dorsetfreelander wrote:

I have a double garage which we built in 1980, one of my biggest mistakes was not putting an inspection pit in when the digger was here doing the footings.

npinks wrote:

keep it dry though

damp proof it it costs little, then atleast any cardboard boxes etc wont stick to the floor if left a long time, At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

If cardboard boxes are sticking to the floor there is something drastically wrong with your slab.

It's possible to overdo things a bit. When my shed in S London fell down I found the concrete base was at least six inches thick with two guns underneath. When I put up the replacement (elsewhere, so not using same base) I used the paving slabs on sharp sand method, with slats laid on top and a boarded floor on top of those. The base proved to be absolutely solid, and the boarded floor kept out the damp. If you are thinking of working in the shed you might consider putting in some insulation (easy to lay under the concrete) which will help keep your feet warm. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
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foundation for my summer house is just paving slabs on sharp sand , works fine , 4 steels rods set into pit footings hold it down. At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

As many of us have said slabs and a solid enough base is all you'll need assuming youre not on a terrible slope where over time the base may start to slip away. Personally I'd say mesh and hardcore etc is a bit, hardcore, if you pardon the pun. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
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The plastic isn't just to stop damp rising. It also helps the concrete "move freely" Always better to have it than not.

on the cement topic, ready mixed is easier

but if i was to mix my own 5 parts ballast 1 part cement, is this possible with just one cement mixer or will i run it fine on time before it sets and find it cracks

ready mixed with out with fibres? Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Hi Nick,
Are you going to run an electricity supply to the shed? If it is not a very long run I would strongly recommend it, as you will be
surprised how many times on a dark winter's afternoon you will need to retrieve something from the shed and you will not be able to find it.

Then you will have to go back into the house to get a torch, and when you go back out to the shed it will have started raining.

Cheers, Bill. Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

I can remember in all my dad,s garages to keep his feet warm swore by Best Axminster carpet never wilton
he said it was something to do with the weave, the cars all seemed to like "Going to bed " in a carpeted garage as well....
he also had a parrfin heater he lit on cold nights just to keep them warm...  Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

Carpets also a good idea. "Her in Doors" was an upholsteress and when we moved to our present house it was to small to take her 2 large industrial sewing machines and so as we were having new carpets fitted in the house the following job was instigated.
In the garage I laid a sheet of heavy duty plastic damp course lining followed by 4 layers of underlay, carpet underlay etc.
of the redundant carpets and it worked so well that combined with the latent heat from the 2 1kw. sewing machine motors my Lady Wife hardly ever use the electric convector heater that I had installed.

So go for it Nick.

Cheers, Bill T Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

Dreamer wrote:

The plastic isn't just to stop damp rising. It also helps the concrete "move freely" Always better to have it than not.

Will be fully fitted with Electric supply and lights socket and maybe even insulation Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race