Concrete base for shed - DIY or ?

Fine Cheers

All set to put concrete base down for a 3m x 2m shed say 150mm thick which equates to circa 1 cub metre. So, a builder friend said some ago he would do it when pouring a job nearby. Between the weather and lockdown, I might have to give up on him and have to give it a go myself. Can I just look for a cubic metre to be delivered from one of the local ready mix firms or do I hire a mixer and go real diy ?? I have base dugout and form work ready.

bigroad

If you can get a small truck mixer to deliver that would be best solution.
I put in a few bases like that myself mixing it with a small electric mixer and to be honest I won't be doing it again.

kieran26

I put in a base for a covered bbq area over the weekend, 2.2 mx 2.2m x .15m it took around 15 mixes / wheelbarrow laods to finish it. Back breaking work, buy it in if you can. If you don't have a mixer, definitely buy it in.

Calahonda52

kieran26 wrote: »

I put in a base for a covered bbq area over the weekend, 2.2 mx 2.2m x .15m it took around 15 mixes / wheelbarrow laods to finish it. Back breaking work, buy it in if you can. If you don't have a mixer, definitely buy it in.

Interesting stats as I am looking at 3.3 by 6.6 by .15...

What quantity of material did you have delivered?

kieran26

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Interesting stats as I am looking at 3.3 by 6.6 by .15...

What quantity of material did you have delivered?

I had 2 bags of sand/ gravel mix delivered, (Can't remember how much it cost as it was delivered with loads of other bits) and 12 bags of cement, I have half a bag of the gravel left, and 3 bags of cement. I wasn't too precise with my mix but I was using just approx half a bag for each.

alex_r

You defo need a mixer and a lot of shovelling. It's not rocket science, easy to do once you get a hang of it. Just choose a good mix for your ground and make sure your padding is well laid out.

On the other thought, do you absolutely have to go with the full concrete foundation? Why not just do the old fashion way with posts?
Get cedar posts, torch/char them(google "shou-sugi-ban" or "Yakisugi"), soak them in boiled linseed oil mixed with salt, dig holes, backfill with rocks at the bottom of them and rest the posts onto these rocks, lay another few rocks around the post base, cover up with the soil. This ancient old technic would be more sustainable and environmentally friendly than concrete and these posts will outlive all of us in here.
If all this is a bit too fancy for you, you could use threaded rods packed in a concrete tub. check this video https://youtu.be/S92rEaAj188

Find videos on youtube about charring posts. It's an amazing technique and totally DIY friendly.

This video might also inspire you https://youtu.be/0S_g_59GzCI

Calahonda52

alex_r wrote: »

You defo need a mixer and a lot of shovelling. It's not rocket science, easy to do once you get a hang of it. Just choose a good mix for your ground and make sure your padding is well laid out.

On the other thought, do you absolutely have to go with the full concrete foundation? Why not just do the old fashion way with posts?
Get cedar posts, torch/char them(google "shou-sugi-ban" or "Yakisugi"), soak them in boiled linseed oil mixed with salt, dig holes, backfill with rocks at the bottom of them and rest the posts onto these rocks, lay another few rocks around the post base, cover up with the soil. This ancient old technic would be more sustainable and environmentally friendly than concrete and these posts will outlive all of us in here.
If all this is a bit too fancy for you, you could use threaded rods packed in a concrete tub. check this video https://youtu.be/S92rEaAj188

Find videos on youtube about charring posts. It's an amazing technique and totally DIY friendly.

This video might also inspire you https://youtu.be/0S_g_59GzCI

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058165076

alex_r

Calahonda52 wrote: »

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058165076

What about it?

Calahonda52

alex_r wrote: »

What about it?

On the one hand you are suggesting cedar and at the same time cant get them cheap enough, if at all for self: far worse than sitting on a dead horse:D

alex_r

Calahonda52 wrote: »

On the one hand you are suggesting cedar and at the same time cant get them cheap enough if at all for self: far worse than sitting on a dead horse:D

Ohh, yeah fair enough haha. I need a bit more than just a few posts tho. And maybe OP has an access to better shops that I do in Roscommon

dingdong1234567

You do not need 150mm base for a concrete shed lads, you'd get away with 75mm 35n20 or 100mm 30n20 mix concrete with a good compacted base underneath. 150mm - nuts.

ted1

What type of shed is it ?

Fine Cheers

Going to be a timber frame with horizontal t&g composite grey cladding on outside with lean-to roof in grey corri. Slab will be floor of shed. Cladding will run down face of slab. Don't want a raised floor with void under as we had issues with little furry lads previously. Thanks for helpful posts and I might hold out for my mate for another while !! Will need to barrow the mix from truck at front of house down the side and into back garden.

Calahonda52

dingdong1234567 wrote: »

You do not need 150mm base for a concrete shed lads, you'd get away with 75mm 35n20 or 100mm 30n20 mix concrete with a good compacted base underneath. 150mm - nuts.

If you price it all up, and can split the truck load so as the other site pays the delivery charge, there its not much in it, especially if you are paying guys to barrow.

alex_r

To prevent animals from getting under the floor, you can put trellis or something like chicken wire. That will give you natural and organic ventilation for your floor. you also can put horticultural fabric on the ground to prevent the growth of all kinds of weeds. And it will be much warmer than a concrete slab. Although, if it's just a garden shed for tools and whatnots it doesn't matter much. Concrete is still too expensive, ya know

listermint

Tbh I'd lessen the depth and plonk mixer right beside the base pour it in. Shouldn't need to be barrowing all over the shop doing something like that .

karlitob

DIY KING wrote: »

Going to be a timber frame with horizontal t&g composite grey cladding on outside with lean-to roof in grey corri. Slab will be floor of shed. Cladding will run down face of slab. Don't want a raised floor with void under as we had issues with little furry lads previously. Thanks for helpful posts and I might hold out for my mate for another while !! Will need to barrow the mix from truck at front of house down the side and into back garden.

Do you mind me asking if you have any plans that you might share? Or, unlike me, you know what you’re doing and building it as you go along.

Thanks.

bamayang

DIY KING wrote: »

Going to be a timber frame with horizontal t&g composite grey cladding on outside with lean-to roof in grey corri. Slab will be floor of shed. Cladding will run down face of slab. Don't want a raised floor with void under as we had issues with little furry lads previously. Thanks for helpful posts and I might hold out for my mate for another while !! Will need to barrow the mix from truck at front of house down the side and into back garden.

If your gonna be barrowing it in, that’s a fair bit of work too. Might be lesser of two evils to mix it yourself and go at your own pace than trying to empty a lorry as quick as possible with the barrow. Lorry lads usually aren’t keen to knock around waiting.

150mm is a lot for the whole thing. I’d do a foundation 600mm x 150mm around the perimeter of the shed. Then when the shed is built pour in a 100mm floor flush to the bottom rail of the shed.

This would break the job up into two and put you under less pressure/ back ache doing it.

Fine Cheers

Great stuff everyone thanks for the replies.
The existing dugout ground is quite solid so I was planning on pouring the concrete directly onto soil.
Accept 150mm is ott and will look at reducing to 100mm (especially if mixing myself).
No plans, but will take photos as I go.
Simple lean-to up against existing walls in corner of garden so will be building just 2 new stud walls with cladding.
Both boundary walls are plastered on other side and 9" hollow block so happy enough and will do a flashing where roof cladding meets wall.
Just a storage area for lawn mower, power washer, tools, bikes etc.
If my mate doesn't show soon then will hire a mixer and go at it myself nice and steady.
Like the idea of just doing enough to allow shed progress but if on hire I need to get done asap.
As suggested, I could put mixer close up and probably our directly out as I go.
What's the best make up for mix - sand and or gravel / cement / water ? I read about different ratios - 4:1 or 6:1.

dingdong1234567

Calahonda52 wrote: »

If you price it all up, and can split the truck load so as the other site pays the delivery charge, there its not much in it, especially if you are paying guys to barrow.

Barrowed 1.5 cube on my own. No need for pricing. Usually small shed pours are the remainder of a load, delivery charge doesn't really come into it. Maybe in the city, but certainly not down the country.

Calahonda52

dingdong1234567 wrote: »

Barrowed 1.5 cube on my own. No need for pricing. Usually small shed pours are the remainder of a load, delivery charge doesn't really come into it. Maybe in the city, but certainly not down the country.

And the relevance of this contribution is?
.
In passing: I am in the country and the fixed fee is between 80 and 110 a load depending on distance from plant

Mimon

I'm chancing these plastic grab tiles for my base. What's everyones's opinion on these?

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/floplast-ground-grab-tiles-402-x-402-x-55mm-20-pack/55689

Calahonda52

DIY KING wrote: »

Great stuff everyone thanks for the replies.
The existing dugout ground is quite solid so I was planning on pouring the concrete directly onto soil.
Accept 150mm is ott and will look at reducing to 100mm (especially if mixing myself).
No plans, but will take photos as I go.
Simple lean-to up against existing walls in corner of garden so will be building just 2 new stud walls with cladding.
Both boundary walls are plastered on other side and 9" hollow block so happy enough and will do a flashing where roof cladding meets wall.
Just a storage area for lawn mower, power washer, tools, bikes etc.
If my mate doesn't show soon then will hire a mixer and go at it myself nice and steady.
Like the idea of just doing enough to allow shed progress but if on hire I need to get done asap.
As suggested, I could put mixer close up and probably our directly out as I go.
What's the best make up for mix - sand and or gravel / cement / water ? I read about different ratios - 4:1 or 6:1.

If your water pressure is low, then get a barrel or something similar and use a bucket to add the water, will be very slow with a slow pressure hose.

Consider using some additive to the water for workability and the rolls royce would be to rent a small concrete vibrator, may sound like like OTT but works very well
re strength, I would have though 8:1 would be enough, you might have to treat the final surface with poly bond to keep the dust down if it is too weak.

dingdong1234567

Calahonda52 wrote: »

And the relevance of this contribution is?
.
In passing: I am in the country and the fixed fee is between 80 and 110 a load depending on distance from plant

If you need it explained to you then your out of your depth in this thread. Best move on to the bargin alerts section. Something more suited to you.

beggars_bush

A herd number is handy in these situations

Calahonda52

dingdong1234567 wrote: »

If you need it explained to you then your out of your depth in this thread. Best move on to the bargin alerts section. Something more suited to you.

Thank you, found a great bargain here: am much obliged to you.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=116478829#post116478829

karlitob

dingdong1234567 wrote: »

Barrowed 1.5 cube on my own. No need for pricing. Usually small shed pours are the remainder of a load, delivery charge doesn't really come into it. Maybe in the city, but certainly not down the country.

Thanks for this.

Is there a standard range of prices for a load of concrete. I’ve a very long back garden and a very narrow side access - not sure if that would affect.

Ballpark per cubic metre or whatever would be useful for me. Thanks.

Hurrache

listermint wrote: »

Tbh I'd lessen the depth and plonk mixer right beside the base pour it in. Shouldn't need to be barrowing all over the shop doing something like that .

Done it with a bother and one of this mates before last summer. We both said if we were ever to do it again we'd get a ready mix delivery, and that was with the mixer literally right at the pour.

Digging the foundations and making the frame were relatively easy compared to the mixing. It took all bloody day doing it, and the sense of satisfaction afterwards didn't really compensate.