Is $70,000 to remove sand and replace with dirt and gravel for garage foundation a fair price?
Project Details
My wife and I started working with a company over two years ago to build an attached garage with two bedrooms on top. Construction began last year, but was delayed when 7 feet of sand was found below the site, which the builder claimed couldn't achieve the necessary compaction rate. We were given two options to proceed. Although I'm happy with the basement option as it provides bonus space within budget, I questioned if such extensive work was truly necessary, especially since the "sand" didn't look significantly different from the surrounding dirt. I'm hoping to learn for future setbacks whether to get a second opinion or trust my builder's judgment, especially since the decision was made by an excavator, not a geological engineer, and no third-party inspection was done. The builder did consider placing the foundation on footers but deemed it unfeasible due to space constraints and nearby houses. I had previously warned them about potential fill from a demolished house at the site (as it was a former parking lot where I found bricks), but they dismissed my concerns, leading to a frustrating and preventable delay.
Quote Details
The first option involved addressing the 7 feet of sand found below the construction site. - Work: Remove 7 feet of sand from the site. - Material: Replace removed sand with dirt and gravel. - Purpose: Prepare the site for the attached garage foundation.
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