Need advice on best methods to dig out a clay bank and level a clay floor in an area where an Excavator cant be used

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Need advice on best methods to dig out a clay bank and level a clay floor in an area where an Excavator cant be used

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neb

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#2493747 28-May-2020 15:47

MikeAqua:
Kango, shovel, 2 wheelbarrows and 4 people would do it in a day, assuming you have an easy way of disposing of the clay you remove.

I was going to suggest kango + dingo, but similar idea. You've really got two problems, breaking up heavy clay and moving heavy clay, so you can automate one or both. Pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow would be the most painful option, neighbour did that to dig out a bank for his driveway and spent several months on it, a few hours each weekend, until eventually he got a guy using a digger up the road to come over and do the rest in about 30 minutes.

elpenguino

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#2493753 28-May-2020 15:55

One of the problems in this situation is the clay under a house is very dry. Well, it should be , unless you have drainage problems.

This makes using a pick very painful as it just shatters the top few inches each time. A Kango with spade bit is effective because you can 'shave' the bank from top to bottom, moving back some inches each time

I'm not sure how good a digger would attack the very dry clay either. Be good for removing it though.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

mdf

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#2493777 28-May-2020 16:17

MikeAqua:

Kango, shovel, 2 wheelbarrows and 4 people would do it in a day, assuming you have an easy way of disposing of the clay you remove.

If you're anything like me, you will also need budget for another 2-3 days thereafter walking about funny and moaning about how stiff and sore you are.

neb

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#2501043 9-Jun-2020 00:35

Just by coincidence spotted this Youtube video made by someone doing something that sounds similar to what you're trying to do. Dealing with the dirt starts about 3 minutes in.

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