DIY & Save in Central Vermont: Weekend Projects with a Bobcat
DIY & Save: Central Vermont Projects You Can Tackle with a Weekend Rental (Even if You’re New)
Home projects don’t have to wait for a contractor—or blow the budget. In Central Vermont, a lot of the cost on small jobs is time, travel, and mobilization.
Meanwhile, skilled labor isn’t cheap (for good reasons): equipment operators command solid wages, and overall pay across Vermont’s largest metro runs above the national average.
That’s great for workers, but it’s also why doing the earthwork yourself on select tasks can meaningfully cut your bill while keeping pros focused on the parts only they should do (design, hookups and inspections).
Where DIY Saves the Most (Central VT Edition)
Below are high-impact projects we see around Barre, Montpelier, Berlin, Northfield, Waterbury, Waitsfield/Moretown, Randolph, Bradford, Chelsea and Topsham—with notes on what a first-timer can safely handle, and when to call a pro.
1) Driveway Re-crown & Ditch Cleanup (1 Day)
A gravel driveway that doesn’t shed water will cost you after every storm—ruts, puddles, and fines washing into the ditch. Re-establishing the crown (a gentle center-high shape) and clearing the first 10–20 feet at culvert inlets/outlets is one of the highest-ROI projects a homeowner can DIY. Around Barre, Montpelier, Northfield, Waterbury, and Randolph, most drives only need a light regrade and a couple of turnouts to start behaving again.
If you can confidently drive a pickup, you can learn a Bobcat T66. Set your bucket flat, make 2–3 shallow passes from the edges toward the center to build the crown, then feather material back down the sides. For ditches, skim silt and sod—not deep cuts—and keep outlets open and stable. Our Driveway Quickstart shows the crown profile to aim for, how to add simple turnouts on long runs, and the trick for “sight-gauging” grade without a laser.
To finish, place fresh ¾″ minus where you need lift, then compact with your truck tires or a plate compactor. If access is tight near a garage apron in Berlin or Bradford, switch to the MT100 for finesse.
2) Trenching for Conduit or Water Lines
The money in small utility runs is the trench, not the hookup so this is a great split job: you dig, a licensed pro handles wire/pipe, connections, and inspection. In Central Vermont, the Bobcat E40 mini excavator keeps trenches straight and consistent, and rubber tracks protect your yard. Depths and separations are driven by code and your electrician/plumber’s plan; your goal is a clean, safe trench and tidy spoils.
Layout is simple. After you call Dig Safe (811) at least 72 hours in advance (weekends/holidays don’t count), paint your path, set a string line, and keep spoils on fabric so backfill is clean. Use the trenching bucket and take shallow passes; on soft ground in Waitsfield/Moretown, lay mats so you don’t sink. Our Trenching Quickstart covers bucket angle, safe benching at transitions, and how to stage sand or screening for bedding.
When the trench is inspected and pipe/cable is in, you backfill in lifts and compact lightly. If the run crosses a driveway in Chelsea or Topsham, the T66 can restore the crown and dress stone in minutes. Every rental includes our pre-dig checklist, a mark-out guide, and links to short safety videos so first-timers feel confident.
3) Drainage Swales & Downspout Daylighting
Hillside lots—from Waterbury Center to Waitsfield—often need a shallow interceptor swale above the drive to catch sheet flow before it beats up the surface. Pair that with daylighting your downspouts away from foundations and you’ll notice an immediate difference during the first fall soaker. These are light-touch projects: move a modest amount of soil, create a controlled path, and stabilize the outlet.
You don’t need survey gear. Strike a 1–2% fall using a string line or even a mason’s level, then let the E40 do the cutting while you work in shallow passes. The T66 can follow to blend edges and dress the bottom smooth. Our Swale Starter Guide shows the paint pattern to mark curves, the “one-bucket-width” rule for beginner control, and simple checks to confirm your slope is flowing in the right direction.
Finish by lining outlets with fabric and stone, or seed and mulch gentle runs. Keep anything near mapped flood areas or streams conservative and check local rules if you’re unsure. With your rental you’ll get our Outlet Stabilization tip sheet and a short two-minute video on shaping swales without over-digging—ideal for first-timers in Barre Town, Berlin, and Randolph.
4) Shed/Generator Pad Prep & Small Patio Bases
Pads are classic weekend wins because you control the cost drivers: excavation, base, and compaction. Mark your footprint, remove organics, roll down geotextile, and place base in 2″ lifts. The Bobcat T66 makes quick work of moving and spreading stone; forks handle pallets of pavers or a generator. For backyard pads in Montpelier or Bradford with narrow gates, the MT100 sneaks through and protects turf.
Beginners over-dig; don’t. Our Pad Prep Quickstart walks you through “cut to flat, not deep,” how to use the back-drag technique for a laser-like finish, and when to switch from bucket to hand tamping at edges. We include a material calculator so you order the right volume of ¾″ minus and a compaction guide showing the number of passes to lock the base.
For generators, keep the pad level and proud of grade for drainage; for a small patio, think “flat and tight” so pavers don’t rock. If you’re working in Northfield or Chelsea with a slight slope, use the T66 to create a gentle bench and retain with a single course of block. You’ll get our step-by-step printout with your machine plus links to short how-to clips—so you spend your day building, not searching YouTube.
5) Stump & Back Yard Cleanup
Small stumps, roots, and brush piles are exactly what the E40 + MT100 combo was made for. In Barre, Montpelier, and Waterbury yards, you can undercut roots with the E40, pop the stump, and use the MT100 to shuttle debris to a trailer without tearing up the lawn. It’s faster than hand tools and far cheaper than bringing in a big crew for a small list.
Work small and deliberate. Score around the stump, undercut on two sides, and use the bucket curl—not brute force—to ease it out. Backfill the hole with on-site soil, overfill slightly for settlement, and rake smooth. Our Back-Yard Cleanup Quickstart shows safe pinching for logs, how to place plywood tracks to protect turf, and the right sequence so you’re not driving over finished areas.
Wrap by grading low spots and topdressing. If disposal rules differ in Randolph, Bradford, or Topsham, we’ll point you to local transfer stations or chippers you can book. Every rental includes our safety checklist, tie-down tips, and a five-minute operator video—so even first-timers feel comfortable before they start the machine.
Local digging note: In Vermont you must contact Dig Safe (811) at least 72 hours in advance (not including weekends/holidays) before excavation.
Book the Right Bobcat for the Job
We’re family-owned, our fleet is new, and you can book online anytime. We deliver across Central VT—Barre, Montpelier, Berlin, Northfield, Waterbury, Waitsfield/Moretown, Randolph, Bradford, Chelsea, Topsham and neighboring towns—so you can start when your materials arrive, not when a yard opens.
Contractors get 15% off with verification at checkout.
Book your rental and we’ll help you match E40 vs. T66 vs. MT100 and the attachments for your project.