Thread: Cost of labourers

Good point made before about exposing the house footings...how far down do those light colour bricks go? If above your finished excavation level you will need to get some plan to retain and protect the house edge...may need engineering? not sure...

I would suggest like Terrian- get a mini rubber track excavator (smallest you can get like a 1.4 Kobelco) to sit side on and dig out, then a dingo to come in from the side, wiihout the need for turning, and grab the dirt that comes out, then take it once away from tiled area

you know, the more I look at those pics the more I think to myself that it looks like a cut & fill site, and digging down to the level you want will be below the foundation of the house.

Can you stand up under the house (as shown in the picts) ?

Originally Posted by Bodgy

Thanks for the responses.

1. You can get labourers for $20 hour, my son and his mates get that
2. Yes, all the info on wheelbarrow capacity is very vague, maybe 12 per cubic mt is closer to the mark
3. Good idea re the Rugby club, pity its summer. I doubt cricketers would have the same enthusiasm
4. No room even for a dingo, also the area is adjacent to the pool, and I don't want the tiles cracked. The posts preclude manouvering room, and I'd hate to think what happens if you accidentally take one out. See pics
5. Plenty of head room for a labourer

What I think I'll do is offer $1000 for the job, providing they carry their own insurance,

Echidna, I wouldn't pay you $20 an hour!

I think you have the answer to your problem in line marked 1,
tax free for them as well and a barbie and a slab thrown in.

Cheers Fred

Thanks again for the suggestions.

The pictures are a little misleading. The stuff to be moved is just rubble, I'm guessing from when the pool went in. The house sits on brick piles built straight onto the sandstone bedrock. The actual footings for the white brick wall are well below the area I'm clearing. All I'm doing is removing the rubble. Either end of the rubble pile you can clearly see the bricks go down well below the level I'm planning.

Regarding the Dingo, that certainly sounds the best option, if it can be manouvered. I'll see if I can get a quote with brave operator. I can see myself and the Dingo taking a swim - its only 2 metres to the pool edge.

Fred, you're correct, using the kids is the first thing one would consider, however the idea of trying to keep my boy focussed and working is laughable. He'll work hard for strangers, but the old man! Hah Hah.

Originally Posted by zelig

You can get labourers for that price down at your local backpackers lodge if you have one nearby. Normally pretty good as long as you supervise.

Thats the way to get cheap help. I've done this a few times and a mate has done it even more, Its always worked out great. Only problem is transport but I always offer to pick up from the local train station.

Hey bodgy

I am rambling here so grab a stiff whisky or look away.........now...

Yep 2metres is tight .

This is the smallest of the dingos and its specs are as follows.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">Dimensional Specifications

</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">A. Overall

</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">1050mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">B. Overall Length:

</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">1565mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">C. Overall

</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">1200mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">D. Maximum Operating Height

with 4 in 1 Bucket:

</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">2080mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">E. Turning Radius with 4 in 1 Bkt:

</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">1300mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">F. Angle of Departure:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

20º

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">G. Wheel Base:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

710-800mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">H. Ground Clearance: </TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

135mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">I. Dump Height with Std Bkt:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

1240mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">J. Reach Fully Raised Std Bkt:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

600mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">K. Dump Height with 4 in 1 Bkt:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

1750mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">L. Reach Fully Raised 4 in 1:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

600mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">M. Height to Hinge Pin: </TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

1680mm

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#fdfee9><TD noWrap width="50%">N. Machine width with 4 in 1 Bkt:</TD><TD noWrap width="50%">

1050mm

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

they also make a dumper for material dumping as well but havent seen them around up here perhaps in the city they do



I reckon that if you could get a hold of the dumpa from a hire place for probably $200 a day (Dingo would know where) and then get in a mini excavator and operator at about $75ph would be the best machine option available. there are now 750kg mini me excavators around.

The good thing with the excavator is they are only 900mm wide and can turn their bucket around so they are scooping from the bottom. Dingos and loaders just move stuff around and cant dig so if the stuff is solid it will bog down and not do anything.

Mr excavator dumps it in the dumpa and you take it out to the skip. That way the lack of width is much less of a problem and the son can have a play as well. I dont think the excavator man would be too keen on dumping into a barrow as it would keep falling over I reckon.

You can come back now or finish the scotch.

cheers and good luck

There are mini bobcats out there as well. Toyota make the Huski brand and there is a type called the number four. From memory its about half the size of an 8 which is your standard bobcat. Case also have mini excavators that that have a system that allows the tracks to contract and expand to a certain width with the flick of a switch. There might be some one in your area that has mini gear. They should be able to clean up, take it away and cut your pad all for one job.

Originally Posted by Bodgy

Thanks for the responses.

Echidna, I wouldn't pay you $20 an hour!

I am relieved