11,000 pounds of stone

[nick11380]

I have a customer that wants to make a 18' x 40' section of her back yard a stone bed. I asked my stone and mulch suppier how much stone would me needed and he said 5 1/2 tons (11,000 pounds). They can deliver but all this stone would have to be shoveled into a wheel barrel and wheeled into the back yard. There is a few things that I would have to do to prepare ground before laying the stone that I have no problem with. But I need an idea on how much to charge for shoveling 11,000 pounds of stone into a wheel barrel and wheeling it into the back yard. The back yard is fenced in and a wheel barrel is the only way to get the stone back there.

How long would it take to move 11,000 pounds of stone with a wheel barrel?

How much would you charge for that part of the job?

[MASTERMOWER]

Do you plan on this being the last job you do before your funeral? I wouldn't dare shovel 5.5 tons of rock from the ground into a wheel barrow.

Instead plan on renting a mini skidsteer, such as a Bobcat 453, or preferably a Dingo TX425. A Dingo might only cost you bout $100 to rent to move your rock. You'll thank me for the suggestion later. Please note the width on both these machines can be as little as 3' with the smallest possible bucket.

With a machine, plan on it taking no more than 2 hours to move the rock (not including time to spread it).

[Scott]

First I'd figure out;
- how much all my costs would be,
- what it's gonna cost me to prep the area
- then how long it would take and multiply that by my hourly wage
- cost of renting a bobcat with forks and move that cat as needed, don't handle that rock more than you absolutely have to
- tack on 20% for misc.

I'd also plan on knocking down some of the fence

there ya go.

[GeeVee]

I have included the front yard turf repair into the job, and as well the take down and reinstall the fence too.

Further, ground prep is Round up over a five week period and 12' ground cloth that you roll out with the back of the Bobcat blade after you dump a bucket into the "field".

The raking smooth alone will beat most asses, you dont' want to shovel and wheeliebarrow all of it too.

I am good with a Bobcat, some aren't. But its the only way to do it.

[Scott]

I wonder if you can buy rolls of pavers like you can buy rolls of sod?

hmmm

[GeeVee]

You may have hit on something there.....

They do tile that way.

Then again, maybe you've hit YOUR head on some pavers? Seems to run in the family?

[Scott]

hey I'm just trying to help a brother out here.

[nick11380]

I mentioned renting a bobcat and she said she doesn't want heavy equipment on her lawn. She wants the stone brought back in a wheel barrel.

[TinkerLawn]

then i would suggest going out and buying one of those 2 wheeled wheelbarrels from HD or some place like that. I think that they will run you about $100

[MASTERMOWER]

I mentioned renting a bobcat and she said she doesn't want heavy equipment on her lawn. She wants the stone brought back in a wheel barrel.

DINGO TX425 WILL NOT TEAR UP THE TURF NOR COMPACT THE SOIL LIKE A SKID STEER! I GUARANTEE IT (unless you spin circles).

If she demands a wheelbarrow be used then you better be demanding a sky high price because you're gonna feel it at the end of the day (I guarantee this also).

[Scott]

dingo operating caps = approx. 500lbs
bobcat t190 operating caps = approx. 7,000lbs

don't waste your money on those HD 2 wheeled wheelbarrow. There axles are too small for heavy loads, I went through 3 of them last year. They're perfect for general yard debris but that's it. If you have to use a wheelbarrow, get the one the concrete guys use and double your price or walk, you don't absolutely need this job with this lady. How do you plan on leveling the site, add/remove dirt, by hand?

[nick11380]

If she demands a wheelbarrow be used then you better be demanding a sky high price because you're gonna feel it at the end of the day (I guarantee this also).

If you took this job and had to do it with a wheel barrow what would you charge?

[GeeVee]

You couldn't move one o dOze 10 cu ft wheelbarrows with it full of rocks.....

And, Umm, a Bobcat aint zackly "Heavy Equipment"

[Scott]

And, Umm, a Bobcat aint zackly "Heavy Equipment"

the average HO don't know that. All they know is everything else about our job because they watch HGTV.

[MASTERMOWER]

If you took this job and had to do it with a wheel barrow what would you charge?

I don't think you realize the amount of work this would require if all done by hand. Shoveling off the back of a truck is one thing......shoveling off the ground is a whole different story! (been there, done that)

This 11,000 LB of rock translates to about 4-5 CY. Plan on it taking a good 4-6 hours if done by hand and you have a sturdy wheelbarrow. The el cheapos will quickly fall apart being used for this job. Jackson wheelbarrows are the way to go.

$80/ hour is not an unreasonable amount to ask.....for this is bi**h work! Then proceed to tell her she'd actually be saving money if she'd allowed you to utilize a mini skidsteer for the job (which is true).