# Home Builders: How much does excavation/foundation pour cost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874 "2006-01-27T18:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/1 "2006-01-27T18:00:20Z")
Obviously, I understand that this varies tremendously based on innumerable factors (location, time of year, house size/type, soil type, local demand, etc. etc.). But here are some parameters for my sitch: - ~1,000 SF footprint - simple rectangle (24’ x 40’), no jogs - full basement, possibly with slightly higher ceilings - ICFs - sloping site; full walkout in back - light clay and crumbly shale (i.e. I could easily break up and dig out the shale with a shovel if I really didn’t want to bring in excavation equipment) - NY State’s Hudson Valley - work done this spring (I hope) Are we talking $20,000? $5,000? $50,000? I’m just looking for a rough guess to the nearest, say, $5,000. Thanks for your tolerance. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/2 "2006-01-27T19:09:21Z")
You can go here: [http://www.arxxbuild.com/technical/estimating\_manual/index.html](http://www.arxxbuild.com/technical/estimating_manual/index.html) and use the Arxx block estimating worksheet. Looks like you can input all the data for the ICFs and get that price. I used the Arxx blocks on my house. IIRC a standard block used .11 CuYds of concrete. I might not be remembering correctly though. I suspect that the correctly filled out worksheet would give you the amount of concrete required. ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/3 "2006-01-27T20:02:32Z")
I have no idea how this translates to you, but here goes: Los Angeles Approx. July of ‘05 Crawlspace foundation Formed and poured Footprint 1450 sf Footings 6’ deep below grade Foundation 2’ high above grade (flood zone) Various interior supporting stem walls 61 yards concrete total Excavation was cheap since I have a friend with a backhoe: $900 Forms, place concrete, finish, etc.: $16,500 Good luck to you! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/4 "2006-01-28T00:15:44Z")
Footings 6 feet below grade? :eek: Damn that is one hell of a footing. I dug apartment and condo footings (2 and 3 story buildings) that only had footings 3’ deep. The soil in your area must be really loose. ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/5 "2006-01-28T09:31:11Z")
No, the soil’s great. It’s for flood scour. Given the hypothetical worst-case scenario flood, the hydrology study determined the potential to “scour” out several feet of grade. So, 6 feet deep for a little 1-story house. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/6 "2006-01-29T15:55:17Z")
Thanks, Jpeg. A handy ballpark figure. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/7 "2006-01-29T18:00:20Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Footings 6 feet below grade? :eek: Damn that is one hell of a footing. I dug apartment and condo footings (2 and 3 story buildings) that only had footings 3’ deep. > The soil in your area must be really loose. Growing up in Wisconsin required footings eight feet below grade. Poor soil? Nope. Frost depth. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/8 "2006-01-29T18:17:40Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > You can go here: [arxxbuild.com](http://www.arxxbuild.com/technical/estimating_manual/index.html) and use the Arxx block estimating worksheet. Looks like you can input all the data for the ICFs and get that price. > > I used the Arxx blocks on my house. IIRC a standard block used .11 CuYds of concrete. I might not be remembering correctly though. I suspect that the correctly filled out worksheet would give you the amount of concrete required. Gary you have mail, have a couple Q’s about arxx block usage. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-builders-how-much-does-excavation-foundation-pour-cost/341874/9 "2006-01-29T18:18:48Z")
😕 What is this “frost” you speak of?