Questoin About Septic In VA

Project53

Hi, I have a question about septic systems in VA. I'm comeing from the northeast...done with living and dealing with costs and stuff up here and moving down to the north fork in VA. I don't have to deal with septic up here as all the projects have been city water, city sewer.
I run maybe a 50 foot sewer line to the street...and hey i'm done.
My question is..do I need to find a seperate "septic" contractor or dose the Excavation contractor handle the septic? and also dig out for my foundation. The well is going to cost me by how far he has to drill....but I'm hoping not excessive.
I have put a budget of 10K in my plan for well and septic...but I could be off on this as I have never done one before.
Any help on this estimate would be great. Thanks

rino1494

Well, I am from PA, but I don't see it being any different. Typically the contractor that does your foundation will do your septic. As far as your $10,000 budget, you are off a bit. It will cost you around $10,000 for the septic alone, depending on the size of the absorbtion area. As far as a well, expect around $5,000.

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jmic

I'm from Ct. and will agree with Rino, seems to be light in the septic price, although not really sure of what they reguire in Va.

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tgeb

I concur.

Although I would disagree on the fact that the foundation excavating contractor will also do the septic system. Some do, some don't. But that is in Maryland.

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www.gebcon.com

Project53

Well Thanks guys...so far for the rude awakeing...LOL......But there are alot of things in VA that don't make sence to me. I've already talked to a VA foundation contractor. I want to build a basement so thats the specks I gave him. Now unless the phone connection was bad. He told me that for the footing, were talking about. 8" deep...thats inches....by 16" at 2500psi. With NO rebar. Then drop a wall on it at 3000 psi with# 4 rebar.
OK yeah I'm from up north...but 8 inches deep for a footing...this may be code for VA but. Ok so it sounds nuts to me. if I dug a footing less then 3 feet. The inspector would laugh. Could this be right for VA?????

tgeb

Your foundation guy was actually referring to the thickness of the footing, not the depth at which it is placed.
The minimum depth is most likely 30" below grade, could be more in the mountain areas and less down south and to the east.
Local code will dictate that.

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Zatol

Your footing will most likely be between 8 and 12 inches deep by 16 inches wide. Some guys charge by the foot, around $50 per, Others charge by the yard, around $150 per. The footing must be placed below the frostline. Here, it is 12"

You will find a company or individual that installs septic systems as their primary business... Your price for a conventional system will be around 3300.00... A pump to conventional will add about 1200.00 to the cost.

d.janvrin

Northeast NH Ma. Footing At least 48" below Finish Grade
16" width 8" Thick 8" Wall NEW CODE MA. Watch OUT If rebar or steel is used in footing or wall "MUST BE " Completely Bonded" ( The easiest way to do this is leave rebar hanging out of footing at least 16" ***BEFORE POUR **** so electrican can run ground wie from it easy.
Last new Footing had to jackhammer and find rebar !!!!

Good Luck
P/s Septic est here about 15-25K depending on deisign . (pump,gravity,feild depth etc , grinder )

Project53

Thanks Zatol..I have to assume your from VA..at last I hope so.
You have comfirmed what the other contractor told me about footings being only 8"- 12" deep. and the septic system at like $3300 + is what I thought. But thanks for the confirm.

rino1494

Around here, footings must be at least 7" thick and 24" wide with rebar.

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dirt diggler

hmmm

for one, not sure where the "north fork" of VA is. But near DC it is one of the most expensive places in the country

most excavators around here --- yes, do both septic and foundations.

10K does not sound like much for doing drainfields. Not to scare you, but I've heard some going between 30-50K. I would get your ducks in a row on this. Hope I'm way off here

dirt diggler

hmmm, 8" deep??? No way

we go 18-24 baby

Shamrock

I'm guessing he's referring to Norfolk, VA.

Zatol

Project53,

The cost that I gave you for the septic should cover the complete system and installation. There will probably be an environmental fee from the county ranging from $125.00-$250.00

Construction costs, codes, and practices vary greatly from region to region of the US and that is why you are getting such a wide range of information on this board. I build in your region and would be very surprised if the numbers that I gave you are off by much.

Project53

Guys, it's really called the Northern Neck...on the map anyway.
Im looking around Lancaster county.
Zatol, since your from that area, let me pick your brains a little more.
How do the plumbers down there feel about PEX and more important how do the inspectors feel about it. I don't know how widely it's used down there.
The next question really depends on the contractor..but i'l ask anyway.
Up here the framing contractors just want to frame and get out. Then I have to bring in the siding contractor. Is that the same down there?
I have seen on this board that in some cases the Framing Contractor Can and will do the siding...but that may be a reginal thing. If they don't do it as the norm down there, I'll just get a siding contractor.
Was just looking to kill 2 birds with one contract...LOL

Project53

Zatol, one thing that just hit me like a ton of bricks....If I'm building off that route 3 area...are there any good supply houses around there? Do you have to go out toward the Richmond area to get materials?
I usually price shop my materials, but theres a lot of compitition up here.
If theres only 1 supplier in a 50 mile radius....a piece of 1/2 "sheetrock that I can get up here for 10.34 can easily turn into a $14 piece if theres no competition around.

the_turd_man

dont know bout your state rhino, but in florida you have to be a state certified septic installer with 3yrs req state exam and all that jaz. here excavation contractors are only allowed to cover the septic system and builders usually do to save money (tightwads) and can not install or pull permits. But septic contractors can provide excavation as several do. For the life of me I cannot understand politics

then again here you have to have a permit to fart.

be sure to check the rules with your dept of enviormental protection
it varies widely by state , and county even by town

I install in new york as well my dog can do septic systems there and pull permits. I am glad to be away from the political ratrace the can keep that sandpit ill take the snow and freeze my balls off

concretemasonry

Project53 -

The footing of 8" thick by 16" wide for an 8" foundation wall is not unusual. The old fashioned wood basements were put in without concrete footings.

The footing concrete is there ony to spread the load from the walls out over a larger area. The 2500 psi concrete is at least 18 to 30 times stronger than the soil (2500 psf or 17 psi) it is sitting on. Because the footing is fairly thick (8") in comparison to the amount of concrete sticking out beyond the foundation wall face (4" for a 8" wall and 16" wide footing), there is no bending or need for structural steel reinforcement. If you have a wide spread footing, then there would be a need for transverse steel. - The longitudinal steel, if required (usually 2 bars) is only for shrinkage and continuity and is not structural - This steel requirement varies with local jurisdiction controlling.

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lenlaf53

As far as one guy doing it all, think twice. Would you have one doctor do all your medical work. I've seen many interior plumbers that do a great job inside, but once they gey outside watch out. Best to do some research and get the right company doing the right job. Septics are not something you want to do over again in a few years.

Len

TimNJ

I was down in VA last week in the Luray area. We rented a brand new log cabin that was built on the top of the hillside. I couldn't help but notice that the septic system consisted of two tanks and the total ground area that had been disturbed couldn't have been more than about 14x14 and that's the tank area included. There was nothing that even resembled a drain field. If I had some tools with me I wanted to take off the lid to see how big one of these tanks was.