Concrete is easy to lay and can withstand heavy vehicles, stains such as gasoline and antifreeze, and freezing temperatures. Follow our step-by-step instructions to ensure your garage floor meets your expectations. Step 1: Learn the basics. However, low-quality concrete will flake, dust, and crack over time. If you want to build something yourself or hire a contractor, learn more about concrete. Verify that your concrete supplier is accredited and that its products meet all British requirements. A concrete pump may be required if the amount and mix of concrete required is not known. Almost all driveways will be broken by a concrete wagon full of concrete (a fully loaded wagon can weigh over 30tonnes).
Step 2: Preparing the land for Step 3. Construction site preparation can make a big difference in the final outcome. You won't be surprised when you hear this. Preparation is key to a good finished concrete garage floor. However, it is important to ensure that the ground conditions are consistent throughout the area where the concrete will be poured. This will bend and possibly crack the slab. With pegs and string, the slab is marked out leaving 75mm for the formwork to hold the wet concrete while it dries. Ensure the formwork is in place before digging to depth. When building a concrete slab, the depth of the slab should be between 100 and 200mm, depending on the load it will bear. A sub base of at least 100mm is also required. Then reduce it. The finished concrete should be marked with pegs every few feet. The top of each peg should be leveled with a spirit level Formwork is built using 25mm timber planks around the slab's edge. Then you'll use a spirit level to check their alignment. Construct a 100mm thick crushed stone and sand foundation. When compacted, the different shapes and sizes of crushed stone and fines work well together. Adding a waterproof membrane Lastly, lay a dampproof membrane. Overlap and tape any joints, then lay the membrane on top of the form work. This will protect the concrete from rising damp and groundwater chemicals. A slow drying concrete is stronger and less prone to cracking. Step 3: Constructing You can now order concrete from a concrete supplier. Before pouring concrete, people should consider the condition of the ground and the garage's purpose. Their needs for concrete and additional support should be considered. Don't know what to do? We can help. A structural engineer can also help you out. A concrete calculator can also help you determine how much concrete to buy. It will ask for the area's basic shape (square/rectangle, right-angled triangle, circle parts), length, width, and depth. This will help you determine your space requirements. The amount of concrete required depends on the garage's usage. To fit heavy cars, a minimum of 100mm will be required. Finally, consider investing in a concrete mixer. Instead of wheelbarrows, a pump can be used when pouring large quantities of concrete or when manpower is limited (you can pump approx. 1m3 of concrete per minute). For sites that are underground, inside buildings, or on top of buildings, a pump will be required. The fourth step involves pouring concrete. After two hours of mixing, concrete starts to go bad. Prepare all tools needed to quickly remove and level it. Make sure to cover all corners with concrete with a rake or shovel. To do this, saw a straight-edged piece of wood across the concrete surface. Using this method will remove any air pockets and give the finished floor a bit of grip. A smooth finish is possible with it. It's the final stage. Importance of slowing down the concrete's hardening process Debris can flake or crack the concrete. Polythene sheeting keeps the slab moist. In hot weather or when a strong breeze may dry the surface, this is critical. When temperatures drop below 4°C, it should be used. Insulating the slab and protecting it from frost is achieved with a frost blanket. You could also use a curing compound or spray water on the slab each day as it dries, as well. |
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March 2022
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