Who knows how to unfreeze the ground?

[CO Hummer]

So I have some guys trying to dig out a 20x20 section of ground for an addition I'm putting on my garage/house. The have a monster size backhoe, but the ground is frozen. Normally, the ground freeze here is just a few inches and you can bust through it in one place, then peel it back. But this year we've had the most severe ground-freeze in 30 years in CO. It's frozen to nearly 3 feet!

So, the guys can dig out 2-3 feet of frozen/rocky soil. They are recommending using some company that will thaw out the ground which is going to cost about $1500. I can't remember the company name - it's like "ground busters" or something.

Anyone has this problem before with frozen ground? What did you do?

[DennisAJC]

Gasoline? Scrotched Earth technique.:giggling:


I've seen a techinque where they drill holes and use heated pipes.

[CO Hummer]

I've seen a techinque where they drill holes and use heated pipes.

Hmmmm. I wonder how long that takes. The ground buster guys are coming on Monday.

[DennisAJC]

Try these guys CO.

http://www.groundthawing.com/?gclid=CIPTobOyrooCFRJ_Ywodh1jGuA


$1500 sounds steep. The concept is basic so I couldn't see why you can'r McGyver something together.

[CO Hummer]

Try these guys CO.

http://www.groundthawing.com/?gclid=CIPTobOyrooCFRJ_Ywodh1jGuA


$1500 sounds steep. The concept is basic so I couldn't see why you can'r McGyver something together.

Wow, that's about 1/2 the price for 6000 sqft. I only have 400 sqft. But, I have a time contraint here. :(

[ssgharkness020147]

Just bust out the Oxy/acetylene setup and go to town on the ground.

[DennisAJC]

I'd get an auger and drill evenly spaced holes 2 feet deep( For a 20' x 20', maybe 16 holes from a 6" auger bit.)

Fill with rock salt or de-icing pellets, and flood em with hot water from a hose directly from your hot water tank. That will definitely do the trick and the salt will keep the water from freezing up.

There are other ways, but they're not that enviromentally friendly.:shhh:

[CO Hummer]

Just bust out the Oxy/acetylene setup and go to town on the ground.

Three feet deep?

I'd have nice warm ground, and some cinders that I used to call "home". :D

[ssgharkness020147]

Now is where I would post some pics of my S tanks and uber sexy Smith torch with some reassuring words, but its too cold outside for me to take pics. Good luck CO.

[fourfourto]

Pick up a few of these torches,they hook up to propane tanks.http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91037

[mdoyle]

Wait till Spring? Unless you Wife has liquidated damages on the project completion date :giggling: like mine usually does.

I can't imagine your flatwork and footings would be worth a sh*t if you poured in freezing temps anyway. No comparison to municipal projects by the way, they're using air-entrained, high strength blends with additives that tolerate a wider array of pour conditions.

What you're contractor is likely to pour for residential work is a totally different blend.

[CO Hummer]

Pick up a few of these torches,they hook up to propane tanks.http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91037

Sweet! Thanks!! I was looking for those and forgot about old faithful HF. :cool: I'm going to get one of these to melt snow on my roof. It won't do any good for 3 ft frost though.

[CO Hummer]

I can't imagine your flatwork and footings would be worth a sh*t if you poured in freezing temps anyway.

Hmmmm. Not sure what 'blend' they are going to pour. It will be about 4 feet deep - below the frost. The daytime temps vary a lot. Sometimes it's 50+. Or, it could be 12 like today. :eek:

[BKLYNH2]

They unfreeze by driving the pipes into the ground, the pipes are then connected to a steam generator and steam is injected into the soil to thaw it. This method is probably not in your budget and is usually done in large excavation projects.

[KenP]

Get a cup of boiling water and pour on ground.
Dig where it melted.
Repeat... a gagillion times.

[BKLYNH2]

Get a cup of boiling water and pour on ground.
Dig where it melted.
Repeat... a gagillion times.
:popcorn: :giggling: :clapping:

[CO Hummer]

They unfreeze by driving the pipes into the ground, the pipes are then connected to a steam generator and steam is injected into the soil to thaw it. This method is probably not in your budget and is usually done in large excavation projects.

I bet that's the method one of the outfits proposed. My builder/digger guy said he found one that wanted $5000 to do it.

[CO Hummer]

Get a cup of boiling water and pour on ground.
Dig where it melted.
Repeat... a gagillion times.

I should just sit you on the ground and feed you beans.

[Mr. I - Man]

This sounds morbid, but it might be the cheapest

Contact your local cemetary's groundskeeper or caretaker and see if he will do a side job. They bury em in the winter time too and they would have the right tools to do the job.

[ssgharkness020147]

That idea could work in theory. But, Ken is way too much of a little girl to come help you in the frigid cold;) :D


I should just sit you on the ground and feed you beans.

[CO Hummer]

But, Ken is way too much of a little girl to come help you in the frigid cold;) :D

He said he'd come, but then he piked. :mad: :D

[ssgharkness020147]

Always remember; your true friends will always help you. Even when its cold outside. :jump:

[DRTYFN]

Anyone has this problem before with frozen ground? What did you do?
Atomic asparagus wizz.:jump:

[CO Hummer]

Atomic asparagus wizz.:jump:

That, or one of your steaming pirate loafs would do.

[DRTYFN]

That, or one of your steaming pirate loafs would do.
Speaking of that... I just put threw a toilet-clogger.:giggling:

[CO Hummer]

Speaking of that... I just put threw a toilet-clogger.:giggling:

Please see my PM. You'll know what I mean. :D

[BKLYNH2]

Is it really close to your house? You could build a fire on the ground, if you have enough wood. Keep it burning for 2 days and spread the coals around occasionaly. Invite the whole neighborhood over for a barbecue. :popcorn:

[CO Hummer]

Is it really close to your house? You could build a fire on the ground, if you have enough wood. Keep it burning for 2 days and spread the coals around occasionaly. Invite the whole neighborhood over for a barbecue. :popcorn:

Nope. It's right up next to the house.

[BKLYNH2]

The Ken and beans method?

[DennisAJC]

Nope. It's right up next to the house.


Any way you can enclose it with a tarp(1 foot high) and just pump hot air into it?

I couldn't see why you can't thin that ground freeze buy keeping it warm over night.

[BKLYNH2]

Problem solved. :giggling:

[CO Hummer]

Any way you can enclose it with a tarp(1 foot high) and just pump hot air into it?

I couldn't see why you can't thin that ground freeze buy keeping it warm over night.

I don't have a hot air pumper! It's going to get below zero tonight.

[CO Hummer]

Problem solved. :giggling:

Hahahaahahaha!!

[KenP]

Ha-freaking-Haha... Turds.

I bet that ground sits in the shade most of the winter, huh? Tell them to get a bigger backhoe.

[DennisAJC]

I don't have a hot air pumper! It's going to get below zero tonight.
$15 / day and they'll create summer like temps.

If you could make a tarp bow 2 feet high, I'm sure it would work.

But good luck.

http://www.atlassales.com/equipment/directfired/direct_lg.jpg

[CO Hummer]

$15 / day and they'll create summer like temps.

If you could make a tarp bow 2 feet high, I'm sure it would work.

But good luck.


I would definitely burn the place down. The tarp would catch fire. It would them blow on the house. My neighborhood convenants don't allow me to burn the house down with authorization from the HOA board :D

One of the big problems we have up here is that the ground is so hard, even when it's not frozen. It's all granite.

[ssgharkness020147]

What if they used a jack hammer to break through the frost barrier first, in something like a 5x5 area. Could a backhoe get through it after that?

[CO Hummer]

What if they used a jack hammer to break through the frost barrier first, in something like a 5x5 area. Could a backhoe get through it after that?

They tried that one. They rented a jack hammer and couldn't get through it. The guys who's doing the work has a big backhoe, but it doesn't have bucket on it that has appropriate teeth for tearing it out. He own the backhoe.

[dеiтайожни]

You know, you wouldn't be having this problem if you lived in Florida. :fdance:

[CO Hummer]

You know, you wouldn't be having this problem if you lived in Florida. :fdance:

:D :jump: :D


Would you mind if I shipped you my backyard and let it sit in yours for a few days?

[dеiтайожни]

Would you mind if I shipped you my backyard and let it sit in yours for a few days?

Not at all, your yard is always welcome here.

[Steve - SanJose]

Not experiencing it here in California, today was 64 and sunny.

[lennyrebel]

How about pouring about 50 gallons of that R V antifreeze all over area. Its about $5 bucks a gallon and enviromentally friendly. Just a thought , The Rebel.

[CO Hummer]

How about pouring about 50 gallons of that R V antifreeze all over area. Its about $5 bucks a gallon and enviromentally friendly. Just a thought , The Rebel.

Now you're talking! Hey, I live on the highest point in my neighborhood, so I'm all over that. It won't be my kid that grows horns. :giggling:

[DennisAJC]

How about pouring about 50 gallons of that R V antifreeze all over area. Its about $5 bucks a gallon and enviromentally friendly. Just a thought , The Rebel.


That stuff is great to prevent freezing, but useless once the water is frozen.


50 lbs of de-icer and lots of waaaaatah.:jump:

[dochummer]

She might be able to help you out... :)

http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/images/photos/scet/569/HRO_1014_055.jpg

[DennisAJC]

She might be able to help you out... :)

http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/images/photos/scet/569/HRO_1014_055.jpg



Super Milf:shhh:

[wpage]

Surplus GI Slow Burn Napalm:beerchug:

[CO Hummer]

Well -1 degrees didn't help things last night. But it's supposed to be up to 50 degrees tomorrow.

[KenP]

Super Milf:shhh:Huh? Oh wait, that was a joke, right?;)

[CO Hummer]

So my wife just called me. It turns out the ground warming guys just showed up at my house and they have started thawing it out.

It's always nice to be the last to know...... :rant:

[CO Hummer]

Well........Here's how you do it the environmentally friendly way. :) Dennis, this is just like the link you sent. They got it set up while I was at work.

[DennisAJC]

Sweet!!!! Hope they don't charge you too much.:beerchug:






LMAO!!!!!! Pasta Jays!!!!:giggling: