Best concrete floor prep for pole barn on downward slope

[neopheous]

Yupp, topsoil is garbage structurally. DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON THIS STEP. The concrete looks good, but the subgrade does all the support work. Poor subgrade=failed concrete.

Well, it seems that at least this has a unanimous vote... Still not sure I understand it since I would think 10 ton of gravel on top of it with 4-5 in of concrete as well would kill the grass and compress the topsoil after tamping and a couple of weeks of settling, but that's why I'm not the expert. :confused3:

I plan on getting in touch with someone today to take a look at it tomorrow who I believe has a bobcat and could remove the topsoil and haul in the crusher run to build it up to be ready for concrete,

So, what is the opinion for putting plastic between the gravel and concrete? I have seen arguments both ways on this...

 

[skipperbrown]

I think you are going to much happier with a level or slightly sloping pad (just enough for water run off). Code requirement here is all top soil/grass must be removed before any concrete work. Generally (generally), there are good reasons for building codes.

 

[skipperbrown]

I have seen barns built on hillsides where there are step downs with each step being leveled( Think inside terracing). They all had a step down retaining wall to prevent earth movement.

 

[newbury]

Get a roof on first before you have a swamp inside - blue tarp might do.

Yesterday would have been soon enough.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I renovated an existing dirt /gravel floor pole barn in 2015, replacing all the posts one at a time, jacking the roof, adding collar ties, and replaced all of the near ground framing. Then I dug a trench about 8" deep all around the inside and outside. I fastened rust proofed sheet metal to the inside of the bottom 2x6 PT boards, extending to the bottom of the trench. Then I filled it all with gravel inside and around the perimeter level with the bottom of the perimeter boards and up to the rat guard flat on the outside. I haven't had any trouble with rodents. The gravel is pretty packed now. I could pour concrete, but am satisfied with the gravel for use as a tractor/implement/mower shed.

 

[neopheous]

Get a roof on first before you have a swamp inside - blue tarp might do.

Yesterday would have been soon enough.

It is finished... I had the Amish build it for me. They did what you seen in the pics Tuesday and then finished all the metal yesterday. I had them leave the 10x9 garage door off until I get the concrete/floor finished, so I may get some rain to blow in but I hope to have the floor dug out and gravel down this weekend if possible.

 

[neopheous]

I renovated an existing dirt /gravel floor pole barn in 2015, replacing all the posts one at a time, jacking the roof, adding collar ties, and replaced all of the near ground framing. Then I dug a trench about 8" deep all around the inside and outside. I fastened rust proofed sheet metal to the inside of the bottom 2x6 PT boards, extending to the bottom of the trench. Then I filled it all with gravel inside and around the perimeter level with the bottom of the perimeter boards and up to the rat guard flat on the outside. I haven't had any trouble with rodents. The gravel is pretty packed now. I could pour concrete, but am satisfied with the gravel for use as a tractor/implement/mower shed.

Sounds like a nice project.... I could just leave this finished with the crusher run floor but it makes it a pain to move implements around on. I also have a backhoe that I connect/reconnect fairly often and I plan on putting it on caster dollies which I hope will make it easier to move/hookup. All I will be storing in this building is the tractor and implements, but I plan on sitting them all on dollies so I can easily shift them around. Gravel/dirt just doesn't seem to me would lend well to rolling heavy things on casters around, otherwise I would be happy with just gravel floor.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I put my few implements on sheets of exterior plywood sitting on the gravel. They will scoot well enough to get hooked up.

 

[Handloader109]

Scrap grass and sod out. One way would pour a wide skirt then backfill with gravel and pour remaining floor. Two pours though.

 

[Rustyiron]

Sounds like a nice project.... I could just leave this finished with the crusher run floor but it makes it a pain to move implements around on. I also have a backhoe that I connect/reconnect fairly often and

A little different approach here…. The cost of your slab might just be more than a "lean to" off one of the side walls would cost where you could drop your implements right where they come off the tractor and forget about a bunch of silly dollies and pushing them around. :thumbsup: