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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Plans have arrived....and so it begins
#5276997 - 06/18/12 11:51 AM

Well, the plans for my new observatory (16x24 ROR) arrived this weekend (thanks BYO) and it's time to start pricing out materials and such.

I figure it should be pretty easy to get quotes from the local lumber yards on the wood and such, but I've never dealt with concrete before.

The built site will be about 200-250 feet from where my driveway ends and I don't have a really clear path for a truck to pull back to the site (nor would I want to if I can avoid it). Has anyone dealt with concrete being pumped a similar distance? Does it significantly increase the cost? I'm hoping I'll just need it for the piers (yes, more than one) as I'll be going the deck route and I can set the posts myself with a power auger and a bag of Quickcrete in the bottom of each.

The piers will each be at least a cubic yard, but I may go larger if there is a minimum order or something.

Thoughts?

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Lorence
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/15/08

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5277160 - 06/18/12 01:49 PM

Quote:

The built site will be about 200-250 feet from where my driveway ends and I don't have a really clear path for a truck to pull back to the site (nor would I want to if I can avoid it). Has anyone dealt with concrete being pumped a similar distance?

(Image from another site removed by moderator; replaced with a link.)

Link

Edited by csa/montana (07/13/12 12:52 PM)

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: Lorence]
#5277168 - 06/18/12 01:52 PM

Ha ha.

I'm really not up for hauling and mixing the amount of concrete needed for my two pier bases though (at least 45 80# bags per pier)

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Starman27
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/29/06

Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5277423 - 06/18/12 05:06 PM

Have fun! Keeps us posted.

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Shannon s
sage

Reged: 06/21/09

Loc: Bartow FL.

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: Starman27]
#5277438 - 06/18/12 05:15 PM

Pictures, lots of Pictures..

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Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: Shannon s]
#5277512 - 06/18/12 06:08 PM

Some concrete companies have mini delivery trailers that you may be able to get back there.

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: Mary B]
#5277884 - 06/18/12 10:13 PM

I'm looking forward to the experience. Tomorrow will be spent looking for concrete suppliers that may have some creative ideas for getting the stuff where I need it. Perhaps a few calls to scrap yards for pier materials as well...

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gpiepol
Sungazer

Reged: 05/06/03

Loc: Rising Sun Observatory

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5278349 - 06/19/12 07:29 AM

You're going to love it, David! Enjoy the process and post pictures along the way.

greg

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: gpiepol]
#5278911 - 06/19/12 01:39 PM

Ouch. First quote for excavation and concrete for the 2 pier bases (3' x 3' x 3' each) is $1200 - $1500. Does that sound right? At that rate I'll blow through my budget in no time

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Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5279141 - 06/19/12 04:02 PM

I just got a quote for 1 yard delivered via truck not pumper @ $227

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: Mary B]
#5279235 - 06/19/12 05:05 PM

Thanks Mary. That's more in line with what I was thinking. He said even if I dug the holes myself it would still be over $1k.

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mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5279406 - 06/19/12 06:50 PM

I was in residential construction for years. The customers who complained the loudest about prices were the weekend warrior types. I wouldn't even dream of pushing several cubic yards of concrete 200'-250' in a wheel barrow in my best days. They'll probably use power buggies to do it. I'd kiss every foot of earth getting back there just to find someone period that would do it for that price! I'd pay that in a heartbeat and get on with the next phase. Observatories aren't cheap at least the better ones.

Mike

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rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5279451 - 06/19/12 07:13 PM

Quote:

Ouch. First quote for excavation and concrete for the 2 pier bases (3' x 3' x 3' each) is $1200 - $1500. Does that sound right? At that rate I'll blow through my budget in no time

Grab a shovel..or better yet pay some kids to dig the holes....they like digging for milk money.....

Rob

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rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5279459 - 06/19/12 07:16 PM

Quote:

Thanks Mary. That's more in line with what I was thinking. He said even if I dug the holes myself it would still be over $1k.

Well, I and my daughters old boyfriend dug my 3.5x3.5x6ft hole and I payer $330 for 2.5 yards.

Keep looking.

Rob

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rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5279471 - 06/19/12 07:23 PM

Quote:

I was in residential construction for years. The customers who complained the loudest about prices were the weekend warrior types. I wouldn't even dream of pushing several cubic yards of concrete 200'-250' in a wheel barrow in my best days. They'll probably use power buggies to do it. I'd kiss every foot of earth getting back there just to find someone period that would do it for that price! I'd pay that in a heartbeat and get on with the next phase. Observatories aren't cheap at least the better ones. Mike

Like you said, his cost is most likely *delivery*...getting it to the site.

Are you saying my Observatory is a cheep, flimsy, shack cuz I saved loads of money and didn't ring up a big bill?

Is that what you are sayin....huh? Bro

Rob

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mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: rwiederrich]
#5279553 - 06/19/12 08:19 PM

When you say piers do you mean like 3'-4' above ground in sonotubes? If you do you've got to hand shovel either way the concrete up and into the tops. You don't push full wheel barrows several hundred feet and even if you did and dwaddled around your mix would start getting pretty stiff. Too much slump and you end up sloshing soup back there. Plus 90 bags of sackcrete....that would tax a mortar mixer or kill two men and still shovel it into the piers? Plus a concrete mason is going to mark up the concrete like any normal retailer would and paying a helper or two and his profit. Good luck. I've seen Rob's pics. He had easy access and plenty of slave labor.

Mike

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5279582 - 06/19/12 08:41 PM

I'm in agreement Mikey that this is not a DIY job. Especially for me. If it really comes down to it, I may do the digging, but 2 cubic yards of dense gray clay is not going to get out of the way easily.

The concrete will definitely be done by someone else. As you said. Moving and mixing 90+ bags of Quikrete is just not in my future.

I envisioned the piers being steel piers bolted to the tops of the bases. Perhaps a 3' cube of concrete topped by a 1.5' square 1' high to bring the top of the concrete near the level of the deck. The steel pier would then be bolted to the top of this and extend up through the flooring.

Sound about right?

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Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins new

[Re: David81]
#5280995 - 06/20/12 04:38 PM

Dug by hand 3x3x4 feet deep

Concrete poured, I am lucky and the truck could back up to my site

Pier is 6 feet of 8 inch 1/4 inch wall aluminum tube in compression

Pier mocked up in the house

Hope this gives you some ideas.

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CounterWeight
Postmaster

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR.

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins [Re: Mary B]
#5281255 - 06/20/12 07:54 PM

One thing, i'd get several bids if possible, and I'd spec out every inch of it, dimensions and depths, rebar&tie, framing, floating and finishing, da woyks. If excavation / digging... where to put it? Condition of worksite after completion. That is a good sized slab, where I live it would require permitting and a lot of the details beforehand.

All in the details. You may find one contractor will pump (there is usually a minimum load for these follows), another might roll an electric mixer over. Access and labor wrt access can often be a significant contributor.

Locating on clay I'd want some sort of survey before starting - might need some sort of bedding and/or drainage - but a lot of that depends on your location and build site and if no permit required, you.

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David81
sage

Reged: 05/17/10

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Plans have arrived....and so it begins [Re: CounterWeight]
#5281345 - 06/20/12 09:10 PM

Definitely getting multiple quotes.

I'm leaning toward doing the digging the holes myself now. Since I planned on renting a 12" auger for the structure posts I figure I can use that to remove a large portion of the earth from the pier area then remove the rest by hand.

There is no permitting required in the township where I live except from the zoning inspector. No building inspector to be seen.

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