Is this calculation for the amount of topsoil I need correct?

[Bruce999]

Hi,

After removing my patio, digging up a big chunk of the driveway, and removing some ashphalts paths in the backyard, I am now ready to put down some topsoil and either seed or sod a lawn. I have dug out half a meter of gravel under the paths and driveway, and about 30-40 cms of sand which was under the patio. I called to get a load of topsoil delivered, but they quoted me 832 bucks (before tax). I was expecting it to be 80 bucks, so I have to assume my cubic measurements are off.

The area I need to fill measures 26 ft 8 inches by 22 ft 6 inches, and I have escavated about 1 foot down. When I calculate that, it makes it almost exactly 600 cubic feet (26.66*22.5*1). At 31 dollars per cubic yard, they told me I need 22 of them + 150 dollar delivery charge. Can anyone see any errors here? I am somewhat shocked they want 832 bucks for a bunch of dirt. I am absolutely sure my neighbour paid only 60 bucks to have a rather huge pile of dirt delivered to his front yard when he needed to fill in a large area.

I live in Ottawa, all figures are in Canadian dollars.

Thanks,
Bruce

[scooby]

That calculation looks accurate to me, but I agree that seems like a lot of $ for a pile of dirt.

[deejoe]

It would seem like your math iscorrect, about 23 cu. yds is correct.

Last year I paid $300. for a 22 yd load (delivered).= Approx $14 per yd.

Just a week ago I paid $180 for a 6 yd load.= $30 per yd.

The dumping location was in the Hamilton-Toronto area, and the soil was drawn from a soil business farm about 3 miles away from the dumping site.
At that rate it sure pays to buy the larger amount if you can use it.
It would seem like the Ottawa area is in a "GOUGE" mode.

btw,Bruce 999, was your top soil "screened" (free of weeds, twigs stones,etc?)
Mine was.

[Bruce999]

I found that prices vary wildly. Not that it was a surprise that topsoil prices from one vender to the next may differ, but by 600 bones??????? I also did make an error in my calculations, I neglected to subtrack the island of grass between the driveway I had dug up, and the patio stones I had removed. I was going to turn that over since it was in terrible shape (weeds, crabgrass, bare patches, you name it). When the new calculations were in, I needed 14 cubic yards of topsoil instead of 22. That ended up costing me 265 bucks (delivery and taxes included) from a place called Pomerleau in Ottawa. It would still have been just under 600 bucks from Richie.

When it was delivered, I could not believe the size of the dumptruck which showed up in front of my house (my back started to ache just looking at it). The driver was an artist, he managed to back it down my driveway all the way to the backyard with less than an inch to spare on either side (no joke, you should have seen it). He also performed that feat in one go, never having to straighten out. It was so close, the rails holding the canvas over the load just brushed up against my eavestrough, because the endcap stuck out farther than the roof!

At any rate, he successfully dumped the load in my backyard, right next to the gravel pit I had dug out. A fair chunk even fell right into the hole. He probably saved me a whole day of wheelbarrowing. It has all been spread around now, the job is done. I seeded it instead of sodding based on cost, but also because I read that seed will produce much better roots and make the grass heartier. I have 3 kids under 6, so heartier is MUCH better.

Thanks for the replies,
Bruce.