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herbert32125 May 2012 15:54Hello,
I am planning to start the shell construction of my house later this year. I want to build a house with a ground floor, first floor, and a second floor with knee walls, without a basement, and I am currently collecting quotes.
Now to my question: I am considering buying a 4.5-ton excavator. The reason is that I want to do some of the construction work myself, and I think an excavator is a great tool.
We also have a second house where we want to level the ground again and landscape the area nicely. I believe an excavator would be very useful for that as well.
Can I dig my building pit myself with a 4.5-ton tracked excavator (I don’t have a basement, so the excavation won’t be very deep)?
I have a very interesting offer, around 5,000 euros for an excavator. Would it be worth investing in one?
Looking forward to any answers,
Best regards
herbert321
I am planning to start the shell construction of my house later this year. I want to build a house with a ground floor, first floor, and a second floor with knee walls, without a basement, and I am currently collecting quotes.
Now to my question: I am considering buying a 4.5-ton excavator. The reason is that I want to do some of the construction work myself, and I think an excavator is a great tool.
We also have a second house where we want to level the ground again and landscape the area nicely. I believe an excavator would be very useful for that as well.
Can I dig my building pit myself with a 4.5-ton tracked excavator (I don’t have a basement, so the excavation won’t be very deep)?
I have a very interesting offer, around 5,000 euros for an excavator. Would it be worth investing in one?
Looking forward to any answers,
Best regards
herbert321
I
Ingo Kommen25 May 2012 19:29I would study architecture in addition to buying an excavator so I could design the house myself!!
But seriously now!!
A professional earthworks contractor can do it much faster and, in the end, more cheaply than you, especially since you first have to learn how to operate the excavator! What if something happens? An accident or something similar—your own child could easily get run over on the construction site or who knows what else. AND THEN!!
Do you build your own company premises when you want to buy a new car?
Why do homebuyers treat building a house so casually with the attitude… Oh, I’ll just build a house on the side. But when buying a car, every penny is carefully calculated and analyzed. Yet the car costs at most 25,000 EUR, while the house easily costs around 250,000 EUR (about 280,000 USD). Just a small difference—and you build a house maybe 14 times in a lifetime but only buy a car once.
All I can say is, FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE… Stay away from these kinds of experiments. Call an earthworks contractor, and boom—the foundation trench is dug while you can earn money elsewhere instead of spending three days experimenting.
Best regards
Ingo
But seriously now!!
A professional earthworks contractor can do it much faster and, in the end, more cheaply than you, especially since you first have to learn how to operate the excavator! What if something happens? An accident or something similar—your own child could easily get run over on the construction site or who knows what else. AND THEN!!
Do you build your own company premises when you want to buy a new car?
Why do homebuyers treat building a house so casually with the attitude… Oh, I’ll just build a house on the side. But when buying a car, every penny is carefully calculated and analyzed. Yet the car costs at most 25,000 EUR, while the house easily costs around 250,000 EUR (about 280,000 USD). Just a small difference—and you build a house maybe 14 times in a lifetime but only buy a car once.
All I can say is, FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE… Stay away from these kinds of experiments. Call an earthworks contractor, and boom—the foundation trench is dug while you can earn money elsewhere instead of spending three days experimenting.
Best regards
Ingo
H
Häuslebauer4025 May 2012 22:47A mini excavator is really something useful. I bought a 1.5-ton model. It’s ideal for landscaping the outdoor areas. However, I should point out that a) I have at least a basic level of skill operating it and b) I also have the means to transport, maintain, and repair the machine. These are fundamental aspects that should be considered beforehand.
I think a 4.5-ton machine is way too much, and anything related to the house itself and its structure should definitely be left to professionals.
I think a 4.5-ton machine is way too much, and anything related to the house itself and its structure should definitely be left to professionals.
Hello!
That’s a really strange idea. When the topsoil was being spread in the garden, I slipped the excavator driver next door 20 euros. That would barely have covered a shovel.
So, besides the usual DIY tools, maybe a concrete mixer is worth it; everything else is probably dangerous, likely scrap, and/or way too expensive.
You can save a lot by comparing prices and services.
Best regards,
TomTom1
That’s a really strange idea. When the topsoil was being spread in the garden, I slipped the excavator driver next door 20 euros. That would barely have covered a shovel.
So, besides the usual DIY tools, maybe a concrete mixer is worth it; everything else is probably dangerous, likely scrap, and/or way too expensive.
You can save a lot by comparing prices and services.
Best regards,
TomTom1
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