Workshop/Glorified shed

[ukracer]

What is the most cost effective material to build a Workshop/Glorified shed. I already have around 100 dense blocks but not sure whether to go for dense or aerated for the rest..

I need approx 340 in total..less ones where I am replacing with windows and doors.

 

[Kent]

I should go with what you have a 100 off already.

 

[awemawson]

Aerated are an absolute pain when it comes to fixing things like shelves

 

[Woody.v8]

It's 10 blocks per M2 so you've got a good start with what you have, so as above use them up.
Its not as though you have to go out and spend a ruck of money in one go, Just buy as you can and creep and go

 

[Woody.v8]

Aerated are an absolute pain when it comes to fixing things like shelves

And they are like a sponge and just love to wick the water up (as will un-rendered concrete blocks but not as bad)

 

[lincoln2013]

Dense blocks will be much cheaper, aerated blocks tend to be used on inner skin of cavity wall for thermal insulation.

 

[garethp]

+1 for getting more dense blocks, aerated are just a pain in the @rse

 

[Kent]

+1 for getting more dense blocks, aerated are just a pain in the @rse

but there are suppositories that can cure it

 

[ukracer]

OK I am calculating area now and just need the clever ones to confirm my figures.

The floor is 5.5 metres x 3 metres it has a fall and the highest point needs 2 inches to fill it and the deepest part is 8 inches to fill it.

Question is how many cubic metres of concrete is needed to fill it.

I have used 13 cm x 550 cm x 300cm and got 2.145 cubic metres

 

[ukracer]

Quoted for figures before edit

Sorry mate I had not even noticed I had written 300 metres.......I wish it was that big . Lol

 

[ukracer]

Taking two noughts off for my mistake and we are not far off. I know that question used to come up every year in the leading firefighters exam. A swimming pool of 20 x 5 is 2metres at the deepend 1 metre at the shallow end with a uniform slope how long will it take to empty it........lol

 

[ukracer]

Insufficient information given for a viable answer - how much can the system used for emptying flow per minute and is it constant given the reducing depth (so a pump would have to lift higher) ?

They would give us some more info ( another calculation) such has how far above the pool the appliance was. Size of pump etc etc etc lol

 

[ukracer]

So essentially 2 bulk bags full of ballast and cement mixed would be around enough to lay the floor. Just getting into my mind visually what amounts I need. I already have 25 bags of quick set cement ready.

One question I have is this. Are there any reasons I could not mix the cement and ballast dry and add water when it's in place with half a dozen of us turning it to ensure water gets mixed.......

 

[rockweasel]

They would give us some more info ( another calculation) such has how far above the pool the appliance was. Size of pump etc etc etc lol

... how many children were in the pool at the time.

 

[ukracer]

I already have a mixer and my son is a tool hire supervisor so cheap hire is no problem. .

I was thinking about mixing it in the mixer dry and then wetting it as it's 30 minute setting cement would it be sensible to lay it in bays and get the level . Then fill in between the bays.....

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

I was thinking about mixing it in the mixer dry and then wetting it as it's 30 minute setting cement

I only use rapid set for posts, I find it sets in less than 10 minutes.

Whatever you use it needs the water in the mixer.

When I do posts I use a plaster mixer and mix in a flexi tub then straight in the hole.

 

[DrDeAtH]

So essentially 2 bulk bags full of ballast and cement mixed would be around enough to lay the floor. Just getting into my mind visually what amounts I need. I already have 25 bags of quick set cement ready.

One question I have is this. Are there any reasons I could not mix the cement and ballast dry and add water when it's in place with half a dozen of us turning it to ensure water gets mixed.......

2.145 cu m. Of concrete will require:
4.5 bulk bags of all in ballast
28 bags Portland cement

I would add a bag of fibres to the list also. It will reinforce the mix and help it to not crack.

 

[awemawson]

"I already have 25 bags of quick set cement ready "

Nightmare laying a slab with quick set cement

 

[ukracer]

4.5 bags?/ wow... I already have the cement but its rapid set. It's a month out of date will that slow it down

 

[ukracer]

"I already have 25 bags of quick set cement ready "

Nightmare laying a slab with quick set cement

This is what is concerning me.........but 28 bags of cement is expensive.