berming question on machine size and project scope

[gwhammy]

Say reaching to your right 90 degrees to cutting 50 degrees to your left and dumping on your left 30 to 40 feet should be attainable. I've moved a lot of dirt this way when it's all I had on the job. Even moved piles this way getting on top of them.

I would prefer a big loader doing what he is going to do as a 973 like I usually use will push up and stack a berm of that size easily, but you have to use what you got. Heck, I use a skid steer a lot of times when I should have hauled a loader in but if you lean forward long enough you can get any job done.

All of this is in theory as not knowing the lay of the land and what kind of soil he's running in changes even the best guess.

 

[AMBMike]

but if you lean forward long enough you can get any job done.

This made me chuckle...
We've all done it I'm sure. Get in a hurry and lean forward to help the machine push that dirt.

 

[Tones]

This made me chuckle...
We've all done it I'm sure. Get in a hurry and lean forward to help the machine push that dirt.

Or rock back and forth. First person I saw doing that was dad and without knowing I've picked up that habit, didn't know until just recently.

 

[Welder Dave]

For someone without a lot of experience this would be a big job! You have to consider compaction. I'd guess you'll need a lot more material than you think. I have experience building tabletop jumps on MX tracks and they take a huge amount of material, much more than you think. You have to pack it or rain will will cause ruts and wash material away. Ideally you want the top at least wide enough for small dozer. If you have a big field that's high ground I'd windrow it and then use a loader to build your berm. That would look a lot better than a big ditch. If the ground is firm enough a 3yd or preferably bigger wheel loader could pile up the long row of dirt and then clean up any material pushed off when packing and shaping the berm. A loader could also shape the sides by back dragging the bucket from top to bottom. This way you could have steeper sides that require less material. A dump truck could be used to stack piles close together too.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Think that some people are over thinking this.
Guy probably can’t see it from his house, doesn’t care what it looks like, as long as it only compacts over time 30%, he probably won’t care because by that time, there will be vegetation on it.
Cheaper and easier to do Xmas trees but will take 20 years.
Bring in a 30 tonner, walk it down the line, reaching as far as it can to the left, grading 3 to 1 slopes and piling it on the right as you go, compacting it as well as possible.

 

[bam1968]

I also think people are over thinking this. I build 1000's of feet of terraces for farmers every year. Even though the terraces we build are only 4-5 ft tall some basins will get up to 10-12 ft with 2:1 slopes on each side. So just pushing up a 12' berm 750' long is a couple day project with a D6 size dozer. I sure wouldn't go out and buy a machine unless you have a bunch of other work that needs done.

 

[Tones]

Even if the berm isn't high enough when completed a very easy fix is to plant small trees and srubs on it. With sufficient density they will deaden sound, look attractive and the birds and bees will be thankful

 

[Welder Dave]

An earth berm is much better than tree's and bush for noise reduction. Some claim you need 330' of tree's and bush to get a 1db noise reduction. I think it's better than that but you'd be better off with a higher berm. It might be worth getting a quote from an experienced contractor to build the berm. It could be much more cost effective than renting equipment and doing it yourself if you don't have much experience running equipment.

 

[Tones]

A mate planted trees and bushes along their roadside, about 20' wide strip and they can hardly hear the traffic now. That's were I got the idea from in my previous post.

 

[bam1968]

I have a county blacktop road about 150 ft from my house. When I moved here about 30 years ago there was a row of mature cedar trees along the road ditch. Over the years between several wind events blowing some over and some simply dying there are only about 4 or 5 trees left along the road. Most of the time this is not a heavily traveled road. I have noticed the traffic noise increase as I have thinned out those trees over the years. I had always blamed it on my windows but the thinning of the trees makes alot of sense.

 

[skyking1]

overthinking it? probably so. I always look at it like somebody is going to pay me to do it and how it looks. After nature gets after it for a few years it won't matter.

 

[Welder Dave]

A mate planted trees and bushes along their roadside, about 20' wide strip and they can hardly hear the traffic now. That's were I got the idea from in my previous post.

There are many different views regarding how much tree's reduce noise. Only way to know is to do sound tests. That said it's generally agreed an earth berm is more effective but tree's on top of a berm do help. They take awhile to grow though.

 

[MG84]

I do agree the combination of an earthen berm plus trees/shrubs planted on it would be the best. The only consideration here is to make sure you separate the top soil and cover the berm with it. Nothing is going to want to grow on it if it's just a big pile of clay/shale/rock/subsoil.

 

[HarleyHappy]

I also think people are over thinking this. I build 1000's of feet of terraces for farmers every year. Even though the terraces we build are only 4-5 ft tall some basins will get up to 10-12 ft with 2:1 slopes on each side. So just pushing up a 12' berm 750' long is a couple day project with a D6 size dozer. I sure wouldn't go out and buy a machine unless you have a bunch of other work that needs done.

Wasn’t aware that the OP was wanting to buy, thought he was looking for recommendations on what machines and size to do the job.
Trees and vegitation help dramatically for sound and eyesight.
We have a State road 200 yards from my house over a state river and notice the noise increase every winter.
When I built the house, on the edge of my lawn, I planted 6 Abborvitea trees, expecting them to grow but evidently I got duds.
lol

 

[oarwhat]

Wasn’t aware that the OP was wanting to buy, thought he was looking for recommendations on what machines and size to do the job.

He's not looking to buy.

 

[Welder Dave]

Softer loose soil also helps reduce and absorb sound. Grass on a berm helps but it's best if it's mowed which requires less of a slope. There are wild flower and other grasses that could be planted that don't require much maintenance. There are a lot of studies on berms and noise reduction online. Not being able to see the source of noise is usually good for a 5db reduction. There are also noise reducing fences. I've been looking into noise reduction a lot since I'm hoping to build a new MX track. Noise is reduced by absorption or reflection or a combination of both.

 

[gwhammy]

A wire stretched where you want trees will do it. Birds seem to think I want cedars in all my fences on the farm.

 

[Georgia Iron]

A wire stretched where you want trees will do it. Birds seem to think I want cedars in all my fences on the farm.

Thats a good new idea. I like it.

 

[Shimmy1]

A wire stretched where you want trees will do it. Birds seem to think I want cedars in all my fences on the farm.

Here in ND, I don't have the answer on how to get trees, but I do know how to not have them. Spend thousands and thousands on clearing all the dead ones, then spend some more planting new ones, and the new ones will be dead in a few years.

 

[PeterG]

In Calgary, you generally need a lot grading permit or approved plan for a berm if it alters drainage, affects neighboring properties, or involves significant earthworks. Minor, non-structural landscaping that does not change water runoff patterns may not require a permit, but you must ensure compliance with The City of Calgary Lot Grading.
For most significant modifications, you should check for a grading permit to ensure you do not cause issues with overland water flow.

Talk to a contractor guy with a small Dozer, or find a dozer operator and see what he says. Make the berm just 4-5 high and plant trees.