Replies

1. 
   DanH | Feb 22, 2019 10:30pm | #1

   If $6K was bid for the job then that's what you should pay, unless the contractor can come up with "extenuating circumstances".

2. 
   mikeljon | Feb 22, 2019 10:33pm | #2

   420' x 10' x 12" depth would be about 280 ton, assuming CR-6 (google "gravel calculator" and a number of sites will pop up that allow you to calculate this.

1. 
   cussnu2 | Feb 23, 2019 02:17pm | #4

   I got 155 yards and mine said 1.35 tons per yard so mine came up 210 tons.... I think I would be asking the contractor to question the trucking company. Don't accuse him at the outset but make it out that the trucking company made a mistake. You can even go to the yard where they hauled it from and get them to give you an estimate on the number of tons needed and show it to him.

   https://www.contractors-stone.com/calculator.html

3. 
   junkhound | Feb 23, 2019 11:07am | #3

   Mistake: poor choice of contractor who cannot honor bids?

   BTW, for $14k, you could buy a used small dozer or skid steer, buy the rock, and have the machine left for future DIY..

4. 
   VickiR | Feb 23, 2019 04:42pm | #5

   Thanks for the help everyone. I was assuming this was a crazy amount, but wanted to make sure there wasn't something else I wasn't thinking of. I'm going ask my contractor to double check this for an invoicing mistake. Hopefully we'll resolve it quickly. Thanks again!

1. 
   cussnu2 | Feb 23, 2019 06:49pm | #6

   Tell him you ran the numbers and it calcs out to 155 yards (cubic yards) and its seems like 565 tons is way too much for that many yards. If you know any civil engineers that would be the best but any engineer at your company or you are related to can lend a level of credence to your argument. Also, you are talking about 20-25 truck loads and around here you will get a scale ticket for every load. Its not unreasonable to ask to see the scale tickets and check the time and date on those tickets to make sure he doesnt have you 10 from the day they did your drive and and 15 from another job. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, he could have combine your driveway gravel with your foundation and basement gravel but then you shouldnt pay on that twice.

1. 
   VickiR | Feb 24, 2019 07:55pm | #9

   Thanks! The gravel for the basement is a line-item on one of the invoices, so definitely not being double counted. Very possible some of this is from another job - I'll look into that. Thank you!

5. 
   Mike_Mahan | Feb 24, 2019 11:13am | #7

   I don't think that $14000 is an outrageous price for a 420' drive way on that kind of compacted base. I think that the contractor seriously underbid it and is trying to make up for that by exagerating the the amount of gravel. How could this come as a suprise to him if he knew what he was doing in the first place?

1. 
   VickiR | Feb 24, 2019 07:50pm | #8

   @Mike_Mahan - are you saying it's possible to use that much gravel on a driveway this size? Trying to anticipate what my contractor might say about using that much gravel.

1. 
   cussnu2 | Feb 24, 2019 08:52pm | #10

   You will "lose" some gravel as it just burys itself below the 1 foot depth but there is no way its 2.5 times. Eventually, the gravel will establish a base and stop sinking

2. 
   Mike_Mahan | Feb 25, 2019 08:32am | #11

   No. You can calculate the amount of gravel as others have done here and he should have done before giving you the $6000 bid. I'm saying that he is exagerating the amount of gravel to get you to pay for his bad bid. Any contractor who goes over this bid by 133% shouldn't be in that business.

6. 
   cussnu2 | Feb 26, 2019 10:16am | #12

   A SOLID block of limestone 420'x10'x12" is 155.556 Cubic Yards. Solid limestone apparently weighs 2.26 tons per cubic yard sooooo....
   155.556 x 2.26 tons = 351.5556 tons in total

   Lucy, you got some splainin' to do......you cant stuff 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound sack
   http://www.pacificmountainmasonry.com/Construction-material_weights.htm
   https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/volume-to-weight

   Note: Just so its clear, crushed limestone will weigh SUBSTANTIALLY LESS per cubic yard than a solid block. Dont let him tell you they will bill you for 352 tons then cause thats still not right.

7. 
   VickiR | Feb 26, 2019 06:56pm | #13

   Really appreciate all the help, everyone. Nice to know that I'm not crazy to question this. My builder is currently avoiding me, ever since I brought this up. Will be interested to know what they'll say about it. I'll update the post when I hear from them.

1. 
   MFisc | Feb 27, 2019 08:36am | #14

   Well I hope every thing will end fine cuz unfortunately seems like he deceived you Vicki.
   If u have all papers for this work u shouldn't be worried.

   All best

8. 
   LukeTaylor | Mar 19, 2019 09:54am | #15

   I guess it just depends on how you look at money, for me personally that's a bit too much.

9. 
   cussnu2 | Apr 11, 2019 12:05pm | #16

   Would always be nice to know how some things like this turn out.

   Looked to me liked either their GC or the sub who did the hauling was trying to rob them.