On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:46:48 -0500, paulaner wrote:

First estimate for the concrete job is nearly $8.5k. I like the guy,
and he comes with a good referral from a neighbor, but that seems a
bit high to me. The area is accessible by excavator and bobcat, not
far from the street. I already have the permit. There isn't any demo
work to be done. Seems like straightforward job. I guess I need a
2nd estimate.

So far I'm doing the slab myself with help from a knowledgeable
contractor.

I dug the footers last weekend, 32" deep. Actually got my teenage
boys to put down the video games and help. It took about 10 hours I
think.

Submitted for inspection via web site on Monday (easy!) and passed
inspection yesterday. The inspector wants the rebar in the footers
to punch into the house foundation.

Then came all the rain. Even with tarps everywhere there was some
collapse. I used an old boat sump pump to drain out a bunch of the
water. I'll be digging out some again.

I will let the new moat dry out over Thanksgiving, then go shopping on
black Friday for 2 yards of concrete (already reserved). The plan is
to take a couple runs from the local rental works with a concrete
cart. These carts can hold up to a yard and I should need about 2
yards according to the online calculators. I'll use child labor again
for the wheelbarrow runs from driveway to back yard.

The 8" block, 4" cap, mortar and sand arrived today. If I'm lucky the
contractor and I will do 5 courses over the weekend. So far I've
spent about $1100.