[Greenlight1]

I am currently smashing the concrete floor in our basement and preparing it for a new pour. The basement is a walk out at the rear with a 30”x78” door that leads right to back yard. I want to
A- Remove all the “chunks” of the old concrete throughout the basement.
B- take about 3” of dirt out so we can get a little more height.
C- grade everything so the concrete guys can just add stone and pour easily.

What type, of any, of machine would be good for a job like this?

I spent a weekend smashing the concrete and removing about half of it and I quickly realized that if I want this floor poured by 2021, I’m gonna need a machine of some sort.
What would be compact enough to fit into the basement and help me to transport and dig a little???

 

[stadry]

ask your rental yard - there are some that will fit thru a 30" door,,, otherwise do what we do -hire more guys, give ea wheelbarrow/5gal bucket, a ride to & from job, & lonche

 

[Nealtw]

I would rent a conveyor.

 

[huesmann]

Might be faster to just hire a number of guys hanging outside your local big box.

 

[Bud9051]

3" doesn't sound like enough for the effort you will be putting in. By the time you add gravel and 4"(?) of concrete your new floor will be higher than what you are removing.

Should be a day labor location near you somewhere, check the unemployment office.

A machine sounds nice but half a dozen workers will be done before you know it.

Bud

 

[BigJim]

You might try a rental Mini Skid Steer, they have them 35 1/2 inches wide.

 

[Bud9051]

Ya, he said a 30" door so even pulling the frame wouldn't make the 35.5"

Bud

 

[Oso954]

Might be faster to just hire a number of guys hanging outside your local big box.

Most of the guys I’ve seen at the big box don’t like real labor jobs.

There is usually another spot in a lot of Calif towns/cities to find “jornaleros” (Hispanic day workers). For years in my town, it’s been next to a shell station on the other side of town.

Early in the morning there is a crowd, but you can generally find some guys there most of the day.

They don’t mind digging and work hard at it.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... With a 30" door, I think yer limited to a shovel, pick-ax, 'n plastic pails,.....

My wheelbarrow won't fit through a 30" door,.....

'n you'll want some string lines,.....
Undisturbed soils, don't settle, so only remove what is Necessary,......

 

[Greenlight1]

Ayuh,..... With a 30" door, I think yer limited to a shovel, pick-ax, 'n plastic pails,.....

My wheelbarrow won't fit through a 30" door,.....

'n you'll want some string lines,.....
Undisturbed soils, don't settle, so only remove what is Necessary,......

Yes that is our plan. I do not mean we are digging an additional 3” down once we hit hard stuff but I think 3-4” would get all the loose stuff off the top and make for a nice bed to lay gravel down.

 

[Nealtw]

Yes that is our plan. I do not mean we are digging an additional 3” down once we hit hard stuff but I think 3-4” would get all the loose stuff off the top and make for a nice bed to lay gravel down.

Do you understand how that effects the footing and drainage system?

 

[Greenlight1]

Yes that is our plan. I do not mean we are digging an additional 3” down once we hit hard stuff but I think 3-4” would get all the loose stuff off the top and make for a nice bed to lay gravel down.

Do you understand how that effects the footing and drainage system?

There currently is no sort of drainage system in our basement. I will prob lay down some drain tile and a sump pit but our exterior grading is very good so the basement is dry. Even with the dirt floor exposed now, it isn’t damp.

 

[Nealtw]

There currently is no sort of drainage system in our basement. I will prob lay down some drain tile and a sump pit but our exterior grading is very good so the basement is dry. Even with the dirt floor exposed now, it isn’t damp.

Good plan.

The footing is usually right below the floor and the floor adds lateral support for the wall. Not so bad if you don't have water problems but have you considered that.

 

[BigJim]

Ya, he said a 30" door so even pulling the frame wouldn't make the 35.5"

Bud

Man I let that one slip by me, sorry. Forget my post.

 

[Greenlight1]

There currently is no sort of drainage system in our basement. I will prob lay down some drain tile and a sump pit but our exterior grading is very good so the basement is dry. Even with the dirt floor exposed now, it isn’t damp.

Good plan.

The footing is usually right below the floor and the floor adds lateral support for the wall. Not so bad if you don't have water problems but have you considered that.

We are absolutely not going to be disturbing the footings at all. The “original” build did not have a concrete floor, only dirt. They poured the concrete at a later date. They also added ATLEAST 4” of “fill” (bottles, LARGE stones random articles of clothing) before pouring the concrete over everything. So my goal is only to get all the garbage out of the basement, grade it as best I can and then have my concrete guys do their thing. The 3-4” I was referring to in the OP was referring to the “fill” they had put down and not the actual solid earth under that

 

[Nealtw]

We are absolutely not going to be disturbing the footings at all. The “original” build did not have a concrete floor, only dirt. They poured the concrete at a later date. They also added ATLEAST 4” of “fill” (bottles, LARGE stones random articles of clothing) before pouring the concrete over everything. So my goal is only to get all the garbage out of the basement, grade it as best I can and then have my concrete guys do their thing. The 3-4” I was referring to in the OP was referring to the “fill” they had put down and not the actual solid earth under that

The labourers here build a simple gauge to get a rough level with the dirt
Just a few 2x4 or what ever that fits between the joist and the dirt level you want.

 

[Missouri Bound]

For the amount you will be spending on this project add a larger door.
It will solve the equipment entry problem and solve any egress issues.
Just make the larger opening part of your construction plan.
Even the smallest Ditch Witch is over 33" wide.

 

[Greenlight1]

For the amount you will be spending on this project add a larger door.
It will solve the equipment entry problem and solve any egress issues.
Just make the larger opening part of your construction plan.
Even the smallest Ditch Witch is over 33" wide.

I totally agree. He mentioned something about the door when he was here but I really wasn’t paying attention. He is a friend and we do a lot of work together so I’m sure it will be no problem to cut out some and let us get a bigger door there. He may do that regardless so he can get his equipment in/out easier.

 

[Spyder]

its a daylight basement, why not put in a 6' slider?

I'm a DIY guy, but some things I hire people for. This would be one of them. Guys who pour concrete also break up concrete all the time and dig out forms and basements all the time. They use machines and cheap labor.

Don't reinvent the wheel, plan to widen the door, have the concrete guy use his saw to cut the larger opening and get the concrete guy to do the heavy lifting on the dig out. He'll have the concrete and junk out in a day, you probably can go deeper on teh dig out if you want and you'll get your project started without a long painful dig out.

 

[Missouri Bound]

its a daylight basement, why not put in a 6' slider?

Now THAT is a great idea. :thumbup: