[Big Cat]

I was hoping to get your input. This weekend I plan on excavating for a new walk-out out basement that includes cutting through the existing 8" poured concrete foundation walls, excavating the crawl space, and pouring a slab, and installing french doors to create extra storage and a shop for me! All-in the project should take about a month to complete.

What should I use to cut thru the existing 8" concrete foundation walls?
Thanks

 

[Sawdust]

8" is going to be a tough thing to do with any ordinary home handy man type tools. Even renting a gas concrete saw is only going to give you a about 4" or 5" depth. Meaning you will have to cut from both sides. You might want to look at hiring that part out.

Do you plan on turning the crawl space into a full high basement? If so you need to worry about the foundation. Lowing a basement floor means you need to extend the found walls down, and pour new footings and under pin it all together.

 

[mjncad]

I agree with Sawdust...hire that awful job out. Let somebody young, strong, and stupid with hopefully the right tools do that backbreaking job.

 

[has15]

There is a concrete saw out that resembles a chain saw, it will cut 12 or 14 inches. A lot of rental yards around here rent them out by the hour,day, week or as long as you need it. here is the link www.icsbestway.com
Good luck with your project:drinks:

 

[RRMCCABE]

If its has a crawl space only it sounds like footings. If you are exposing the grade it doesnt sound like you will have frost footing depth again? Maybe I dont understand what you are doing.

Make sure you have 42" or whatever your local code calls for of wall/footing under the dirt when you are done or you are going to have problems with the whole house.

These guys are right, its a dirty job. The pro's often uses saws that run on tracks that you anchor to the wall. An amateur can do it but I sure wouldnt want to be cutting half way through in a crawl space. If you do it dry, you are going to have more of a mess than wet !!

 

[bigbear]

Amen on cutting it with a wet saw. And make sure there is good ventilation for the CO from the gas saw.


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[Scotty370]

I think I'd need a little more info..

Are you going from a 4' crawl space to an 8' ceiling basement? Your excavation could be an enormus task! Just trying to get a handle on the scope of the project.... The wall cut may be the smaller part of the entire project.........~Scotty

 

[4vertical]

back to your question. drill holes in the corners and snap lines inside and out. then follow with your rotary saw of choice.

we used a chain concrete saw at work to cut out for a gantry crane. was a sweet pc of equipment!

-Aaron

 

[Big Cat]

Thanks to all for the input. The "crawl space" is mostly excavated already. In fact, the original plans for the house called for pouring a slab in there originally. The crawl space has approximately 7' of clearance already, so I only need to go down another 8-10" to allow for stone and slab so no underpinning is necessary. Once I cut the opening in the foundation wall, I plan on renting a Dingo (walk-behind front loader) to dig down the 8-10". After that, stone, compactor, slab, french doors, electrical, and voila!

I'll be sure to post pics as the project comes together. This weekend I start the excavation and hopefully wrap the project in about a month.

 

[Scotty370]

Thanks to all for the input. The "crawl space" is mostly excavated already. In fact, the original plans for the house called for pouring a slab in there originally. The crawl space has approximately 7' of clearance already, so I only need to go down another 8-10" to allow for stone and slab so no underpinning is necessary. Once I cut the opening in the foundation wall, I plan on renting a Dingo (walk-behind front loader) to dig down the 8-10". After that, stone, compactor, slab, french doors, electrical, and voila!

I'll be sure to post pics as the project comes together. This weekend I start the excavation and hopefully wrap the project in about a month.

I and others will be watching with intrest! Thanks for the feedback! ~Scotty

 

[Manomet]

So how is this project coming along? Pictures.

 

[Big Cat]

Funny you ask Manomet. I've actually been meaning to give an update and post some pictures. The project has grown exponentially with a few added elements. I started the project in March and am finally wrapping things up. Here's an oveview of the project:

1. I was getting some water in the basement and decided to excavate down to the footings and trench approximately 150 feet, parge the block with tar and 6 mil plastic, lay in 150 feet of perforated pipe and back fill with crushed stone, soil etc.
2. I moved around the back of the house and excavated for the doors of my soon-to-be walk-out basement.
3. While I had the trac excavator, I decided to clean out the stream behind my house.
4. From there I took the excavator to the back of my property, which is wooded and was heavily over-grown. I cleared some trees with my new Husky 455 Rancher (http://www.greentractortalk.com/forums/tools-equipment/3442-broke-down-bought-new-chainsaw-today.html) and decided to de-stump the area for a shed to be built in the future. I also cut in a roadway to connect with a bridge for my JD which I also built recently.
5. I cut through the 8" poured foundation wall (it took 1.5 days) with a Husky concrete saw and a Bosch electric jack hammer, and a sawzall.
6. Once through the wall, I rented a walk-behind Toro Dingo and excavated approxiamtely 14" in the "crawl space". From there I used the Dingo, and my JD LA105 and wagon to lay in approximately 16 ton of crushed stone, 6 mil plastic vapor barrier, and 4" slab of concrete. Once my custom french doors showed up, I plumbed and installed with Tapcons.
7. While I had the concrete truck and pumper there, I made forms and poured two concrete piers for the bridge I just finished building.
8. Last week I took delivery of three pallets of rough cut granite to finish off the walk-out basement with two retaining walls on either side.
here are some various pics of the projects above and the toys in action (I'll post some more current one in teh next few days):

 

[dieselshadow]

Great pics! :good2:

What is that fella doing with that tool in the concrete? :unknown:

 

[Big Cat]

That's actually me tamping the concrete bringing the "soup" to the surface. After doing this, I let it set a few hours, then float, and then trowel 1-2 hours after that.

 

[Manomet]

Geez to bad you can't find anything to keep you busy. Thats quite a project, big changes to your house.How did the concrete cutting go, would you do it that way again? Looks good don't stop now.

 

[Gizmo2]

Thanks for the pics and update. BIG project coming along nicely.

 

[Kennyd]

Great pictures! Looks like that little LA got a huge workout as well!

 

[Big Cat]

Thanks guys. The concrete cutting was actually quite a b***h. It took about 18-20 hours of cutting, jack hammering, chiseling to finally break through and have it fall out. Add on another few hours of jack hammering the wall into pieces (which I actually used to build the piers for my bridge) and using the LA to haul them off.

The LA has definitely been getting some HARD workouts, but she keeps coming back for more. To be honest, I'm pretty surprised at how well she's holding up. Once the LA bites the dust I plan on upgrading for sure to a X500 or X700 with at least a bucket. :yahoo:

More updates to come soon.

 

[Big Cat]

"Once the LA bites the dust I plan on upgrading for sure to a X500 or X700 with at least a bucket."

Ok, I lied... I couldn't wait for the LA to bite to the dust, so the X728 shows up tomorrow to help bring the project home!

 

[Big Cat]

My apologies fellas, its been much too long since I gave an update on the status of this project. The project is 99% complete with just the final electrical pieces being installed by the electrician now. Below are some pics. Enjoy! I'll try and get some pics together of the shop inside and get them posted.