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Hit a huge rock bed putting in a fence in Toledo last month
Client wanted a 6 foot privacy fence. Marked the line, started digging post holes. Hit solid rock about 18 inches down on the third hole. Thought it was just one rock, but it was a whole layer. Ended up needing a jackhammer rental for two days. What's your go-to method when you hit unexpected rock?
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markm273mo ago
Yeah I actually just read something from a local contractor's association newsletter that said something like 40% of fence installs hit rock or something crazy like that. That's way higher than I would have guessed. And @fox.jesse is totally right about the client side being the worst part. If they see you rolling out a jackhammer with no heads up they think you're gonna bill them for a whole demolition job. I always try to shift the line a foot or two first before breaking out the heavy stuff. But sometimes you just gotta eat the cost of renting the jackhammer if you quoted it too tight. That's on you not the homeowner.
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fox.jesse5mo ago
Honestly... the worst part is the client side of it. They see the jackhammer and the extra time, and suddenly they're worried the whole job is going to cost triple. Gotta talk to them right away, show them the rock, and explain the options. Sometimes you can shift the post line a foot and avoid the worst of it. Other times, you're just stuck adding a rock-breaking line item to the quote.
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noahbaker5mo ago
Gotta push back on the idea you're "stuck" adding a line item. That's the whole point of a quote, right? It's an estimate for the expected work. Finding a big rock is a known, common risk in digging. If you didn't factor in any chance of extra labor for surprises, that's on the business, not the client. A fair price includes a buffer for the job's real world problems, not just the perfect scenario. Springing new costs on people after you start is how you lose trust.
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