The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:26 pm**

Hi

Excellent web site!

I have just had a concrete garage base laid - badly.

Base is 5m x 3m and level varies by up to 45mm - mainly at one end where shuttering was not fixed properly and concrete leaked out (although not that level generally).

The base was for a cheap and cheerfull pre-cast conc panel garage.

What would you suggest to use to level that would take the weight of garage and reasonably easy to lay (DIY- given up on idiot who laid the base0.

Cheers

Posted: **Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:57 am**

It really needs a screed overlay. I'd do this using a granolithic mortar, which is actually a fine-grained but extremely hard-wearing concrete, but it's not readily available in all areas.

The existing concrete surface should be brushed clean, etched with acid to remove any laitence and/or loose material, primed with summat like Ronafix, and then covered with the screed overlay.

The screed needs to be laid much as would a screed for paving, which is explained on the main website,, but rather than relying of a plate compactor, you used the screeder board as a tamp to 'pat down' the overlay material, screed it level and float it (if required) as you proceed.

If you can't get grano in your part of the country, see if you can get a granite sand, splitt, or a crushed granite. If you have no luck with them, then use a coarse grit sand, mixed 4:1 with cement and a strengthening agent, such as Ronafix or SBR.

You need to be fairly keen with the beefed-up mortars as the working life is only 20-30 minutes, so no time for dawdling. Are you confident your DIY skills are up to this?

Posted: **Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:08 pm**

I'd suggest shuttering around the edges, about 2 feet high. Fill this completely with concrete - it'll make a great place to hide the body of the dork responsible for messing it up in the first place...

The Brew Cabin

Garage base - Levelling badly laid concrete base.