Concrete slab strong enough?

[jeeppiper]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Looking good !!

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?









Stand progress...

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

I thought I had already posted these pics....

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Hi. Base all poured and stand now up and slab on top all complete. Got all my materials for the down (insulation, bricks, cement etc) so just need to crack on with that. Happy with the slab. The stand was a little wonky but the slab itself is absolutely perfectly level. The other bits can be hidden with render down the line. Just running a bit behind schedule as am doing some paving at the moment and want to finish that before my dome build. Realised that I have probably build my base a little low as the paving will probably cover much of the bottom block. I will drill some holes in the stand to aid drainage. You live and learn.... I'll post some pics shortly.

[pikemonkey]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

All systems go for attempt number 2. Tomorrow should be the day of the concrete pour and onwards from there. I'll start a build thread on here and post some pics as I go along. Thanks for the advice so far!! Any further advice, guidance, tips etc gratefully received...

i've been away for a while - how did you get on with pouring the base?

[Novaslo]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

We need some pics!!

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

All systems go for attempt number 2. Tomorrow should be the day of the concrete pour and onwards from there. I'll start a build thread on here and post some pics as I go along. Thanks for the advice so far!! Any further advice, guidance, tips etc gratefully received...

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Probably about 20-25mm

[stonecutter]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

What's your aggregate size?

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Old slab up now and just need to dig it down a bit and get my rebar sorted and ready to pour. A bit behind as been building walls all weekend but hope you have it poured by this time next week. Any suggestions on my concrete mix? Got ballast that is 3 parts stone, 2 parts sand. Was just going to add one part cement and keep it simple.

[pikemonkey]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

How are you getting on?

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Too late pikemonkey it's already 3/4 up. Certainly back breaking work but every whack with the sledgehammer is a lesson in preparing properly in future. I tend to learn the hard way...

[Novaslo]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Good luck....
You are getting some good advice here. After you break your back pulling it out you will be in better shape (Physically) at least....

[pikemonkey]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

I'm not a builder, but reckon you should get some local advice before you rip it all up.

From what i see you have removed all topsoil.claysoil and dropped a slab straight onto the clay.
Maybe because it's not reinforced, it's no use as a slab, but from a layman's point of view, isn't your existing slab already a layer of well compacted hardcore? If you don't mind the existing height, can you not run a whacker plate over the slab and then pour another reinforced slab on and around it? I could well be talking rubbish, but pulling up a slab is a lot of graft if you can get around it.

[unclebhuna]

Re: Concrete slab strong enough?

Hi Novaslo. I've bitten the bullet and started ripping my slab up tonight. Its 6 inches think in places and essentially laid directly onto the clay rather than clay soil. The house is on the same surface and no problems with that. I suspect it would have been absolutely fine but better safe than sorry. I was more concerned about it being connected to the wall footings, rather than being a separate slab, and could see any movement in either causing problems. New footings will be laid in due course on a nice compacted bed of hardcore on top of the clay, followed by a 6 inch, reinforced slab. It will be going nowhere after that!