advise please: difficult workshop build

[paulharvey]

I just heard back from them. The price does not include gravel. Apparently they were planning on pouring straight onto the dirt!..

That's how millions and millions of homes are poured; but if I'm in a non freezing area. Visqueen is required by building departments, but it's actual usefulness is up for (lengthy) debate.

 

[paulharvey]

Double post

 

[fordmantpw]

Apparently they were planning on pouring straight onto the dirt!.

For a garage that size on a slab, it's probably fine if it is good solid ground (I would take the top soil off and get to something solid). I remember helping my dad pour a 30x44 garage floor like that 25+ years ago. It's still there with no issues.

 

[BuilderML]

Like posted above you don't need to add gravel if your on virgin soil and have removed the organic matter (grass/topsoil). The only reason i needed to add 2 loads of process was because i had to dig down in order to remove the organic matter. The slab would of been below grade had i not added material. As far as you being worried about them pumping or not i wouldn't worry as long as they don't hit you with an "extra" after the fact. They should know if the mixer will fit or not.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I worked industrial construction for 40+ years and all concrete was poured on to virgin soil, no rock. This is in compliance with ACI 318 Code for Concrete construction.
If in a water seepage area, then sometimes a "mud slab" about 2" thick was poured onto virgin soil for workers to walk on and not muck up the mud. They put their rebar in using 3" square x2" thick concrete rebar supports that we made on site with 4000 PSI mix concrete. The plastic store bought ones work OK also.

UP North in Canada, when a slab was put in above the frost line (this was almost all as the frost line was 13 feet minimum) the concrete was places on high density foam to allow the ground to heave a bit without affecting the slab.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Any update?

 

[oldboyscout]

I'm working on getting help to do the pour. Will also have the concrete supplier take a look to see what kind of equipment he can get in. Especially since I may end up moving the location some due to the slope.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Good.

 

[farmer2009]

Looks like you have this under control so I'll just give you a quote from my concrete supplier.

It was the owners son that said "I am the only truck today that's not hung up yet (it was 10am). These things are 6wheel drive but some guys don't realize they won't push mud with the bumper."

He was right. The 6x6 is good in softer uncompacted ground but no good in deep mud.

 

[Wnc3]

I would do the excavation and forms and pay for the job unless I could get a couple guys to help me. Even if I had to pay them.

Someone will come on and post that the mesh is worthless because they will walk on it and push it to the bottom. But I think you can tell them you don't want that to happen. They can pull it up with hooks on their come along as they place the concrete. If they do that you'll be ok.

Then I'll be the one, mesh is worthless for more reasons than stated above.