A upgrade myself that included a new main panel, 150 feet trench next to high pressure gas lines, cutting into my neighbor's yard, dealing with the exacting standards of the power company (that had to place a new transformer), building my own conduit mandrel, switching over the house to the new main, so I'm confident a simple subpanel is not going to be a big deal; however my neighbor is a retired master electrician and he likes to check everything before I call for an inspection. It doesn't hurt I worked as electrician when I was a kid. Unfortunately I had to travel internationally and I had to delay the new work


And yeah I got pretty much all the equipment save for the lights. I still have to figure those out

That's a lot of getting ready to do yourself. I'm impressed and how nice to have a pre-inspection by and expert retiree! Can't wait to see this progress!
Chris