'Got Dirt?

Dirt work started today. It was a slow start while the contract between our contractor and the dirt subcontractor got worked out. There was some confusion as to who would pay for the dirt work outside the chain wall. We thought that the contractor should have paid for it since a ramp is needed to get the dirt inside. The contractor thought that we should pay for it since they only bid for the dirt inside the chain wall. Ultimately we agreed to pay for it - we are paying for the dirt either way, so it was really just the compaction that was an issue. And since we agree that the contractor didn't bid for it, it is fair that we pay for the compaction. (And it's not that much money, in the whole scheme of things.)

I stayed home from work today, finishing our 2005 taxes. (Now we need to file an extension for the '06 taxes.) What a pain it was. Hopefully we won't get audited! Anyways, it was nice because I was home when the dirt guy showed up. (I wonder what percentage of "dirt guys" around here have the last name "Ladner" - I'm guessing 75%!) We asked how long he thought it would take, and how thick the lifts would be. He said it will probably take 5-6 days, and that they would place the layers 4"-8" thick. Less thick if there's more clay, more thick if there's more sand, since sand compacts easier than clay (although clay holds the compaction better than sand). We're happy because it appears that Mr. Ladner knows what he's doing, and is going to take the time to do it right. He is also going to place some dirt to direct water shed away from the foundations.

Now I've got to install TaxCut and get working on the extension... Next update will probably be Friday.