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How to lay a concrete shed base yourself
05th March 2018 First, your shed will need a solid foundation. Follow our step by step guide to laying a concrete shed base the right way on the first attempt using ready mix concrete.
Why ready mix concrete?
Ready mix concrete is the perfect way to save yourself time on your DIY project, especially if you are undertaking it alone. Mixing concrete by hand is only viable for very small lay areas and is a lengthy process that requires you to know measurements, ratios and to know when the concrete is mixed correctly by just looking at it.
Our concrete mixes are quality assured to British governing standards and is delivered straight to your door ready for you to lay. Simply use our handy concrete volume calculator tool to find out how much ready mix concrete you will require for your shed base and contact us to get started!
What next?
1 - Mark out your site
Locate a level, even patch of land for the locations of your shed base, otherwise you may struggle. After you’ve measured out the area you want to cover, you’ll need to mark out where you want your concrete base to go using stakes and string.
2 - Create your sub-base
You’ll need to install a sub-base of compact hardcore before you lay your concrete base. To do this, you’ll need to remove the lawn and any weeds, digging to approximately 15cm deep. This allows for 7.5cm of compact hardcore and 7.5cm of concrete. You then need to lay the hardcore and compact it using vibrating plate compactor or earth hammer.
3 - Construct your framework
You’re now ready to start preparing for the concrete. Good wooden framework will mean that you are left with a much neater end result. Saw your timber planks to the correct lengths and use hammer and nails to attach them together. Use a builder’s square to ensure that your frame is 90 degrees exactly to ensure you avoid a wonky concrete base!
4 - Receive and lay the concrete
From the moment your concrete arrives, you’ll only have around 1-2 hours to get it laid and levelled before it starts to cure, so you need to act fast. Our concrete delivery service will bring the ready mix concrete straight to your location using one of our concrete pumps if you wish, or it can be dumped through a chute straight into your wheelbarrow for you to transport yourself. Ensure that you are wearing the right protective clothing for handling hazardous concrete.
Pour the concrete into the framework and use a rake or shovel to spread the concrete evenly. At this stage, it doesn’t matter if it is slightly higher than the framework.
5 - Start tamping
Tamping is an important step not to be neglected in the lay process and ensures that air bubbles which could compromise the durability of your shed base are removed. Using a wooden plank that is the width of your shed base, lift and lower it rapidly over the entirety of the concrete to level the surface and to bring it in line with the top of the framework.
6 - Protect your base
A polythene sheet over the surface of your concrete will project it as it cures. Do not remove the framework until the cure process is complete. We will be able to advise you on how long the cure process will take once we know the details of your project and can offer additives which can speed up the process if you require.
- Should you be considering a concrete pump for your project?
- How can I keep my concrete well maintained once laid?
- 3 DIY concreting projects to try next
For more information about our ready mix concrete, concrete pumping services and our concrete mixes, contact our team today on 0117 958 2090.