will this hardcore do?

f140

I had an extra machinery shed built during the summer. Got a crowd to come in and do it. the floor wasn't included in the job. I need to draw in a few loads of hardcore now myself to level off the ground before concrete (it was built on a bit of a sloap.


Now I have still stuff that was dug up when we put in the new silage pit about 10 years ago. it is nice stoney stuff but at the same time a fraction earthy aswell. Just wondering will this stuff do instead of buying in hardcore from the quarry?

Sam Kade

The only problem with that type of subsoil is that it will take forever to settle, you'd have to leave it a long time before you could pour the concrete. The concrete could subside under weight if the subsoil wasn't settled. Unless you have plenty time to let it settle before pouring concrete you'd be better off with stone under it. There's a man selling crushed stone from demolished houses in Cork for €120/20 tonne load, if you are anywhere near that is.

Dunedin

f140 wrote: »

I had an extra machinery shed built during the summer. Got a crowd to come in and do it. the floor wasn't included in the job. I need to draw in a few loads of hardcore now myself to level off the ground before concrete (it was built on a bit of a sloap.


Now I have still stuff that was dug up when we put in the new silage pit about 10 years ago. it is nice stoney stuff but at the same time a fraction earthy aswell. Just wondering will this stuff do instead of buying in hardcore from the quarry?

not possible to say for sure without seeing the stuff you have or the type of machinery you will be driving on it but the way you described it, it should be fine. Depends also though on the ground/floor that it is going on top of - is that firm as it stands.

All things being equal, it should be fine but you might consider whacking it in or if you could get in a machine into the shed to track it in as no matter which way you go, you will need it firm before you put in readymix as if it's not, the floor will just fall away underneath the concrete.

f140

Sam Kade wrote: »

The only problem with that type of subsoil is that it will take forever to settle, you'd have to leave it a long time before you could pour the concrete. The concrete could subside under weight if the subsoil wasn't settled. Unless you have plenty time to let it settle before pouring concrete you'd be better off with stone under it. There's a man selling crushed stone from demolished houses in Cork for €120/20 tonne load, if you are anywhere near that is.

ya to be honest I am in no fierce rush to get the concrete in. If there was any level base at all in it for now it would do until next summer. Once I will be able to back in the silage trailers and mower/harvester for this winter it would do. they wont be very concerned weather its concrete or hardcore they are parked on

Waffletraktor

f140 wrote: »

ya to be honest I am in no fierce rush to get the concrete in. If there was any level base at all in it for now it would do until next summer. Once I will be able to back in the silage trailers and mower/harvester for this winter it would do. they wont be very concerned weather its concrete or hardcore they are parked on

If you put in your stuff and topped it of with smaller washed stone or even tar-ie roadplainings and tracked or even packed this in rather than concrete?

Dunedin

Sam Kade wrote: »

The only problem with that type of subsoil is that it will take forever to settle, you'd have to leave it a long time before you could pour the concrete. The concrete could subside under weight if the subsoil wasn't settled. Unless you have plenty time to let it settle before pouring concrete you'd be better off with stone under it. There's a man selling crushed stone from demolished houses in Cork for €120/20 tonne load, if you are anywhere near that is.

if it's in a shed and no access to rain, it probably won't settle at all which is why you will have to get it whacked or tracked with a digger. once done well, either way, it is fine for pouring.

But as I said, it's difficult to say without seeing the actual hardcore that F140 is talking about.

I often poured concrete on top of pit run which would have a small bit of clay in it and it is fine.

Who2

It'll tighten grand with a few runs of a machine on it and left for a while. As said top it off with 804, well whacked and don't skimp on the concrete if your worried.

Good loser

Light mesh in the concrete would help too.

CloughCasey1

Machinery shed will need to be able to able to take weight of tractor etc. If earthy stuff dries out it will detach from base of concrete leaving air pockets below and liable to crack. Dont skimp for the cost of a few loads of 3" down and hire a small roller to vibrate it in with a shake of 804 to blind it.

larthehar

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Machinery shed will need to be able to able to take weight of tractor etc. If earthy stuff dries out it will detach from base of concrete leaving air pockets below and liable to crack. Dont skimp for the cost of a few loads of 3" down and hire a small roller to vibrate it in with a shake of 804 to blind it.

It is amazing how much stuff sinks.. trust me.. also +1 vibrating roller.. 10 times the job of a track machine.. i did a flat lane with one instead of the annual track machine rolling and that was 3 yrs ago.. still good!