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.


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

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

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=...FRJ_Ywodh1jGuA


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

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

Try these guys CO.

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

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by ssgharkness020147

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".

[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.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91037

[mdoyle]

Wait till Spring? Unless you Wife has liquidated damages on the project completion date 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]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

Pick up a few of these torches,they hook up to propane tanks.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91037

Sweet! Thanks!! I was looking for those and forgot about old faithful HF. 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]

Originally Posted by mdoyle

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by KenP

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

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by KenP

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

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

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