[TowerTalk] Part2:Fair Price For Tower Foundation?

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 08/01/2000 8:50:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
kg0us@swbell.net writes:

> Part2:  I do not know if it makes much difference but I do not believe
>  that the $650 quote includes building and installing the rebar cage or
>  installing the forms for the top of the tower.  I need to place the base
>  section, attached to the first section of tower, in the hole and make
>  sure it is level.  I also need to be there when the concrete is poured
>  to make sure the tower stays level.  The contractor will dig the hole,
>  provide and do all  of the concrete work.  This will be a self
>  supporting 40' tower.
>  
>  Part1:
>  I need a 4.5 foot by 4.5 foot by 5 foot deep hole dug for my tower
>  foundation. I need about 4 cubic yards of concrete for the foundation.
>  I received a quote from a local contractor to dig the hole and pour the
>  concrete for $650.
>  
>  The price of 4000 pound concrete is $74 / cubic yard in the Kansas City
>  area.  A concrete truck can not get into my back yard and the hole is 25
>  foot away from the nearest place the concrete truck can park.  The
>  contractor wants to use a gas or diesel powered cart that can hold 1/4
>  cubic yards of concrete per trip.
>  
>  I have never done this before and wondered if any of you feel that $650
>  is a reasonable quote?

    I think that, like you said, the $650 is to dig the hole and pour the 
concrete. That's a good deal since I usually budget about that much ($4-600) 
for the backhoe. It looks like it is ONLY for the backhoe and his labor to 
pour the concrete. You have to do EVERYTHING else. 

    The rebar will run another $50 or so and then you have to build the cage 
and drop it in the hole which is more work.

    BTW, the hole will be about 25% or more bigger by the time the backhoe 
gets done. The backhoe isn't very precise plus you'll get some slumping in 
the hole so budget more concrete. And add a yard extra to your order because 
if you run short, it'll be much more expensive and problematic. 

    Here's a typical budget for foundation construction for a Trylon 
self-supporting tower that specs 6 yards of concrete in the hole:

Scope of work: Dig hole, install rebar cage, install bottom section, pour 
concrete.
Labor - 2 crewpeople - 12 hours (I charge $75/hour per crewperson)
                                    $1800
Materials - Concrete                    $800
            Rebar, forms, etc.        100
            Backhoe               600

    Here's the order of work that I follow to take advantage of the backhoe 
on-site:

1.  Have backhoe dig hole
2.  Assemble rebar cage at the same time
3.  Have backhoe lift rebar cage into finished hole (it'll weigh 2-300#)
4.  Have backhoe lift bottom section and suspend it while it's tied to the 
rebar cage
5.  Backhoe leaves; plumb tower with a comealong on each leg
6.  Finish forms for above grade pad
7.  Pour concrete and finish

    All of this takes about a day-and-a-half (12 hours) or so but the above 
estimate is for a larger hole than what you need so it'll be somewhat less 
for your project.

Cheers,  Steve   K7LXC
Tower Tech 

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