DIY 1980s House Renovation: Clearing Yard Trash with a Skid Steer

The Renovation Challenge

• 🏡 A couple purchased a 1980s house in Idaho, embarking on their first DIY renovation project together.
• 🗑️ The property came with 40 years of accumulated trash in the yard, presenting a significant cleanup task.
• 🎯 Their ultimate goal is to transform the house into their dream home, establishing a permanent home base after years of travel.

Essential Equipment for Yard Clearing

• 🚜 A rented skid steer was utilized to efficiently remove the extensive outdoor debris and rotten wood.
• 🚛 A dump trailer proved invaluable for transporting large volumes of trash to the dump, significantly speeding up the process compared to manual labor.
• 💰 Each dump run incurred a cost of $120, highlighting the expense associated with waste disposal.

Unexpected Rental Extension and Progress

• 🎉 The skid steer rental was unexpectedly extended for two additional days, allowing for more extensive work on the property.
• ❄️ The skid steer was also effectively used for plowing the first significant snow and moving large logs for future firewood.
• 🌳 During the clearing, an old Dodge truck with a Caterpillar engine was discovered buried in the yard.

Impact of the Clearing Project

• ✅ The project successfully removed three 14-foot dump beds of trash, drastically transforming the appearance of the yard.
• 🚗 Clearing the space created significantly more room for vehicle parking and storage, improving the property's functionality.
• ✨ The use of heavy equipment was deemed essential for completing the job, which would have been nearly impossible by hand.

Future Projects and Discoveries

• 🌲 Large tree sections were moved with the skid steer to be milled by a neighbor, with the lumber intended for future home projects.
• 🛠️ The couple plans to continue their DIY renovation journey, with upcoming projects including interior work.
• 🎁 The video also featured a Bombas sponsorship, highlighting their comfortable socks and their one-for-one donation model.