Garage base - How to get the concrete level

[Priory]

Hi, trying build a garage base, and need some help...!.
filled with 500mm of crushed concrete (type 1), the area 5 x 3 meters is within three brick walls. Here come the questions!

Do I need to put sharp sand over the the crush concrete, before I put down the DPM?

Can I use old broken paving slabs to support the mesh, or is this going to weaken the mesh support?

Any ideas how I am going to level the concrete when it is poured? Had thought about using the expansion joint material to give me the slopeto work to, but how is this fixed to the brick, and then how do I level with the DPM in the way?

Thanks,

[seanandruby]

Hi p. no need for the sharp sand, yes broken slabs are ok for spacer blocks, dont make them to large. i would make a t tamp to level the concrete and a good eye. to fix the fibre board expansion i ether drill 20 / 30 ml holes then plug with timber ie an old broom handle cut in to short lenghts, then nail through the board into the plug. or drill a 6 / 8ml hole and cut some hardboard into 50ml bits and knock 2 or three nails through the hardboard, fibreboard into the holes the three nails will wedge in then bend them over.hope this helps, good luck

[lutonlagerlout]

well a thin blinding of sand over the crushed concrete is a good idea because it saves you making any holes in the DPM when you barrow over it
as for levelling you just need to tamp it with a mate
good luck
LLL

[seanandruby]

I would'nt of thought there is a need to sand over "type 1", it seems a lot of unneccesary expense. surely the barrow will be on scaffold boards on top of the mesh? and if your going to use a mate to tamp with .... pick a light one :laugh:

[lutonlagerlout]

lol
i notice under your name where it used to say ganger it says sean now??
weird
LLL ???

[Priory]

Hi, thanks for your replies. still concerned about the leveling...as the base is surrounded by three 8ft walls, should I just mark the walls, and the use a scaffold board to walk accross the freshly poured concrete, and tamper down? or will I sink...any clear ideas? thanks

[seanandruby]

You fix the fibreboard at the finished level and screed to that. you can either use a t tamp , or a length of 3 x 2 to tamp. if you have a mate to tamp with you all well and good. you will have to finish it on your way out. can you bridge the pour with scaffold boards for your final trowel up? if you cant fix fibreboard to the walls i always offset a line 100ml above the finish level to dip to. don't worry about sinking as you pore the slab. its awkward with 3 walls but achievable. good luck.... SEAN :;):

[seanandruby]

Meoww!! as i don't run my own business, i have only been known as Sean on this site, its never been ganger. Titles mean nothing to me, that i can help with information as part of a team is reward enough. I hope in my lowly position that the advice i give is up to the standards of, lets say, a "master pavior." hopefully my role in real life as a supervisor to ground workers, chippies steel fixers and concrete ops set me in good stead to do just that. :;):

[lutonlagerlout]

lol i actually asked for chief tea boy,maybe i will get that at 2000 posts
maybe i am wrong but i thought there were lots of different titles,top hand ,ganger etcetc?
LLL

[seanandruby]

Member level nil. lol. I think you have to be listed as a tradesman to be a Knight of the round paving flag :laugh:

[Tony McC]

There's a very basic hierarchy of titles based on number of posts made. When it's apparent that someone has specific skills, I usually offer to 'upgrade' them to reflect their specialist knowledge and experience and to allow other members to better judge the value of any advice they may offer.

Sean's edited his own 'title', which anyone can do, but if the facility was abused, I'd remove it.

[lutonlagerlout]

aha je n'ai pas su cela
tea boy it is then
most important man on site :laugh:
LLL

[Tony McC]

I can't follow that Luton accent of your's, LLL. It all sounds French to me!

I'm down your way later today - have to be in Hitchin 7am tomorrow morning so I'm driving down tonight, after I've had me tea.

[seanandruby]

In my "shanty rat can boiler" days it was hard work. id have to be at work an hour before anyone else to chop the kindling,empty the ashes from day before, light the fire, get out the stand pipe and fill the bucket with water. wash the cup etc; clean the rat shit off the table ( truth ). fill all the billy cans with tea so that they had time to cool. then id have to work in the gang for a hour before a repeat of the mornings duties. the hardest thing was not getting smoke in the tea water, got a few slaps for that. :laugh:

[lutonlagerlout]

ahh i missed you guv, had to go visiting in bedford hospital
i know the biggest bollockings i ever got were for dirty cups sean,had to clean them out 3 times a day with building sand and running water,and a fresh tea towel every day
still remember my 1st foreman john kents morning order,the daily mirror and a hamlet cigar,thats 23 years on!
LLL