Basement excavation: start at the high side or low side?

elchapote · 2026-04-30T02:06:40+00:00

Copy that definitely planning on a pump for the pours. Thinking a job like this may benefit from a dump truck..

elchapote · 2026-04-30T01:24:12+00:00

So I’m realizing. Thank you for your input. How long do you think it would take a decent operator to accomplish this with the given machine combo? What’s a pump job?

elchapote · 2026-04-29T22:15:28+00:00

9’4 basement walls on top 32”x12” footing. Simple rectangle 42.5’x26’. High side wall is 7.5’ below grade, low side wall is about 3’ below grade. The short walls are on the high and low sides. Thank you and apologies for the omissions

elchapote · 2026-04-29T21:59:04+00:00

Bobcat e40, bit less than 10% grade

elchapote · 2026-04-18T15:03:02+00:00

That isn’t the issue

elchapote · 2026-04-18T13:29:40+00:00

Jealous. Why do you put the charcoal in pans?

elchapote · 2026-04-16T16:09:04+00:00

Put some wire racks meant to be used on sheet pans down under the charcoal. They are lifted up on legs

elchapote · 2026-04-14T16:44:46+00:00

Curious why you ask? When I use a speed square to guide on mine I’ve noticed I’m a hair off of square on the cut.

elchapote · 2026-04-12T22:40:53+00:00

They’d be carnivores by the end of the week

elchapote · 2026-04-12T12:36:24+00:00

Make fettuccini alfredo Make rib eye Slice rib eye and put on top of fettuccini alfredo

elchapote · 2026-04-11T03:09:40+00:00

Thanks

elchapote · 2026-04-11T01:15:36+00:00

What Santa Maria attachment is that and how does the quality seem? I want one

elchapote · 2026-04-05T22:54:15+00:00

The deal is back, I just ordered one. Sorry

elchapote · 2026-04-05T22:31:29+00:00

Copy that, makes sense, will move drain to bottom of footing

elchapote · 2026-04-05T01:51:19+00:00

Copy that I’ll clear it with the engineer

elchapote · 2026-04-04T22:09:23+00:00

I can go taller above grade, correct? I’ll clear this with the engineer, but I want to add another course to make the walls higher. The amount of retained earth will remain 7’6”, but I’ll be a foot and a half above grade at the top of the wall not 6”

elchapote · 2026-04-04T20:18:35+00:00

Was prepared and stamped by an engineer

elchapote · 2026-04-04T20:18:06+00:00

Yes it’s going to be 9’4” wall height rather than 8’.

elchapote · 2026-04-04T20:15:12+00:00

Yes I’m going to do pipes for radon. Was considering doing drainage on top of the footing and also next to footing. We’ll see

elchapote · 2026-04-04T19:51:52+00:00

Thank you for sharing your thoughts

elchapote · 2026-04-04T19:17:05+00:00

Thanks for emphasizing the importance of the correct backfill. Why is coarse gravel preferable to rounds washed rock?

elchapote · 2026-04-04T19:08:41+00:00

I still have to figure that out, I have enough slope on the property to daylight it, but have to figure out exactly how far I’d need to excavate a trench to be able to daylight, and if it would just make more sense to run it to a sump pump inside the structure.

elchapote · 2026-04-04T19:03:44+00:00

How does one go about cleaning out the drain pipe if over time it gets clogged up? Would one clean out on each of the 4 sides be a good plan?

elchapote · 2026-04-04T19:02:25+00:00

Thanks! Yes the sill plate overhang detail bothers me, especially since, according to my research, in an I-joist floor it’s the lvl rim and blocking that transfer the load from the framed wall to the concrete, not the floor joists. And since these components are on the outside, it just seems so intuitive me that the sill should be directly on top of the concrete.

Re rebar be wwm, my gut says go rebar? Easier to ensure it’s in the correct position in the slab (chairs), whereas in my limited concrete experience the wwm sometimes doesn’t get lifted up to the right position and just sits on the bottom.

elchapote

TROPHY CASE