I want to build a 24x24 footer with a 4or5 block high foundation,I have little building experence,is this a job I can do or should I hire it out.Don

-- Don Schwartz (donschwartz2002@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002

Answers

Determining a persons skill level from a line or two on a screen is a mighty difficult thing to do. The physical skill requires digging, shoveling, sweating; most of us can do this if we are able bodied. Are you knowledgeable for doing the layout? Do you know how to square a cornor with a string? There are a lot of books at the big box building supply stores that cover this topic. Its all just common sense stuff but you need at least a book with guidelines to follow, or an experienced person to ask questions. Example; How do you bend a piece of rebar to make a square neat cornor? If you don't know, you need guidlines or help. Slip a pair of 3 to 4 foot long pipe over it, stand on one and lift the other to vertical.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), March 07, 2002.

Hire it done. If you screw up concrete it's not that easy to start over. Maybe you could ask around and find an experienced blocklayer/concrete man looking for a side job rather than a contractor. The little guy is likely to be cheaper and will probably show you how things are done(if you ask nicely and stay out of his way!) so maybe next time you can attempt it on your own.

-- shakeytails in KY (shakeytails@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002.

I would agree to hire it out unless cash situation is desperate. I have a friend who put together a log house from a kit and I think he paid a dollar a block for the mason plus helping out mixing mortar. This will save some money as a good mason can keep a laborer busy making mud and fetching blocks and he won't have to hire a helper. This is real ballpark but I think they can lay maybe 150 blocks a day, just to give you some starting point to figure from.

-- Rod Perrino (redjouster@aol.com), March 08, 2002.