Contractors Without Heavy Machinery

Rattlesnake Gal · 08-28-2005, 04:25 PM

Does anyone know of any contractors that would be willing to build an island home without the use of damaging heavy equipment? A friend is looking to build on the island, but the idea of taking down trees and wrecking the natural shrubs to get them in is not at all appealing.
Thanks for your help!
RG

codeman671 · 08-28-2005, 08:09 PM

When ours was built the actual structure was completely done by hand, no equipment at all. They used a barge to crane the material onto shore and everything was moved by hand from that point. The sitework would be the problem though, how do you do a septic system without heavy equipment? Thats a lot of digging by hand...

jkjoshuatree · 08-28-2005, 08:48 PM

They might be what you're looking for.

Pepper · 08-28-2005, 11:01 PM

How about one of these???

Orion · 08-29-2005, 10:05 AM

Everything on the islands is pretty much heavy boulders requiring some machinery. Other than the house and septic sites (which have to be cleared), the equipment can be brought in without damaging too much (which can be replaced later anyway), and they only need about a 8-10' wide path to bring the equipment in. Just strap firring strips vertically around all the trees you want to protect and instruct the contractor that you want max preservation. The problem we ended up with once we were done is what do you do with all the huge boulders that come up when trying to build a septic system and level a house site (no basement in ours).

Bear Islander · 08-29-2005, 07:49 PM

A few years ago I had a 14' by 32' addition put on our island home without any equipment. The foundation holes were dug by hand. The lumber was manhandled off of a barge or dragged across the ice.

The septic system is the problem. A standard system requires a lot of digging and dozens of truckloads of sand. It can cost 50k.

If they went with a propane toilet or a composting toilet they could save a lot of money and not need any equipment on the island. I know Diamond Island is mostly alternative toilets, aren't there a lot on Rattlesnake as well?

codeman671 · 08-29-2005, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

A few years ago I had a 14' by 32' addition put on our island home without any equipment. The foundation holes were dug by hand. The lumber was manhandled off of a barge or dragged across the ice.

The septic system is the problem. A standard system requires a lot of digging and dozens of truckloads of sand. It can cost 50k.

If they went with a propane toilet or a composting toilet they could save a lot of money and not need any equipment on the island. I know Diamond Island is mostly alternative toilets, aren't there a lot on Rattlesnake as well?

$50k sounds like a raping on a septic system, all of our sitework combined cost $31k (clearing the lot and making a barge landing spot, tree work, all materials and extra fill, complete Presby septic 450' back, setting pilings for the house and general cleanup/grading). This was last fall.

PaulS · 08-30-2005, 01:38 PM

Pepper, What made you think of a yurt? I think it would look better in Hawaii.

trfour · 08-30-2005, 02:34 PM

At todays labor costs, lets build a pyramid.....

Tents,... or US!......... and hold the mayo.... " Only kidding "

Love,
T.

Pepper · 08-30-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulS

Pepper, What made you think of a yurt? I think it would look better in Hawaii.

I came home Sunday evening still saying "A Yurt?!?!?!?!?!" Then I logged on and saw RG's post and cracked up laughing while I searched for a picture of a yurt.

I hope you two laughed as hard as we did! I do agree, however, that it would look much better in Hawaii!

Hope the weather didn't keep you from your planned activities on Monday

PS: RG, sorry for temporarily hijacking your thread. We now return to our regularly scheduled thread.

ITD · 08-31-2005, 09:07 AM

They grow back, the shrubs and trees.
Takes a little while, but not as long as you might think. I'm sure you could find a contractor who would only take down what was needed.
Good luck.

Rattlesnake Gal · 08-31-2005, 02:04 PM

Thanks everyone! I also received a couple e-mails with information to pass along too.
Pepper, no need to be sorry, it was funny!

There are many of us on Rattlesnake alternative toilets. They are more cost effective than putting in septic systems. Also much of the island simply isn't conducive for them. For resale value, I'm not sure you would make back the money spent on one either. That's definitely something to consider.
Thanks again!
RG

KPW · 09-03-2005, 05:07 PM

Island Property Management, LLC - 603-455-6401. Does excellent work with minimal impact. Uses a small excavater. Has done a few jobs already on Rattlesnake. Fully licensed for septic systems. Give him a call, you will not be sorry. (He is my neighbor)

08-28-2005, 04:25 PM	#1
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Contractors Without Heavy Machinery Does anyone know of any contractors that would be willing to build an island home without the use of damaging heavy equipment? A friend is looking to build on the island, but the idea of taking down trees and wrecking the natural shrubs to get them in is not at all appealing. Thanks for your help! RG

08-28-2005, 08:48 PM	#3
jkjoshuatree Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 642 Thanks: 349 Thanked 145 Times in 77 Posts	Island Marine? They might be what you're looking for. __________________ Dream out loud.

08-28-2005, 11:01 PM	#4
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	A Yurt! How about one of these??? Attached Images __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!

08-29-2005, 10:05 AM	#5
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: MA Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	rocks! Everything on the islands is pretty much heavy boulders requiring some machinery. Other than the house and septic sites (which have to be cleared), the equipment can be brought in without damaging too much (which can be replaced later anyway), and they only need about a 8-10' wide path to bring the equipment in. Just strap firring strips vertically around all the trees you want to protect and instruct the contractor that you want max preservation. The problem we ended up with once we were done is what do you do with all the huge boulders that come up when trying to build a septic system and level a house site (no basement in ours).

08-30-2005, 02:34 PM	#9
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Without the heavy At todays labor costs, lets build a pyramid..... Tents,... or US!......... and hold the mayo.... " Only kidding " Love, T. __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html Last edited by trfour; 08-30-2005 at 02:44 PM. Reason: Dang CRS; can't remember stuff... :)

08-28-2005, 08:09 PM	#2
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,509 Thanks: 221 Thanked 818 Times in 491 Posts	When ours was built the actual structure was completely done by hand, no equipment at all. They used a barge to crane the material onto shore and everything was moved by hand from that point. The sitework would be the problem though, how do you do a septic system without heavy equipment? Thats a lot of digging by hand...

08-29-2005, 07:49 PM	#6
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,764 Thanks: 32 Thanked 441 Times in 207 Posts	A few years ago I had a 14' by 32' addition put on our island home without any equipment. The foundation holes were dug by hand. The lumber was manhandled off of a barge or dragged across the ice. The septic system is the problem. A standard system requires a lot of digging and dozens of truckloads of sand. It can cost 50k. If they went with a propane toilet or a composting toilet they could save a lot of money and not need any equipment on the island. I know Diamond Island is mostly alternative toilets, aren't there a lot on Rattlesnake as well?

08-30-2005, 01:38 PM	#8
PaulS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pepper, What made you think of a yurt? I think it would look better in Hawaii.

08-31-2005, 09:07 AM	#11
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,935 Thanks: 478 Thanked 694 Times in 389 Posts	They grow back, the shrubs and trees. Takes a little while, but not as long as you might think. I'm sure you could find a contractor who would only take down what was needed. Good luck.

08-31-2005, 02:04 PM	#12
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Thanks! Thanks everyone! I also received a couple e-mails with information to pass along too. Pepper, no need to be sorry, it was funny! There are many of us on Rattlesnake alternative toilets. They are more cost effective than putting in septic systems. Also much of the island simply isn't conducive for them. For resale value, I'm not sure you would make back the money spent on one either. That's definitely something to consider. Thanks again! RG

09-03-2005, 05:07 PM	#13
KPW Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 398 Thanks: 735 Thanked 118 Times in 59 Posts	Contractors Without Heavy Machinery Island Property Management, LLC - 603-455-6401. Does excellent work with minimal impact. Uses a small excavater. Has done a few jobs already on Rattlesnake. Fully licensed for septic systems. Give him a call, you will not be sorry. (He is my neighbor)