Another shed build..

[Ratty]

Think I've sorted the aggregate side and will get a load delivered. I had a look at the site for the other shed - for the ratman's gardening/woods stuff (tools and machinery...approx 20' x 12'...bigger if ratman isn't looking ) Whilst it was going to be a majorish job sorting the plot (removing tree stumps and levelling) I realised I could easily move the chestnut fence and re-route the track between two different trees and not only create a better space but may even be able to persuade the truck to drop the aggregate much closer to the site (and out of the way of the drive).

To continue from above...We got the site prepared for the second shed, this is the fence moved so the track will re-route through two different trees (just a small shrubby tree to remove). You can see the line where the fence was moved from which gives a nice flat area for the second shed which will be 6.5 x 3.5m

Former being built

With the size decided I then ordered a lorry load (7 tons) of crushed concrete (allowing 100mm depth for each site) which cost £17.95 per ton. We were able to get it tipped on two sites, the woodland one onto a tarp and the other onto concrete as near as possible to the first shed and started to barrow it in.

Borrowed a whacker to compact both bases. On my workshop shed base we spread a 50mm layer of an insulating aggregate that had been getting in the way for a year or more. Not really used as it should be but it got rid of it and saved a few quid on crushed concrete.
That was all done just before Christmas. Since then they've been sitting there awaiting the end of the looooong holiday and better weather.
I decided that the best route was to get a minimix in which will in fact be two minimixes. This will cost a bit more but it means we get 2 hours (total) of having the lorry on site and will leave a gap between deliveries so the former can be removed from the woodland site and the second pour can do the ramp as well as the first shed base...and a path I decided to upgrade. The path runs behind the big freezer and rather close to a ditch so needed more aggregate. That's when we did a run to the farm site and loaded a pick-up which was just enough to give it a firm base. Given enough time I could concrete half the garden
I'm learning all sorts of useful stuff, like to calculate the tonnage of aggregate you need to multiply the cubic meters by 1.5, that a round edged spade is much easier for shovelling hardcore and that I CAN do a certain amount of shovelling before my dodgy elbows start to scream.
Have decided also to lay mesh in both bases figuring there's no point spoiling the ship etc.
it's all got a bit slow again due to my mothers fall and my skipping up and down to London but we're almost set to get the concrete delivered...just got to muster up some extra labour for a few hours.

 

[Ratty]

No actual progress except a mate suggested trying a company called Mixamate who mix concrete on site so you get exactly the amount you need with no short-fall and no wastage. Sounded good so I checked them out and it does work out cheaper (£108 per Cubic meter) then getting a minimix in twice. They'll also bring a small dumper truck (£40 to use it) and wheelbarrows and allow enough time on site for barrowing straight from the mixer. Cost per meter is the same if I decide I want to pour with a few days in-between (so the ramps can be poured when the base is cured enough).
Watch this space!

 

[scarecrow]

£108 per Cubic meter
its 60euro per meter here

 

[brightspark]

id shop round if i were u . its 80 quid for a 1m small load or £65 pm for a full load

 

[Scamp]

Hey Ratty, as with above - get shopping around. But that aside, the prep of the base for the concrete is looking really good. Much better than mine - I just went for the 'Thicker the better' system


2 men can mix and lay 7 dumpy bags of ballast in under a day with a Belle mixer

 

[Ratty]

I guessed I'd get some conflicting advice (that's partly why I quoted the prices). Thing is I just want to get the damn things done ASAP with the least possible mess and hassle. I was quoted £86 p.m for a 4m minimix but I need slightly more than that (5+), getting two minimix's in worked out more per meter than the mixamate. Likewise, getting one large (but not full) load was about the same as 2 minimix. Granted I haven't shopped around much but all the quotes I got were pretty local firms (which I assumed - maybe wrongly - would be most economical - then again, maybe prices are just higher around here). One alternative was to get one full minimix then have guys standing ready with mixer, ballast and cement to finish. Then I'd have to organise buying in ballast and cement and borrowing a mixer..and probably end up with left over ballast which gets in the way and left over cement that I keep for months then have to skip. I just want an easy life - looks like I'll have to pay a bit extra for it.
Thanks for the feedback tho' guys and maybe I'll make a few more calls tomorrow and check other prices (although I'm getting a little phone & google sick so maybe I'll just get outside and finish pressure washing my horse bones and earn some money to pay for an easy life )

 

[mike os]

small wagon =4m3, large wagon =6m3

cost £85-100/m3 depending on where & mix.....

get a price from a big firm like hansons/redimix

 

[Ratty]

yes I know Mike, the problem with getting one large truck full is I'd need several blokes (who I'd have to pay) and barrows and we only get 20 minutes on site. As the truck can't access either site close enough the concrete would have to be dumped then shovelled to barrows - a lot of work (and a lot of mess). We then run the risk of it going off too quickly and I wouldn't be able to cast the ramps without there being shuttering in the way.
Believe me - I've been through every scenario! Paying extra for convenience and efficiency wins every time.
Tbh, I don't actually think it will end up costing substantially more as I'll be saving on labour.

 

[awemawson]

Is there a JCB Loadall or equiv on the farm that you can borrow with a driver? I've layed over 100 cuMetre here over the last three years with the help of a friend with a Loadall. In the hard to get to places we unload from the Hanson lorry straight into the bucket of the loadall then drizzle it over the site using the long reach facility thus avoiding too much back work shifting it. Wet concrete is heavy stuff! I've been using C35 which is about as strong as it comes, with 6mm mesh and added fibres (avoids drying out cracks). All my slabs are 6" thick as I don't see the point in skimping and having problems later. Been paying arround £100 per cube on average for that spec in 6 cuM deliveries.

 

[Shox Dr]

£108 per Cubic meter
its 60euro per meter here

Is there any cement in it.

I paid £75pm min of a load last year cash for C35, going rate around here is £135 within about 10miles of the plant

 

[cazl1994]

concrete with you is very expensive we get a mini mix for £92.00 for a meter
and a six wheeler for about £85.00

 

[scarecrow]

Is there any cement in it.

I paid £75pm min of a load last year cash for C35, going rate around here is £135 within about 10miles of the plant

I poured nearly 60 meters in the last few weeks and got a lorry load of 301 as well for blinding of the filling all in for €60 a meter
there is a bit of a price war going on here at the moment with two companies within a mile of each other competing on price for what little work is around and i only live about 3miles from them

 

[Ratty]

concrete with you is very expensive we get a mini mix for £92.00 for a meter

That's more expensive then here! I was quoted £86pm for a full (4cm) mini but it got more expensive if I wanted 2 part loads. They don't quote per metre for minimix apparently and getting two 2.5 m loads (approx) came out at about £115 pm Again a FULL load (8m) on a big truck would probably have been cheaper...but I don't want that much and to get a part load ended up costing as much as two minimix's (and as I said before...it would be a PITA)

I poured nearly 60 meters in the last few weeks and got a lorry load of 301 as well for blinding of the filling all in for €60 a meter

Well honestly SC!! On 60cm I'd expect to getter a better quote but on 5, well it's a little different

I love this...let's have a Round Britain cheapest readycrete competition

 

[brightspark]

That's more expensive then here! I was quoted £86pm for a full (4cm) mini but it got more expensive if I wanted 2 part loads. They don't quote per metre for minimix apparently and getting two 2.5 m loads (approx) came out at about £115 pm Again a FULL load (8m) on a big truck would probably have been cheaper...but I don't want that much and to get a part load ended up costing as much as two minimix's (and as I said before...it would be a PITA)


Well honestly SC!! On 60cm I'd expect to getter a better quote but on 5, well it's a little different

I love this...let's have a Round Britain cheapest readycrete competition

do what i did for mine stood at the road junction near concrete works and handed the drivers my tel number and asked any spare give me a ring got half a load half price of one o them

 

[scarecrow]

Well honestly SC!! On 60cm I'd expect to getter a better quote but on 5, well it's a little different

I love this...let's have a Round Britain cheapest readycrete competition

should have said you only get a free load of 301 over 50 meters but even for small loads its not much more

 

[TechnicAl]

hope this turns out
this is my shed built out of two old ones and a bit more timber

 

[Pete.]

Paid £90 here for 1.5 metres but I did have a 20 minute time limit and even offering £20 and a bacon butty bribe couldn't get it extended. I just had him dump it on some poly on the road and had someone guard it

 

[beetlejac]

Hi l work in a quarry that sells concrete and when l was building a garage and looking for 6 cube they took £20 off,crap for working there.
l seen a driver and l got a full load(6 cube) that was ment for a new prison and the job was cancelled and was going to be dumped,the driver had told me to have everything ready and to wait and he would call me when a scrap load would come up,£100 so l was happy with that.

 

[Omniata]

Any progress on the shed build Ratty

Any pictures?

 

[Robotstar5]

Any progress on the shed build Ratty

Any pictures?

It's getting a bit late to book this years holiday then?