Digging in the dirt

As mentioned in a previous episode of the Dung Heap Chronicles, we have had to revise our plans for the workshop / shed. Once upon a time there stood a garage. From what we can see its was around 17' by 12'. The previous owner demolished this to be replaced by the bunker. The bunker was narrower than the original garage so that has left us with a patchwork quilt of concrete, filling, and bits of paver. When the bunker was built a new floor was poured over the existing pad. This floor wasn't level but has a 2" camber to it. Combined with the cracking and damage caused by the triffid at the other end its meant the whole thing was unsuitable as a flat surface for the workshop.

As per the recommendations of the shed company we've power washed the old concrete and constructed a frame to match the outline of the shed. 75mm pressure treated fence posts to be exact. This will be partially filled with pea gravel and leveled.

Over top of the gravel we will pour in concrete to make a surface level with the tops of the frame.

The picture above shows just how uneven the existing pad is. The post on the right has been bolted to the ground and is (as near as possible) level. The post on the left is balanced on the camber.

The existing pad isn't long enough for the new shed so originally we had planned on filling and packing the area and laying paving slabs. Now we have just leveled the frame to be brought up to the height of the existing pad and this will also be filled with pea gravel and compacted. The frame itself is sitting on 3 spare sections of the old bunker. They had used them as a base for the old shed. They've been recycled again to act as a footing for the frame. Nice and solid.

Where is all the gravel coming from, I hear you ask? Well not really but its an excuse to explain things. The entire front of the dung heap had been concreted over many years ago. In an attempt to make it more pleasant the previous owner had covered it with 4", yes a deep 4" of pea gravel. Its like walking on the beach and damn difficult to drag the bins through. A large portion of the back garden has also been gravelled over. We are simply recycling it. The back will eventually be completly redesigned and the gravel in the front replaced with something more attractive. At least this saves us several hundred £££ by not having to get it hauled away.

The concrete was supposed to arrive last Friday, but we only got half of it. We are still awaiting the rest of the load. 105 bags in all, 2600kg.