Everything you need to know about digging a pit by hand: when is this method suitable and how much is the price per cubic meter?

Although it may seem like a difficult undertaking, there are times when digging a pit by hand is the most sensible and economical course of action. When the area is too small for heavy machinery or when accuracy is crucial, manual digging can be a great option for planning a garden, building a small pond, or getting ready for any other construction project.

The control that comes with hand digging is one of its main benefits. Obstacles such as tree roots and underground utilities are easily avoided, reducing the possibility of damage. It’s also a quieter and less disruptive process, which makes it perfect for residential areas where minimal disturbance and noise are required.

Cost-wise, hand-digging varies in price per cubic meter based on a number of variables, such as soil type, pit depth, and labor rates in the area. Since the work is typically labor-intensive, labor costs will account for a sizable amount of the overall cost. This method can still be very cost-effective even with the manual labor involved, particularly for smaller projects where purchasing machinery would be unnecessary.

Effective project planning requires knowing when hand-digging is appropriate and how much to anticipate. You can decide if this conventional approach is the best fit for your needs by taking into account the particulars of your site and the size of your project.

What it is?

"Manual excavation" refers to specialized excavation work in which soil is developed and moved to different locations on the site using manual labor.

The soil layer is leveled during the laying process by the construction team, who carry out several tasks to create an even foundation pit. Such excavation work is done to make room for future house construction on the property.

The level of competence displayed in the work performed will determine the quality of the foundation construction and subsequent construction. Before beginning any manual digging, the area must be thoroughly examined and soil samples taken.

An expert removes a portion of the soil for analysis in order to determine which instrument to utilize. It is predetermined whether groundwater is present or absent. This factor impacts the building’s service life and subsequent construction on the pit site.

If the existence of groundwater is not identified, the structure may eventually deteriorate and fall apart. In addition to manual digging, the construction site must have its soil removed and leveled.

When this method is suitable?

In the following circumstances, manual pit excavation is an option:

• for the arrangement of a well;
• for a pond;
• for a home pool;
• for the construction of a building.

Every house needs a foundation, which requires digging a hole for.

Either manually or automatically, this is done. Although the second option appears less expensive, you can only save money if you excavate yourself. This technique is frequently applied to tiny pits.

For instance, you would need to dig a hole with a volume of 257 cubic meters for a house that is 11x9x2.6 squares. Here, a whole basement or ground floor will be constructed. It would be costly and impractical to dig a pit by hand in this situation.

Digging by hand is appropriate for small holes up to 30 cubic meters. You can use hand tools to excavate a hole for a swimming pool on your own.

The same technique works well for setting up a well or building an artificial pond. The top layer of fertile soil is frequently dug out by hand in large areas, and earthmoving machinery is utilized for the digging process.

This This method works well even in situations where the site lacks access to specialized equipment, in which case everything must be done by hand. In the event that the site is close to kindergartens and hospitals, the approach will be pertinent subject to silence mode.

Determining the level of digging complexity

Pay attention to the type of soil to ascertain the level of difficulty involved in manually excavating the pit. For this, granulometry is employed. Kern is chosen in order to further ascertain the particle sizes and other breed impurities present in it. The percentage of sand in clay soils can be found using this method.

He enables you to recognize three different kinds of fractions:

• sandy;
• dusty;
• clay.

In the field, the method is used. The soil is soaked in water for this purpose. Wait a few days for the clay to swell before calculating its amount.

The size of the soil then increases. Muddy water is drained and the amount of sand remaining in the sediment is observed to determine the amount of sand. They also determine the soil using the visual-tactile method. Samples of fresh soil are rubbed on the palm, rolled into a ball, or cut with a knife.

Digging difficulty is influenced by the kind of soil beneath the top layer. For example, digging up rocky soil by hand will be challenging. These rocks are very dense, do not freeze, and do not shrink. Although this is a great base for a foundation, manual digging will be extremely difficult.

If the site contains non-rocky rocks, such as sand and clay particles, manual excavation is appropriate.

Even with the manual method, excavating a hole in such soil won’t be too tough. If the groundwater layer in the construction region is below the freezing level, then sand is a great material to use for digging a pit. Make sure to look for installed cables and existing pipelines in the ground before beginning any digging.

Tips for choosing development tools

A wide variety of tools are required to manually dig a pit.

Among them are:

1. roulette;
2. containers for transporting earth;
3. meter rulers;
4. hammers;
5. mallets;
6. screwdrivers or screwdrivers;
7. level;
8. building level.

The actual digging is done with a standard bayonet shovel. Soil that has been dug up is also collected using a shovel.

These tools’ characteristics include:

1. Bayonet shovel. It has an almost flat blade, which is equipped with a sharp end in the form of a rounded nose. This tool is designed for digging deep into. Due to the special shape of the tray, convenient cutting into soil layers is ensured. Their immediate separation occurs. The bayonet shovel has ridges on the blade – they are needed to press on the tray with your foot and easily bury it in the ground. The bayonet shovel needs regular sharpening. If the tray becomes rusty, it will become difficult to work with wet soil. This type of tool is not suitable for loose soil, since the shape of the tray does not allow particles to be collected and removed outside the pit.
2. Shovel. This shovel has a bend between the handle and the tray. The metal part has a flat rectangular shape with sides. A shovel is capable of selecting soil and bulk substances. With its help you can clean the bottom of the pit. The tool does not need to be sharpened, but it is important to ensure there is no corrosion. If the tray becomes rusty, wet soil and clay will stick to the surface.

Scooping dirt by hand is best done with shovels that have shortened handles. Picks, hand drills, and crowbars are used to drill deeper into the rock.

Step-by-step action plan

Digging a hole should be done in groups of three or four people to expedite the process. Once every tool has been set up, employees ought to have a strategy.

Procedure to be followed step-by-step when excavating:

1. Marking. A preliminary plan must be drawn up on paper or electronic media. It needs to be moved to the ground. To do this, control the position and dimensions of the hole using a geodetic level. Dimensions are checked along axes and diagonals – they should not deviate from the norm by more than 2 cm in any direction. If there is no level, use the Pythagorean theorem and the point of intersection of two curves. To mark the depth, use a measuring rod with marked marks. Pegs are installed at the corner points, and a cord is pulled between them.
2. Removing the top layer. To remove the fertile layer of soil, first cut off bushes and uproot trees. To determine the volume of the fertile layer, multiply the length and width of the pit on top by the thickness of the plant layer. This layer is removed using garden and bayonet shovels.
3. Excavation and soil removal. During digging, personal protective equipment is used – gloves and goggles, special suits. First, safe areas for excavation are formed; as development proceeds, space is freed up for normal movement of labor.
4. Export of rock. The soil is loaded into large buckets using a shovel and removed from the mining site. Later it can be removed using special equipment.
5. Alignment of walls and bottom. Compaction of the base must occur with proper humidity. Soil that is too dry will take a long time to compact. Too wet soil will interfere with the compaction procedure. Sandy soils are compacted by vibration; compaction is suitable for manual leveling. The process is carried out by lowering a heavy tamping plate to the bottom of the pit.

Summer is when excavation work is done. The ground is dry and there is little chance of precipitation during this time. The shovel will not become stuck in the dirt.

Calculation of the cost of work: examples and standards

The following standards are applied in order to calculate the cost:

• norm of shortfall percentage;
• soil thickness;
• percentage of the mixture scraped from the walls;
• volume of soil removed manually;
• pit volume.

Pits have a 1.75% shortfall percentage, according to SNiP. One cubic meter of handcrafted development costs, on average, 1000 rubles. The cost varies depending on where in the nation you live.

The cost of selecting soil with machinery and packing it into dump trucks starts at 450 rubles per cubic meter. We can use the following example to help with the cost calculation: the pit’s volume will be 36 cubic meters if its dimensions are 6 by 3 by 2 meters.

Not including removal and loading, the development will cost you 36,000 rubles. The cost of this service is 16,200 rubles. 52,200 rubles in total, just for loading, selection, and development. You will also be responsible for the cost of soil testing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Digging by hand has benefits and drawbacks.

pros	Minuses
Economical	Duration of work
Possibility of carrying out under any conditions: no need for equipment access	Cost of physical strength compared to mechanized digging
Safety if communications are laid on the site

The flexibility comes from being able to customize the hole’s shape when excavating by hand.

Aspect	Details
When to dig by hand	Hand digging is suitable for small projects, areas with restricted access, or when precision is needed. It"s also good for sites with obstacles like roots or pipes.
Cost per cubic meter	The price can vary widely depending on location and soil type. On average, expect to pay between $30 and $60 per cubic meter for labor.
Advantages	Hand digging allows for greater control and precision. It"s less disruptive to the surrounding area and can be done without heavy machinery.
Disadvantages	It can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. Not suitable for large projects or very hard soil.
Tools needed	Basic tools like shovels, spades, and picks are essential. You may also need wheelbarrows and buckets for soil removal.

For many projects, digging a pit by hand can be a practical solution, particularly if machinery cannot access the location or the pit is not very large. Although it requires a lot of labor, there are instances where it can be more accurate and save costs on renting equipment.

This technique works especially well for small garden ponds, foundation pits for sheds and other small structures, and drainage trenches. It’s also a good option for locations where access is restricted or where heavy machinery noise and disturbance would be an issue.

Depending on the type of soil, depth, and labor costs in the area, hand digging can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per cubic meter. Even though it might be less expensive up front than renting equipment, don’t forget to account for the time and physical labor needed.

In conclusion, hand pit excavation is a workable option in certain situations where cost-effectiveness, accuracy, and accessibility are crucial. Examine the requirements of your project thoroughly to see if this approach is the most appropriate for your circumstances.

When it comes to small-scale projects that require precision and control but are difficult for machinery to access, digging a pit by hand is a practical and affordable solution. This method works well for projects like drainage system creation, small foundation installation, and gardening. Depending on the type of soil, labor costs, and local conditions, the cost per cubic meter can vary significantly; however, for small excavations, it is typically less expensive than renting heavy machinery.

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