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optimistic
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 01:19pm
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I want to get estimates on the cost of making an access road to my cabin.
Questions:
1. What will be the least expensive road/path to construct?
2. Who provides such service? landscapers? demolition contractors?
3. Any tips of things I should keep in mind?
Thanks
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 01:56pm
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There are others on the forum will undoutedly respond with more details, but the largest factors that I can think of is the length of the driveway and what are the conditions over which it will travel. The simplest drive way is a dirt road. The driveway back to my cabin I never actually built. I just followed the natural "lay of the land" and over repeated uses it became a driveway. it doesn't get any easier than that. At my hunting cabin we had to bring in a bulldozer for that driveway. And as that driveway has some low spots, we needed (and continue to add every couple years) a few truck loads of stone to keep it built up. So, when you're laying out the path for your drive way, keep in mind the shortest distance may not be the best if that path goes through soft soil, mud bogs, stream crossings, rock ridges, etc.
As for who does it- typically it's an excavator. There are a ton of people who could do it if they have the tools however (including those you mentioned), but keep in mind there is some science to road building so get someone who knows what they're doing.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 02:10pm
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Thank PA!
Any idea of costs?
The lot is narrow (180ft) and long (2000ft). I want the path/dirt road to go 500 ft in.... Is that a lot?
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 03:20pm
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It really depends on the terrain what the cost would be, but I would guesstimate a 500 ft road will come in at 7 to 10k...I am doing something similar this coming summer but renting an excavator and buying gravel, doing about 200 ft of road and leveling about 100x100 area, I will spend about 3k doing it myself..
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Rifraf
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 03:37pm - Edited by: Rifraf
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For my drive ( pretty flat and straight ) I just had a few loads of 2 inch base gavel dumped down on it, then a few loads of surface rock. It's holding up pretty well even in the rainy weather.
Cost in my area is about 120.00 per load of this gravel * 4 loads = 480 bucks. Im lucky to have a rock quarry very close by.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 04:21pm
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I really hope it won't be 7-10k....
I thought that a dozer can just do two runs and that's it. I guess not ah?
Rifraf, but did you do any excavating of any sort?
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 04:46pm
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opti, like I said it would really depend on the terrain, is it trees you would be blazing through? any culverts needed? drainage trench on sides? things like that...my area the best price I got for gravel was $385 a load...load being 18 yards. as rifraf said..to be right where it will hold up you need to lay down 2" rock first maybe 5 to 8" of that..then smaller gravel on top of that...so it drains and holds up....lots can be involved really....7 to 10k would not surprise me at all..
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bugs
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 05:46pm - Edited by: bugs
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Good luck optimistic hope it works well. Good access is very important.
In our case when we purchased the land there was no access to the road from our property. Our municipality, by law, is required to provide access to the road for all good tax payers. So when the bulldozer showed up we hired them to push in a ~600 yard track/driveway to our yard site and clear the yard site as well. I think it took them about 3 or 4 hours and cost $1200. It would have been much more if we had to pay for the mileage to bring the dozer in.
One thing that we noticed was that the dozer left the driveway very rough with kind of a rolling washboard feel to it. . Not sure if it was just the nature of a dozer, the driver or the soil, rocks and tree stumps. We have left it that way as it keeps people from driving too fast up it and cars/vans with low clearance may not make it up in one piece.
Underlying our thin layer of top soil is clay that turns into grease when it is wet. We seeded the driveway with grass seed and also brought in 100 yards of gravel. I think the gravel cost and spreading was around $3k. We hope to add another 50 or more yards this year to the driveway and yard site.
You can check out our "ordeal" if you are interested here: http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/6_202_0.html
The driveway creation is on page 1 and the gravel is on page 4.
bugs
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 06:14pm
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A good road that will not need a lot of maintenance usually begins with scrapping the organic top soil off. When gravel is simply dropped on top it will "disappear" over time and more gravel will be required. Of course if you are cursed with clay this is a forever problem. So what it will cost will depend a whole lot on how good a road you want or need and what the local conditions are. That varies so much you'll need to do some local shopping.
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sparky1
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 08:58pm
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My driveway comes off the road Down hill 850 ft-.14 ft wide--Gravel # 57 cost 180--200 a Load delivered i'm 40+ miles from Quarry, thru the years since 84 i've bought 14 loads. Total & it's holding up fairly well.
sparky1 in s.va
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jbos333
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2012 10:47pm
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I just put in a 500 ft +/- drive. Original quotes were in the $5500 range. That included everything starting with any tree removal necessary.
I decided to forge ahead and cut the trees myself. I then found an excellent local dozer guy (not one of the guys that quoted before) that cleaned up my stumps, left 2 nice neat topsoil mounds, and 2 stump piles for $500.00.
I then purchased a roll of 12.5' road fabric, placed it and approx 300 tons or so of bank run gravel, graded it with my tractor. I had to get one 20 ton load a day then spread it after work, repeat.
Ended up having right around $3000.00 into it with dozer work, gravel, fabric. Not including my time. But I feel the $2500.00 savings was worth the time I spent. Turned out pretty nice.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 12:43am
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Quoting: optimistic Thank PA! Any idea of costs? The lot is narrow (180ft) and long (2000ft). I want the path/dirt road to go 500 ft in.... Is that a lot?
An equipment operator will usually charge $65 per hour. You can rent a decent sized dozer, ie Cat D4, Case topdresser, 450/550 size etc. Its lots of fun. Then gravel, I paid $265 per 10 yd truck full, delivered and spread. Took 7 loads.
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cabinbiscuits
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 01:12am - Edited by: cabinbiscuits
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Optimistic - Is your land relatively flat? If so a dozer might work well for you. In my case because of the steepness of our mountain the D6 dozer I rented was no good for the job. I couldn't get to the top of the mountain to push down, and pushing uphill was impossible.
In my case an excavator was a much better way to go.
In my case I got estimates from three contractors which ranged from 7k to 10k. I ended up doing it for about $3500 myself. That cost doesn't include the $1000 I wasted on the D6 rental prior to getting the estimates or stone for the road surface (which I plan to use only in the areas where it is required) That $3500 cost covered about 1200 feet of road rising around 200 vertical from start to finish.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 10:03am
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Bugs -- I need to read your entire thread. It looks incredible.
JBOS333 -- I feel like I should try to find a local dozer operator than try to do it myself. But your story gives me hope that I might be able to do it for a reasonable figure.
cabinbiscuits -- beside an initial little climb from the road - probably 5-8 feet high over 10 feet, it is relatively flat thereafter. After watching several dozer at work videos on youtube - I think that a dozer will work well for me.
Another thought I had to save costs but that I want to run by you folks -
I want my cabin to sit between 450-500ft from the road. I do not really need to have my car next to the cabin. Maybe I will just make the road go in 200ft and then I will need to walk the rest of the way in - any comments or things I should keep in mind in that situation?
Another option will be to just have the cabin closer to the road. The entire area is very secluded. it is not even a real road. I will post pictures tomorrow after I got there again.
Question - any 'out of the box' ideas on how to find a local guy that has a dozer? obviously I can call excavating companies but it will be great to just find a local guy who has a dozer.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 10:25am
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Quoting: optimistic I want my cabin to sit between 450-500ft from the road. I do not really need to have my car next to the cabin. Maybe I will just make the road go in 200ft and then I will need to walk the rest of the way in - any comments or things I should keep in mind in that situation?
Building materials. You going to carry them all piece by piece the extra distance?
Also if materials, whatever are delivered by truck they need a space large enough to turn around; they won't want to back in.
Many areas have requirements that driveways be of a certain width and have a turning circle
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millerke
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:23pm
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Just wanted to show some photos off of cabin site preparation. Hill by pop-up camper is where the Cabin will be going. Driveway and culvert almost complete. waiting on settling and then gravel.
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millerke
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:24pm
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How do I post pictures on forum?
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 06:03pm
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Look for the "upload files" link under the field you write your messages in. Right under the firld... there is also a link to the rules for uploads.
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adakseabee
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2012 08:16pm
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Before you can post photos you will need to register as a member of the forum.
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CabinBuilder
Admin
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2012 04:24pm - Edited by: CabinBuilder
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Quoting: millerke How do I post pictures on forum?
Info here
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optimistic
Member
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:48pm
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I just came back from the land. I will go ahead and buy it.
An excavator that I called came there to talk with us about a driveway. It so so essential for him to show up because before he arrived my wife and I were looking around and thinking that the lot, near the road, is too steep and rocky... I already started thinking that this will never be possible. But the guy said that this is actually not as bad as I think. He said this:
He will make a 450-500ft deep road. He will go from the side to avoid going up where it is steep - which will make our climb a lot simpler. It will take him 4 days. He will install a 15" pipe somewhere in the bottom. The 'item' (the material he will use as gravel or something) will be from a local quarry which has a very inexpensive stone (according to him) - they charge $300 per load and he said that it has between 12-15 yards in it. This will give 4" for the road.
He quoted 6000$ including everything.
Questions: He said that the biggest cost will be the gravel thing. What will happen if I won't put it down? I know that you SHOULD put it down but it will cost me half not to.
What I am contemplating is that if he doesn't put it down, and soon after he makes the road, I bring a HD truck there with the majority of the materials I need for the construction then afterwards - I do not really need a very good road for the cabin. I will bring very minimal items or materials for the construction which shouldn't be tricky to bring up.
What do you think?
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BRL
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2012 07:35pm
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First of all nice looking piece of property. As far as the driveway goes are you going to be doing the cutting and clearing the driveway yourself. Do you have a 4wd vehicle to get in. It looks high and dry so mud really souldn't be a problem. If you are cutting it yourself maybe see what its like driving up to the cabin spot without any road work you may be surprised. What are the pink lines in one of the pics? Almost looks like the big tree is a sugar maple, maybe sap lines? Looks like a perfect piece of property, congrats! Brian
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:01pm
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opti, thats a reasonable estimate......if he said the 15" culvert is needed then it most likely is needed..he is thinking down the road for you so there are no problems at that area..must be runoff there when it rains...the gravel will solidify the base of your road..without gravel most likely will have a mudbog of a road...especially in the spring with snow melt and when it rains..
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optimistic
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2012 09:10pm
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Thanks BRL. The lines are actually where we marked the closer cabin location but we will go much further in. I do not need to do any clearing really. The excavator will push everything away. He says that he will just knock the trees down and that will be it. I will need to clear a few small trees where the cabin will rest but because I will install Techno metal posts - I do not need to completely flat it as the guy will be installing them 12" above ground. There is no way I can get my 4wd up there right now. zero chance.
weekender - I agree on the culvert. You said that the road will become a mudbog but is that in terms of - mud so you get stuck or can slip and crash with the car or mud so you are battling to get up there and then you have to be covered with mud? necessity vs. convenience?
I am trying to really understand what will happen if I will skip the gravel. If it will make my life a bit harder or impossible/dangerous?
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:08am - Edited by: VTweekender
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opti, it depends on what the soil is underneath. Once you blaze the road taking out the trees and stumps, large rocks etc..and grade it the native top soil layer is pretty much gone. If the underneath is loose soil it will be deep mud to sink into also creating big ruts to keep fixing to make it passable by vehicle, if its rocky soil it may hold up a while to be passable but eventually the soil may wash out and look like a dried up riverbed. If its clay it will be slick as can be when wet and create bog down ruts also. But, its possible you may wind up with only pockets of mud along the road where the rain and snow melt don't drain off and only have to deal with parts of the road being tough at times, don't know....At the least I would put a truckload of gravel at the beginning hill part and go from there seeing how the rest of the road holds up, you could always bring more gravel in later if needed.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:26am
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That's a great idea. I will discuss with him the option of just placing some gravel in the beginning - where it is steep. Thanks weekender.
And if it does become uncrossable at some point - I can always add gravel right?
Then I will take my chances for the time being and see how it goes.
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:38am
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You can add gravel later, but don't let it get to the point that it becomes uncrossable. If you don't want to gravel the whole road now, get the road cut-in and after a little time, weather and use see where the problem stretches are. Get gravel on those. Once a problem starts to develop don't wait too long to address it. Small problems on roads have a tendency to become worse over time and use, and just cost more to fix.
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:45am
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If you do have the job done, go in and mark exactly where your cabin is going to go first, so the road can be brought to your desired spot. Have him dig the holes for your piers below the frost line while the machine is there, or it will cost you later, or raise havock on your back digging.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:53am
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PAbound - The entire area there is on a hill (although the site for the cabin is indeed flat) and with a ton of rocks so hopefully it will won't have too much problematic spots.. I will do exactly what you wrote. The only thing is - the guy will be motivated to do a job which will require me to give him a call back soon for gravel. How do I increase the chances of him doing a job that could save me the gravel?
wekkender - I will not need to deeg for piers as I will use this company: http://www.technometalpostusa.com/us/home-usa/
Already quoted 225$ per pier.
Thanks for the help! 
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2012 08:04am - Edited by: VTweekender
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Opti, if you are going to put in lets say 12 piers, at 225 each is $2675 (plus shipping?). Thats your gravel, and the road done well. If you have the machine there and he digs the 12 holes, probably nothing more expense, 20 bucks each for 6x6 - 8' preasure treated for piers = $240. Have him drop a 20" boulder at the bottom of each hole to set the piers on, take a shovel and backfill them with the dirt from the hole...that gets you your gravel...(and most likely a more stable pier) ....same money...good road and good piers "or" undone road and questionable techno something piers....just sayin....
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