Liverpool FC Forum

[Roger Red Hat]

any builders on here?

My mam has had a concrete driveway (20' x 20') laid about a month ago but because it was ordered as a driveway the builders have left it all ridged, I think it's called 'brooming' or summat. Basically it looks like ridges all over it. The drive is re-enforced with steel mesh.

However, mother dear now requires a shed building on the above mentioned driveway but the shed company won't do it unless she has a square of smooth concrete. (11' x 11').

Can I do the following...

1. clean the concrete surface
2. cover with a bonding agent
3. lay about 3" of new concrete (3 parts sharp sand: 1 part cement)
4. smooth the top over

My concern is cracking. The shed will be used for general garden type stuff (not machines or owt).

Shed will be a 10' x 10' and will have a wooden floor fitted once it's up.

Anyone know a better way?

[LFC2007]

Polyfilla

[Roger Red Hat]

11' x 11' x 2" thick of polyfilla?

lol - jobs a good'un

[Reg]

Cant they raise the shed on small blocks in the corners if it wont be taking much weight?

[Roger Red Hat]

it's a concrete sided shed with a full roof on. 10' x 10'

I suppose it'll be quite heavy.

[SupitsJonF]

My only experience with concrete was using a jackhammer and destroying the hell out of it, and wire mesh is truly a bitch .  Then spending the next week making a pretty kickass patio if I say so myself 

Summary of the post, no clue 

[made in UK]

What you said Lee J would be okay to do.

But I'd reinforce the new concrete too.

Buy 10-12 mm steel rod firstly. About 2-3 metres worth.

Angle grind it or chop saw the rod into 100mm lengths, leaving you with either 20-30 pieces of steel.

Map out the area the shed will cover on the driveway and drill 20-30 holes into the concrete, space them evenly as you can ( drill about 50mm deep). Then use a club hammer and whack the steel rods into the concrete. (So approx 50mm of the steel rods are exposed vertically).

Then I'd form up the 11x11 area using marine ply or something, (maybe make the height of the slab 3 or 4" as oppossed to 2"). Lay down some steel mesch to reinforce the concrete horizontally. (Tip, do not take the Mesch to the four boundaries of you're area, touching the ply, stop the mesch at least 75mm away from all four sides of the new slab, Steel can expand over time and pop out the side of yor slab and weaken it.) Zip tie your horizantal Mesh to the vertical uprights you've hammered in.

Pour Concrete !

note: the vertical rods will reinforce and help tie the new concrete to the existing one. Technically concrete is still green for 100 years, so you shouldn't see cracks appear if you do it like this.

Don't use mortar alone it isn't strong enough for the weight (sand and cement). Add some aggregate (small stones) to make it a concrete mix. Perhaps you can buy pre-bagged concrete mix?

[Judge]

lee, the easiest option would be to lay flags over the top.

ensure you use a bonding agent to the original floor space. mark it out and calculate how many flags you will need.

its the quickest and easiest way to smooth a surface. considering its gonna be a concrete shed, it shouldnt matter too much mate

[Number 9]

They need a foundation mate,they want it deeper than the driveway!
You will need to dig into the driveway to ensure that you have a concrete foundation good enough to support the weight,otherwise it may subside!A builder needs to do these things so he can guarantee the work....good that he asked for a proper foundation,at least he is not a cowboy...probably an Indian!

[Woollyback]

tell yer ma to get a wooden shed like everybody else   

[Number 9]

tell yer ma to get a wooden shed like everybody else