New shop build, beginning stages with questions

[ovrszd]

I understand.

Maybe ask about elevated rebar versus mesh.

If I had to thin my pour I'd feel a lot better with elevated rebar.

This is just my opinion. On a large flat pour, you can't elevate mesh. It will end up at the bottom of your pour. They'll tell you they will pull it up into the concrete. They can't. They are standing on it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Also think about making the floor thicker where you might want to install a hoist sometime in the future. As I get older working under a vehicle is less and less appealing. A hoist would help.

 

[Peter 315]

Have the concrete company add Fiber Mesh to the mix ........

 

[rangerfredbob]

I think fiber is in the quote, I'll check.

They make little plastic "chairs" for the mesh, they wanted $900 to add in rebar at 2' spacing, but since I'm doing the PEX in there and I don't wanna pay for labor of that it's making me think... I think I need to call the guy on Monday and talk about options, he just came over with the wife when I was at work then made a quote with other details I emailed him...

2 post lift is already purchased, I'm getting too old to be under stuff, early signs but while in there might as well make the future better...

I'm leaning toward 6"

 

[ovrszd]

Methodically lay out your floor arrangement in regards to the hoist. You only get one chance. Using two pieces of Sonotube is the best way. If you can get 12" of concrete in the tubes you'll be fine setting a hoist on it. First thing you do is set the tubes. Then add gravel, PEX and steel. When pouring the tube gets poured full too of course. It being there keeps you from accidentally laying steel or PEX where you are going to drill.

Don't shortcut this process. Think it thru. I advise going to the local auto dealership with a tape measure and check out their hoist setups. Distance from a side wall and/or from the overhead door is critical.

Company my Son works for misjudged the placement of a four post hoist. Had to move it forward a foot. Drilled thru one loop of PEX......

Not to harp on this but just think about it logically. Chairs under mesh will not elevate it. They'll tromp on the chairs and have most of them tipped over or smashed into the grade by the time they are done pouring. Again, you can't step without stepping on the mesh.

Looking forward to seeing your progress with the floor. Make sure to post up some pics as you go. Thanks for the updates!!!

 

[rangerfredbob]

Thinking it over again, I'm gonna talk to the guy, might take him up on the quote for rebar if he'll give me a week after rebar so I can get the PEX in... I attached a picture of my first go at the PEX layout in LoopCAD, two openings on the bottom are rollup doors, open box is 4'x13' for the lift about 12' from the door, box in top right is office/bathroom/loft space. I'm not used to the software yet so getting dimensions is difficult, I don't know if the big doors or box are in the right spot or size...

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'm not sure I get the sonotube bit, what's that for? I've given up on the gantry idea, if I go with a 2' grid of rebar suspended on the brick things it should be good to go and have the PEX zip tied to that with 12" spacing or more. Looking online a 9000lb lift should be perfectly fine on a 4" slab so flat 6" should be just fine without anything fancy.

As far as spacing for the lift, my longest vehicle is I think 22' long (crew cab long bed '97 F350) so 14' from the door should be fine for the center of the posts.

 

[grsthegreat]

They install those lifts in all sorts of older buildings where no provisions were made for thicker steel. Most lift platforms have large bases to spread out weight. I have powered up lots of them placed in 30 year old garages and shops. Now having pex heating tubes present....that could be an issue. Need to plan around lift. I have seen so many of those tubes ruptured over the years. Also, better plan on investing in a good infrared camera device. There great for finding the tubes as long as unit is running and producing heat.

 

[not2old]

My concrete guy warned me that the plastic chairs would just get pushed into the styrofoam. I made a form to pour concrete and then cut to length. 1 1/2" x 3" across the bottom and tapered 2 1/2" high, with a recess to hold the bar in place. The little chairs I made did a good job of keeping the rebar at the right height. 1250 square feet inside and I made over 400 of them. The concrete crew had never seen anything like it.

 

[grsthegreat]

My concrete guy warned me that the plastic chairs would just get pushed into the styrofoam. I made a form to pour concrete and then cut to length. 1 1/2" x 3" across the bottom and tapered 2 1/2" high, with a recess to hold the bar in place. The little chairs I made did a good job of keeping the rebar at the right height. 1250 square feet inside and I made over 400 of them. The concrete crew had never seen anything like it.

need picture