Stripped foundation

ah sure !

Hi all, i am going to self build a single storey garage with no cavity wall so only one row of blocks.
My problem is that the site is at the back of the house so the concrete truck can not come anywhere close as it would destroy the tarmac.
I do not want to use a wheelbarrow to bring 4 or 5 m3 of concrete , i am not superman.

Was thinking of using rows of concrete blocks instead of the ready mix to do the base for the wall , is that a dumb idea or am i a genius ?:D

Any other alternatives ?
Many thanks
Ah sure !

godtabh

You could have the concrete pumped

PS I wouldn't use your method. Differential settlement would be a major concern amongst others

ah sure !

the truck cannot come within 30 meters , not sure how it works to have the concrete pumped ? I guess it would add a good bit to the cost if it is possible at all.

Patsy fyre

Sounds dodgy to me. If a pump truck or conveyor doesn't work look to hire a small 1 or 2 tonne dumper truck. 5 cubic metres is around 12 tonne. Should be able to offload within the hour.

budhabob

godtabh wrote: »

PS I wouldn't use your method. Differential settlement would be a major concern amongst others

I agree with this. The below could be an option also:
http://www.mucktruckireland.com/MUCK-TRUCKsup.html

A fella called fish

Your 'tarmac' must not be great quality if it cannot accommodate a truck? Did the lads who laid it try to sell you some carpet too?! :-)

Regardless, a block foundation is just madness and is likely to cause differential settlement resulting in cracking of the walls.

You obviously don't intend to reinforce the concrete if you're proposing to replace it with block? I suggest that you engage a local Structural Engineer before you proceed with these works.

newmug

Here, if you cant barrow a few metres of concrete, go and book yourself into an aul folks home!

If its that much trouble, get 2 or 3 young lads or relations, a barrow each, give them E20 quid each for their trouble and pay E50-E60 for their barrows. Job done in no time, tar saved, cheaper than hiring a dumper and you have a choice of barrows. You could even pay the lads by letting them keep the barrow they used, extra incentive there to be careful with them. Thats how it would be done round these parts!!!!!!!!!!!

ah sure !

ok get it the blocks idea is not a good one , point taken.
will make the garage a little bit smaller so less concrete for the strip , get a few lads and a few barrows.

will reinforce it as well with steel to be on the safe side.

Another idea , would it be worth mixing the concrete myself ? i can get a mixer.

With regards to give 20 quids to young lads to barrow the concrete , you obviously don't have any teenage kids
i do , and €20 won't do it .

Many thanks for all the tips

Patsy fyre

Don't attempt to mix it yourself if it's 5 metres plus.
You won't save yourself any money and could possibly give yourself a heart attack. Would take for ever to mix and the concrete would have started to go off already.

miss no stars

why can't you pump the concrete?

Slick50

Just curious about the size of this garage, you need 5mtrs of concrete... and you intend to build it with 4" solids? I think you should reconsider the whole project, you should be using at least 9" cavity blocks. You could get the concrete pumped, but it is more expensive. You'd be surprised how quickly you could move that ammount of concrete with a few barrows though.

Any chance of a few pictures when you have it built. Best of luck.

ah sure !

Slick50 wrote: »

Just curious about the size of this garage, you need 5mtrs of concrete... and you intend to build it with 4" solids? I think you should reconsider the whole project, you should be using at least 9" cavity blocks. You could get the concrete pumped, but it is more expensive. You'd be surprised how quickly you could move that ammount of concrete with a few barrows though.

Any chance of a few pictures when you have it built. Best of luck.

i will be using 9" cavity blocks. The 5 m3 of readymix was calculated on the basis of having the strip filled. I won't do that so won't need that much readymix.
will take a few pics as i go along. Starting this week-end weather permitting.

ah sure !

If i was to mix the concrete myself , what proportion sand / cement / gravel should i use ?

Slick50

Don't want to dishearten you, but it is genuinley un-economical to mix these sort of quantities by hand, or even with a drum mixer. You would probably find one of the companies that supply a small mixer truck just as economical. You'll find one in a local directory. Besides, you'll get plenty of mixing practice at the blocklaying stage, believe me.

However if you really want to go this route, a mix of five parts gravel to one cement will do.

Gumbo

ah sure ! wrote: »

If i was to mix the concrete myself , what proportion sand / cement / gravel should i use ?

I'm sorry, but you want to build a structure and you have to ask those questions? Would it not be safer to get somebody with experience and knowledge to do it?

What are your implications should this structure fall on somebody during construction or after construction? Have you liability insurance to cover it?

How will you house insurance be affected by this build etc ?

A fella called fish

kceire wrote: »

I'm sorry, but you want to build a structure and you have to ask those questions? Would it not be safer to get somebody with experience and knowledge to do it?

What are your implications should this structure fall on somebody during construction or after construction? Have you liability insurance to cover it?

How will you house insurance be affected by this build etc ?

I fully agree with kceire. Considering the fact that you initially started this thread wondering if you could build the foundations out of block instead of concrete, its clear that you haven't a clue what you're at. Engage someone who does before this all goes horribly wrong.

ah sure !

A fella called fish wrote: »

I fully agree with kceire. Considering the fact that you initially started this thread wondering if you could build the foundations out of block instead of concrete, its clear that you haven't a clue what you're at. Engage someone who does before this all goes horribly wrong.

Thanks for the tip.
will engage one of the great builders , surely it will be well done :rolleyes:

godtabh

ah sure ! wrote: »

Thanks for the tip.
will engage one of the great builders , surely it will be well done :rolleyes:

Probably better than you could

Slick50

Any progress in the build,? it was a lovely weekend.

knotknowbody

Op you probably have the foundation in by now, but if not could you borrow a tractor and power box to bring the concrete in, it would be easier and quicker than the wheel-barrows, and a smallish tractor would be unlikely to damage your tarmac.

ah sure !

yep almost finished thanks .
All is left to do , the roof and the cavity walls.
OH also need to get the foundation in but for that i need to dig the strip first.

Except that i am all set and ready to paint on the first sunny day of the summer

Slick50

ah sure ! wrote: »

yep almost finished thanks .
All is left to do , the roof and the cavity walls.
OH also need to get the foundation in but for that i need to dig the strip first.

Except that i am all set and ready to paint on the first sunny day of the summer

Well done, you're some man for one man!:)

ah sure !

thanks Slick50 i will make sure i send you a full report of my progress on a daily basis from now on ....

dartup

you can put down wood so lorry can drive on it

Slick50

ah sure ! wrote: »

thanks Slick50 i will make sure i send you a full report of my progress on a daily basis from now on ....

knock yourself out, you're doing f*ck all else, by the looks of it.
On the bright side, look at all the new, helpfull tips you're getting.

ah sure !

Slick50 wrote: »

knock yourself out, you're doing f*ck all else, by the looks of it.
On the bright side, look at all the new, helpfull tips you're getting.

i do not have to justify myself to you !
go back to the pub you frustrated Prxxk

Mod , close that thread please

godtabh

Thread hAs run its course