House pad question for those in the know...

[Uncle_Milty]

You're hired! Are chosen builder came out today for a little site inspection and shoot some elevations and it's claiming it would take about $100kto $150,000 worth of dirt work and compaction. Looking for single wide trailer in the classified currently

Team Little Debbie Pro Staff

Chew……I told you to shop around man!

I hauled 182 loads of dirt in for my build. Dirt + dozer work to spread/pack it was $14,500.

With that being said I do not plan to haul anymore in. I will be digging a pond for the main house pad and redirecting rain runoff around the property.

Curt’s figures look to be accurate enough for an ballpark estimate and I’m in agreement with his figures……I suck at math though so there is that factor

[Briar Friar]

We already found a builder, paid money for house plans, they showed up today to start the long process. And then drop the bomb on us about the dirt work. We don't really have a lot of spots where we can put the house so not sure what we're going to do

Team Little Debbie Pro Staff

Dig down 9’ on other end.
Boom. Now youve got 100k worth of fill. Sell it to pay for the house.

[Chew]

Dig down 9’ on other end.

Awesome til it rains in our new 1800 square foot root cellar

Team Little Debbie Pro Staff

[curtintex]

No way in HAIL you can get someone to do it that cheap. 175 loads @ $145/load=$25,375, and that’s just to buy the dirt. I would budget $70k for the turn-key pad, depending on how much you over build it. I generally go 5’ around the perimeter, but considering the steep slope, you’re probably going to want grade it out farther.


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You're right. I way missed the cost of material and labor.

I have a project right now excavating and hauling 290,000 yards of dirt and building a 1,360,000sf industrial pad and I misfigured a house pad. That's why I hire estimators.

[Uncle_Milty]

You can rent equipment cheap so if you know how to run it you can save yourself a pile of money

[Draco]

Move the dirt from the high ground half to the low ground half and you have a level pad. You may have to deal with drainage though.

[AntlerCollector]

You're right. I way missed the cost of material and labor.

I have a project right now excavating and hauling 290,000 yards of dirt and building a 1,360,000sf industrial pad and I misfigured a house pad. That's why I hire estimators.

Mic drop.

[TheGreyGhost]

A 9 foot fill for a house pad is like day and night compared to a 1 or 2 foot fill. If it’s not done correctly by somebody who knows how to build a pad with 9 foot of fill you’ll have foundation problems forever. I’m a builder of 40 plus years. You need to compact dirt every 6 inches. As dry as it’s been this year water needs to be added during the build. If it’s done professionally and correctly you’ll spend around 125,000.00. Plus or minus. I know there are a lot of people on this site smarter than me but as a builder most of these people are not having to warranty their suggestions. There is no doubt you can get it done cheaper but you’ll pay for it later when you have foundation problems. Just my two cents of 40 years experience. Hope this helps.

[Jon B]

Seems like for 125k you can form it up and pour 9 feet of solid concrete.

[bklem]

Are 5’ envelopes common for residential? Honest question.

I have only done residential in the Austin area where they do it backwards. Set forms then fill with crusher fines or 1/4” screenings.

Mine had no envelope around it. Was done just like you described above. Neither did any of the other houses done by my friends or neighbors and that is 6 different houses. My exterior beams are dug 3' below what was the existing grade. Hope we don't all fall into the lake!!! I know absolutely nothing about construction. I really want to know the answer as well. I assume it is OK. I mean isn't that the reason they have to pass so many inspections? Sorry for hijacking your thread a little Chew.

[the-butcher]

You're right. I way missed the cost of material and labor.

I have a project right now excavating and hauling 290,000 yards of dirt and building a 1,360,000sf industrial pad and I misfigured a house pad. That's why I hire estimators.

This made me bust out laughing.
You sir won today.


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[Kong]

It gets expensive quick, our neighbor just spent $122k on dirt work for a 8500 sf house and a bunch of it came from from a new pond they dug on site. I’d be looking for other options before I spent that much on dirt work myself like a split level or finding another build site. I’m curious to see what the next builder comes up with for your dirt work cost,

[tps7742]

Mercy these prices being quoted on just the pad are crazy.

[txheartshot]

You're right. I way missed the cost of material and labor.

I have a project right now excavating and hauling 290,000 yards of dirt and building a 1,360,000sf industrial pad and I misfigured a house pad. That's why I hire estimators.

You got me to crack a smile on this one. When we’re doing large commercial projects, we have a lot more bargaining power than small residential projects. It’s not like he can relocate utility spoils and flip them to a pad, either. QUALITY select fill is going for $145-$150/load in Fort Bend county, so that’s what I’m basing my comment off of. A neighbor of mine just did his house and shop pad last week, and paid $70/load plus equipment & labor, but it’s 95% clay with high PI.


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[Traildust]

If you wanted to build a house on a slope, and the builder told you it would take 9' of dirt at the steepest part of the slope over a 90' distance, how much would you guess that would cost? Just rough estimate. Thanks.

Got any pics of this area?