The Concrete Shed Base, Four Reasons to Consider One For Your Shed

A concrete shed base is one possibility for the foundations and floor to your new garden storage shed. This article looks at four advantages of this type of shed foundation construction.

Before we start though I should let you know that concrete shed bases are hard work to install. They require excavation for the base, fixing of formwork to form the edges, mixing and pouring of the concrete. With all this heavy work to form a base why bother with this type of shed foundation?

Well here are my top four reasons for using a concrete shed base:

Dual Purpose Foundation and Floor

Probably the best reason for using a concrete shed base is that it serves a twofold purpose by providing you with a stable platform to secure your garden shed to as well as a functional floor to stand on while you are working in your shed. It also provides your gardening equipment, such as your lawn mower, with a level platform to sit on while not in use.

Easy care

Concrete shed bases are also easy to care for. They can be hosed down or brushed to clean them  to get rid of the biggest mess you can make! Plus, if you make your concrete base a little bigger than your shed, you can easily trim around it without causing damage to the shed itself. If you use weed trimming equipment as part of your annual gardening routine then you know the damage it causes to whatever it comes in contact with. A concrete shed base provides your shed with added protection.

Durability

Durability is another good reason for using concrete as your shed base. Concrete stands up well to any weather that may be thrown at it. A concrete shed base made with a good concrete mix on a well compacted foundation will last a long time.

Easy access

Finally, a concrete shed base will allow you to get your shed closer to the ground to eliminate the use of a large shed ramp. Having a concrete floor will allow most garden machinery, such as lawn mowers, to easily navigate in without grounding in the middle.  A small ramp may be required but will not need to be very steep because the shed floor is situated so close to the surrounding ground level.

When you are designing your shed, consider using a concrete shed base. After the initial work of building it will provide you with a durable surface that is easy to maintain protecting the structure of your shed and your equipment inside. Getting your heavy garden equipment in and out of the shed will be a breeze and with the shed secured to solid concrete it will have about the strongest form of foundation available.

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Damaged Driveway - Repair Or Replace? Three Things You Must Consider

Your driveway is the entrance to your home and one of the first things to get noticed by visitors. If the driveway is busted or overwhelmed with unappealing cracks it can leave an unpleasant impression. More often than not, this is a problem that goes unaddressed.

If you have a driveway that is cracked or busted and are ready to address the problem you have two basic choices, replace or repair. Three things you must consider when making the decision to replace or repair.

1. Most driveways are a minimum of four inches thick. Natural stresses caused this four inch thick slab of concrete to literally tear itself apart. These stresses include expansion and contraction due to heat and cold, the weight of vehicle traffic, and movement of the substrate. Any crack repair material placed within these fractures will undoubtedly suffer a similar fate as the original slab of concrete, failure.

2. Driveway replacement can be expensive but if performed correctly can provide you with fifty plus years of solid use. If you decide to replace a concrete driveway make sure the contractor uses a four thousand psi mix of concrete poured at a minimum of four inches; furthermore, steel reinforcement should be added for increased tensile strength to compliment the already high compressive strength of concrete.

3. Over time, a driveway's surface can become weathered and lose its finish. There are a variety of overlays available. Although relatively expensive, when compared to the cost of replacement, these overlays can be a viable option. I don't suggest overlaying cracked or busted concrete; however, if the desired effect is simply a nicer finish then overlay can do the trick.

Concrete repair can be a risky endeavor. Far too often, I see a repair gone wrong, a costly mistake that never should have been attempted in the first place. Every day, home owners waste money on costly repairs that fail. That being said, cracks can be filled to prevent moisture penetration and good concrete can be overlaid for aesthetic appeal.

Many times, due to budget restraints, the best solution is to simply cut out and replace only the most severely damaged sections. This way, you spend less money and the repair is solid.

Thanks To : Civil Engineer Civil Engineering Forum Civil Engineering Webboard GameFlash