Make sure the soil has adequate bearing capacity, and that the footings won't create lateral pressure on the foundation wall.
When explosives are out of the question, there's a quieter and safer way to break up rocks into smaller pieces.
Long before I became a builder, I used gasoline-powered portable cut-off saws in the Air Force for crash and rescue recovery work to cut through automobile and airplane wreckage and buildings. I left the Air Force long ago, but not the saws. Now I build homes in Santa Fe, N.M., and work with as much adobe, concrete, stucco, and re-bar as I-joists and OSB. My Air Force experience gave me a real appreciation for these tools, so anytime I have to cut concrete, masonry, or steel I reach for one. It also showed me that nobody in their right mind would look forward to using them?they're loud, expensive, and incredibly messy, whether wet cutting or dry. But when it comes to cutting tough materials, they're also the best tools for the job.
Ownership can reduce your dependence on subs and create new sources of revenue, but be sure to consider all the costs.
From the aisles of the National Hardware Show, these pro-duty tools may answer the needs of your production team.
