Pouring footers this week. My septic line is 24″ down. When the cement truck comes, he’ll have to drive over the septic line for 40′. Is it possible the truck will crush the line and any remendies??? I was thinkig of using plywood but that rather expensive.
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you need to take as much care as possible but it more likely not an issue. the pipe itself if put in correctly will be in gravel. the gravel will lock together and it will bridge the weight. I would try to stay off of it as much as possible. a force upon the ground is usually applied in a 45 degree pentration so if a force of (1000 lbs) is applied to one square foot then two feet down this same force(1000)lb is now (250.) because the shear is not a punching forcce put a spread out force.
compication, yes, just be carefully it be OK.
It really depends. Did you install the pipe? What did you backfill with? I'd be very cautious about having a mixer drive over pipe that's only buried two feet. When I started working on our house the mixer annihilated our culvert pipe, and I had to dig it out and install a new one. The old one was concrete and buried in dirt. The new one is corrugated plastic and buried in crushed rock. The mixer has been back since and did not crush the new one. Anyway, a crushed septic pipe will make itself known as a backup in your shower pan.
Thanks for your thoughts- its 4" PVC buried in sand. Our soil is beach sand when you get down 12"
If there are no major rocks directly under the lines, especially sharp ones, and the ground isn't too soft your probably OK. If the fill was crushed, as opposed to rounded river rock or similar, It might oblige and lock up bridging over the lines.
In similar cases we have used anything solid to spread the load. Even a couple of 3' long 2by6s laid flat under the path of each set of tires can spread the load and keep the lines safe. I have seen gravel placed to similar effect. Even loose brush has been used to form a temporary mat, laid in perpendicular layers, over soft ground.
Works both ways. Protects underground lines and keeps the truck from getting stuck. Both important considerations in sunny Florida after our recent, extended rinse and spin cycles.
Those lines are pretty tough as long as they don't have to take a concentrated load.
What does a cement pump truck cost in you area ? Might be good insurance? More then likely $500. Price to repair septic? I have a septic @ my house, & I sure would not let any trucks or anything else drive over it!
Hope it all works out 4 U !
An alternative might want to rent, or borrow if you have a contractor friend, a small concrete pump. Concrete hoses don't weigh much, compared to a full cement truck. And a pump eases placement.
The truck will mush plywood. Just to be safe I'd put down some heavy planks.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I would pump it
pumps make it so easy. yeah they cost money, but they easily eliminate 1 person from the job and that persons stressed out back bone and the workers comp related, and the mud is where you want it, better then any muck rake
but more importantly in your case
sounds like you have what we call around here a sand filter,maybe whare you are it is no big deal
but around hre sand filters are about the most $$ septic you can have
and if I had one I sure wold not let a fully loaded 10 yarder drive across it
I also agree ( wiht others) that that the plywood on sand is not the fix
and , hate to say , if a pumper is the cost breaker, your in for headaches adn a lot of ill feelings with your checkbook ( and workers) as the job moves forward
and if a pumper $$ was the bid breaker with you and me , then I would be more then happy t0 say.......see ya
Edited 10/10/2004 5:51 pm ET by Isamemon
Pump time for enough mud to do a typical foundation pour, 3 trucks or so, about $350 here. I would absolutely do that as opposed to a chute pour if I had any questions about driving over the septic system.
I'm convinced to look into a pump truck tomorrow. To be more detailed, my septic field is 75' behind my house- its a mound system. So were building an addition behind the house. I have a 75' foot run of 4' pvc going to the field. The soil is sand. The cement truck would have to drive over the pvc (20" to 32" down) to reach the footers on the west side. I'll definately look into a pump truck tomorrow
thank you all for the thoughts
I've been following this thread. Either I missed it or you never stated how many yards or the size of the addittion.
A meter truck would probably be much lighter. That is a truck that mixes what you want on the site, Meter Mix.
How about a motorized buggy. May not work real well for footings though.
Lots of cheap labor and many wheelbarrows.
Mix it on site, again, lots of cheap labor.
I'd stay off the trunk line though.
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Its a 32' x 28' addition with a small mud room. I wanted to pour a center footer. I was going to use block. I figure I need about 18 yards. I called one place today and they said a pumper would cost me $1100 (in chicago suburbs). I have enough room in the back yard for the mixer to move around so I think I might just take my chances with a chute for filling the footer forms. I'd pay $500 for a pumper but $1100 is alot of $$$.
One interesing side note. If anybody tells you the economy is slow....come to chicago, The major concrete supplier said he needed two to three weeks to book a mixer. The second one may not be able to deliver on a weeks notice.....
Sounds like concrete is a scarce commodity in your neck of the woods.
they said a pumper would cost me $1100
Sounds like a pump/boom truck, which I'm sure can be pricey (the trucks are $500k and up). What about just a regular mixer truck and a separate concrete pump? Here in Ontario, that'd run you $500 Canadian extra.
Regards,
Tim Ruttan
I called one place today and they said a pumper would cost me $1100 (in chicago suburbs).
Presumably a boom truck. That's the only pump available here. I figure $750 per. I also get distinctly inferior concrete from one. Companies here tell me it should be indistinguishable from a chute pour, but it never is even close. For me, it's a last resort. Last client insisted on pumping. Then asked why one small wall, that came out of a chute, was so much better looking.
I've done a lot of pouring out of a loader bucket. That a possibility? $500 would make me happy for a short day on my (old) Cat. Wouldn't be much more than that for a small crane with a concrete bucket here.
You could probably rent a Georgia buggy cheapest. Never used one, as my pours are never flatland.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
The Georgia buggies may be his way out of this...
They're fun too...
A pair would be cake and pie...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
A pair would be cake and pie...
Races?PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Jousting?
Regards,
Tim Ruttan
Piece of cake and easy as pie...
The races are a added attraction...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Were are you in the burbs? Which concrete supplier did you call?I have used super mix and they are great. Didn't have to give them much notice either. I am sure they could put you in touch with a affordably line pump guy.