OT: Some concrete leads

[whiskychaser]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions! I tried to take some pics but they dont show the levels clearly so there is no point posting them. Just to clear a couple of points though: The land that belongs to the house isnt very big and its all concreted over. The old greenhouse didnt sit on its own pad, it sat on a 'flat bit' of that. The new one is much bigger so wont fit on it.
My latest idea is to put down a bead of cement and lay the frame into it. I'd then make sure the frame is level and let it set. I could then fill the centre at one go and be able to tamp down and level it using a plank across the tops of the frame sides. Anyone want to shoot me down in flames?

[pingu]

Well the concrete that they were using on the Burj Dubai (or whatever it's called - the tallest building in the world) had that consistency so it can't be all bad!

[Ross]

I think what you are describing is forming atop the old pad which has been suggested. Someone else made the suggestion of sand and blocks for a floor which I like.

[whiskychaser]

I think what you are describing is forming atop the old pad which has been suggested. Someone else made the suggestion of sand and blocks for a floor which I like.

Because of how the threads get mixed up I'm not entirely sure what was said when. What I DO know is I got a tranny problem on the way home. My younger son tells me he's got fuel dripping from underneath his car. Am I going to be busy this weekend or what?

[Paul in NZ]

I am not a builder but have been involved in the coonstruction industry since my forst job..you have two options...both similar
1) form a timber floor using reasonably large timber beams packed of the concrete to create a level base...start from there...or as someone else suggested maybe a brick or block "ring foundation" and a timber floor on that..
2)same thing using concrete as just a ring(perimeter) foundation in concrete and continue on with timber or go over the top and fill the whole thing with concrete,but if the substrate concrete is thin the weight of the new concrete slab may be too much...I am pretty sure i would go with the timber option.If you use proper treatred timber and fix down well(avoiding drains) you should be sweet,and even be able to remove it easily if required.I can send you some sketches of what i mean if you want.

[632 Regal]

they have concrete grinders you can rent to take the bumpies out then as others suggested if you dont want it sliding off the hill into the vally below shim the ****er... Idonno what Im talking about but did se the concrete sanders, usually rented by amateurs that really fubar up a job.

[whiskychaser]

I am not a builder but have been involved in the coonstruction industry since my forst job..you have two options...both similar
1) form a timber floor using reasonably large timber beams packed of the concrete to create a level base...start from there...or as someone else suggested maybe a brick or block "ring foundation" and a timber floor on that..
2)same thing using concrete as just a ring(perimeter) foundation in concrete and continue on with timber or go over the top and fill the whole thing with concrete,but if the substrate concrete is thin the weight of the new concrete slab may be too much...I am pretty sure i would go with the timber option.If you use proper treatred timber and fix down well(avoiding drains) you should be sweet,and even be able to remove it easily if required.I can send you some sketches of what i mean if you want.

Thanks Paul. I was just on the way out of the door to get a pressure washer when I read this. I had more or less decided to lay a new slab on top of the existing surface. But I had never thought about the existing concrete not being strong enough to take the weight. If that went it could take out the drains underneath too And I like the idea of it being more portable. Be grateful if you could pm me any sketches