Having placed the foundation in the gully, excavating began. We were presented with another challenge. The earth below the 2’ foot organic layer was particularly rocky. Rocks were multiple sizes, a few of them very large!
Though easily excavated, the resultant fill was not suitable for structural fill around the future foundation, either inside or outside the wall. It was suitable for building up the front yard as a layer of sand and loam could be placed on top creating a workable soil for grass, trees, and plants. But structural fill (sand) would have to be trucked into the site to back fill against foundation wall. A cost not budgeted but nonetheless necessary. It eventually took around 30 truckloads to complete the backfill and set the final grade.
