Basic concrete base - compressing hardcore

dancelikeamonkey

Hi chums,

The house I recently moved into had a tatty looking reed "hide" for my three wheelie bins that sat in the front garden so I have just bought a small wooden storage hut for them to stay in (I checked that the neighbours didn't mind first).

Anyhoo - I need to make a basic base for it to sit on and the internet seems to show concrete to be the way. The only thing I'm not sure on is how best to compact the hardcore. I don't really want to pay to hire a whacker plate and the van to carry in it, so is there any way I can compress hardcore without machinery? (I'm a bit of a bloater but can't see jumping up and down on it being good enough). Or are there any alternatives to hardcore that might work better in this situation?

Thanks in advance.

chiefgoobster

think Wickes do something called a Tamper.
which looks like a stick with a square "head" on the end.

you could try this.

also check Screwfix to see if they do the same.

vaio

or just hit it with a hammer?

A.Penny.Saved

chiefgoobster wrote: »

think Wickes do something called a Tamper.
which looks like a stick with a square "head" on the end.

you could try this.

also check Screwfix to see if they do the same.

I saw one last night when I went in.

You can probably hire one and I doubt it would cost much. Not much point in buying one that you are only going to use once.

Maybe he could make one? It really needs some heavy metal, if anyone has any suggestions as I will need something similar myself fairly soon.

Here's an idea of the price to hire a Wacker plate, £37 a weekend + vat You might be able to get that in the car boot.

T_T_2

A reasonable alternative for a small area is to drop a sledge hammer from a couple of feet. This relies on you firstly having a sledge and secondly having the energy to do it over and over again!

rxbren

dont use a steel tarmacers tamp (there not designed to hammer stone down and will break) or a sledgehammer do it once and do it properly just get a compaction plate its the only tool for the job

pka_2

What's there at the moment, is it already hardcore? If hardcore is it not already compacted?
But really if you need to compact the base before concreting then the only way to do it properly is by hiring/buying/borrowing a whacker plate. should fit ok in the back of a car, they're not that big

tony6403

Your small slab will not have to take any significant weight. Just remove any topsoil and dig down to the firmer subsoil ( usually a lighter colour than the surface ).
Add your hardcore and even a lump hammer will do the job of compacting on such a light use area. 100mm thick concrete on top will not move.

olias

Not sure why everyone is so keen on over engineering this?

If its just a small structure to house your wheely bins, all you really need is half a dozen concrete pavers set on sand possibly over a weed membrane if you want to be really thorough. My last shed was like that and lasted about 20 years (the shed gave out before the base did).

Olias

27col

The words over engineering spring to mind as already suggested. I have put down several concrete floors for sheds and they received very little in the way of ramming down. Some have been down 30 years now without any sign of a problem. It might be different if the area was going to to be heavily trafficked, but not to store wheelie bins on. In any event the concrete will bind the rubble together well enough for the use which is projected.

dancelikeamonkey

Hi, thanks for the tips everyone (sorry for the late reply but I actually forgot I had posted the question! :embarasse)

I had thought about putting slabs down as that's what is there at present so would only have to extend it a bit but quite fancied playing around with concrete to get a really level base. But slabs would be a lot easier and cheaper.

I'll have to do some serious drinking... I mean thinking about it this weekend before deciding what to do.

Thanks again everyone.