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Home > Archive > UK gardening > February 2008 > Base for shed
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| Honeysuckle Bunch 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
| Any advice would be welcome. I need a base for a shed 6ft x 8ft, I have had
one quote for £400.00 for labour only, I am to supply the materials i.e.
cement, sand, chippings and paving slabs. I was told to buy 10 bags of
each.
It seems a bit expensive as I have seen Hawklok tiles which would be quite
cheap in comparison and I could lay them myself.
Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
is costing £200.00.
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"Honeysuckle Bunch" <me9@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:fph1ne$57o$1@aioe.org...
> Any advice would be welcome. I need a base for a shed 6ft x 8ft, I have
> had one quote for £400.00 for labour only, I am to supply the materials
> i.e. cement, sand, chippings and paving slabs. I was told to buy 10 bags
> of each.
>
> It seems a bit expensive as I have seen Hawklok tiles which would be quite
> cheap in comparison and I could lay them myself.
>
> Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
> is costing £200.00.
>
>
Does the man that gave you the quote live in a caravan and does
he have an Irish accent. ??
Get some more quotes or do the job yourself, it will be hard work
but it will cost next to nothing.
Wally
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| Steve Wolstenholme 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
| On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:08:35 -0000, "Honeysuckle Bunch"
<me9@privacy.net> wrote:
>Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
>is costing £200.00.
>
It sounds like a rip-off to me but then I haven't done a shed base for
ages. Perhaps it now takes more than a couple of hours using ready
mixed agregate or maybe nobody supplies the stuff in your part of the
world.
Steve
--
Stephen Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software Ltd
EasyNN-plus. Build Neural Networks. http://www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast the Future. http://www.swingnn.com
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| Nick Maclaren 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
|
In article <mb6or39gffppkag58grmk7l2fvalis4gs8@4ax.com>,
Steve Wolstenholme <steve@tropheus.demon.co.uk> writes:
|> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:08:35 -0000, "Honeysuckle Bunch"
|> <me9@privacy.net> wrote:
|>
|> >Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
|> >is costing £200.00.
No.
|> It sounds like a rip-off to me but then I haven't done a shed base for
|> ages. Perhaps it now takes more than a couple of hours using ready
|> mixed agregate or maybe nobody supplies the stuff in your part of the
|> world.
Why on earth do you need to cover the earth with concrete? Just
level it and put the slabs down directly (on bearers, of course).
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
| |
| Steve Wolstenholme 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
| On 20 Feb 2008 12:46:16 GMT, nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
>
>In article <mb6or39gffppkag58grmk7l2fvalis4gs8@4ax.com>,
>Steve Wolstenholme <steve@tropheus.demon.co.uk> writes:
>|> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:08:35 -0000, "Honeysuckle Bunch"
>|> <me9@privacy.net> wrote:
>|>
>|> >Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
>|> >is costing £200.00.
>
>No.
>
>|> It sounds like a rip-off to me but then I haven't done a shed base for
>|> ages. Perhaps it now takes more than a couple of hours using ready
>|> mixed agregate or maybe nobody supplies the stuff in your part of the
>|> world.
>
>Why on earth do you need to cover the earth with concrete? Just
>level it and put the slabs down directly (on bearers, of course).
>
Well, in my case, it is because the shed is on part of a concrete
area.
Steve
--
Stephen Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software Ltd
EasyNN-plus. Build Neural Networks. http://www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast the Future. http://www.swingnn.com
| |
| Honeysuckle Bunch 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
|
"Wally" <wally_905@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fph4tv$pt5$1@news.albasani.net...
>
> "Honeysuckle Bunch" <me9@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:fph1ne$57o$1@aioe.org...
> Does the man that gave you the quote live in a caravan and does
> he have an Irish accent. ??
LOL He says that he is landscape gardener.
>
> Get some more quotes or do the job yourself, it will be hard work
> but it will cost next to nothing.
>
Thanks very much I will not be accepting his quote.
Honeysuckle Bunch
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| Honeysuckle Bunch 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
|
>
>
> It sounds like a rip-off to me but then I haven't done a shed base for
> ages. Perhaps it now takes more than a couple of hours using ready
> mixed agregate or maybe nobody supplies the stuff in your part of the
> world.
I did think that he wanted rather a lot cement and sand to lay paving
stones, perhaps he was going to take the excess away with him. He told me
to buy the materials because he had a cash flow problem. There is Builders
Merchants five minutes away from me which stocks ready made aggregate but
this chap said that he wanted cement, sand and chippings because he has his
cement mixer.
Honeysuckle Bunch
>
> --
> Stephen Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software Ltd
> EasyNN-plus. Build Neural Networks. http://www.easynn.com
> SwingNN. Forecast the Future. http://www.swingnn.com
| |
| Honeysuckle Bunch 2008-02-20, 9:25 am |
|
"Nick Maclaren" <nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:fph7eo$f7p$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk...
>
> In article <mb6or39gffppkag58grmk7l2fvalis4gs8@4ax.com>,
> Steve Wolstenholme <steve@tropheus.demon.co.uk> writes:
> |> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:08:35 -0000, "Honeysuckle Bunch"
> |> <me9@privacy.net> wrote:
> |>
> |> >Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small
> shed
> |> >is costing £200.00.
>
> No.
>
> |> It sounds like a rip-off to me but then I haven't done a shed base for
> |> ages. Perhaps it now takes more than a couple of hours using ready
> |> mixed agregate or maybe nobody supplies the stuff in your part of the
> |> world.
>
> Why on earth do you need to cover the earth with concrete? Just
> level it and put the slabs down directly (on bearers, of course).
I did question that but was told that "he knows what he is doing", I suspect
he was taking advantage of a female.
Cheers
Honeysuckle Bunch
>
>
| |
| Stuart Noble 2008-02-20, 1:25 pm |
| Honeysuckle Bunch wrote:
>
> I did think that he wanted rather a lot cement and sand to lay paving
> stones, perhaps he was going to take the excess away with him. He told me
> to buy the materials because he had a cash flow problem. There is Builders
> Merchants five minutes away from me which stocks ready made aggregate but
> this chap said that he wanted cement, sand and chippings because he has his
> cement mixer.
>
> Honeysuckle Bunch
>
>
>
>
You'd probably just need a few bags of sharp sand to make levelling the
slabs easier, but cement isn't usually necessary. Get one level and pack
the rest out as you go.
| |
|
| Honeysuckle Bunch <me9@privacy.net> writes
>
>"Nick Maclaren" <nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
>news:fph7eo$f7p$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk...
>
>I did question that but was told that "he knows what he is doing", I suspect
>he was taking advantage of a female.
>
Anyone who *really* knows what he is doing also knows how to explain it
in terms that can be understood by a lay person, and is willing to do
so.
--
Kay
| |
| Nick Maclaren 2008-02-20, 1:25 pm |
|
In article <fphei7$fub$1@aioe.org>,
"Honeysuckle Bunch" <me9@privacy.net> writes:
|>
|> > Why on earth do you need to cover the earth with concrete? Just
|> > level it and put the slabs down directly (on bearers, of course).
|>
|> I did question that but was told that "he knows what he is doing", I suspect
|> he was taking advantage of a female.
What he needs is a knee placed vigorously where it will convenience
him least. But I am not allowed to advise such action ....
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
| |
| Dave Liquorice 2008-02-20, 1:25 pm |
| On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:08:35 -0000, Honeysuckle Bunch wrote:
> Any advice would be welcome. I need a base for a shed 6ft x 8ft, I ha=
ve
> had one quote for =A3400.00 for labour only, I am to supply the materi=
als
> i.e. cement, sand, chippings and paving slabs. I was told to buy 10
> bags of each.
<cough> 10 bags of cement! and equal sand and chippings, naw.
What is the ground like? Is it firm and not prone to flooding? Full size=
3' x 2' slabs(*) laid and firmly leveled straight on firm ground will do=
..
Then some 4x4 treated bearers on top to put the shed floor on. I'd be
tempted to fix the shed floor joists to the bearers with galvanised nail=
s
but then we are rather exposed and our 8x6 shed has been rolled over
(length wise) by the wind. It now has 1 1/2" square posts driven at leas=
t
18" into the ground at each corner and then bolted to the shed frame 3 o=
r
4' up and at the bottom. It doesn't move now...
=A3400 labour, sheesh. How long did he say it'll take? 2 days 8/hrs day =
that
is still =A325/hr... I wouldn't expect it take more than a day.
(*) If you can still get them that big, H&S might have decreed that they=
are too heavy.
--
Cheers
Dave.
| |
| Nick Maclaren 2008-02-20, 1:25 pm |
|
In article <MKXuj.29525$os2.25307@newsfe3-win.ntli.net>,
Stuart Noble <stuart_nobleNOSPAM@ntlworld.com> writes:
|> >
|> You'd probably just need a few bags of sharp sand to make levelling the
|> slabs easier, but cement isn't usually necessary. Get one level and pack
|> the rest out as you go.
Dead right. This is what I did - for my 10'x8' shed:
Levelled the ground, trod it down well, raked it level, and iterated
until it was within about 1/2" of the same level all over.
Laid a 1-2" layer of sharp sand, levelled, trod and raked, and laid
the slabs, adjusting by adding or removing sand as necessary.
Put several tanalised bearers (2"x4", if I recall), long side up,
to keep the underneath ventilated, and put the shed on those.
I think that I screwed it down, but that isn't usually critical.
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
| |
| thelane 2008-02-20, 1:25 pm |
| On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:08:35 -0000, "Honeysuckle Bunch"
<me9@privacy.net> wrote:
>Any advice would be welcome. I need a base for a shed 6ft x 8ft, I have had
>one quote for £400.00 for labour only, I am to supply the materials i.e.
>cement, sand, chippings and paving slabs. I was told to buy 10 bags of
>each.
>
>It seems a bit expensive as I have seen Hawklok tiles which would be quite
>cheap in comparison and I could lay them myself.
>
>Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
>is costing £200.00.
>
>
If you use ready mix - its about £150 for the 1st cu m (approx 30
barrow loads), If your 6 x 8 shed is to go onto 100mm of concrete,
that equates to approx 0.5 cu m (15 barrow loads).
Invariably there will be a excess charge for small amounts, so you
could be paying about £100 for the concrete.
You would have to make a wooden former for the concrete first, only a
couple of hours to level etc.
The concrete has to be shifted within 2hrs before it goes off.
So all in all
Ready mix £100
Gardeners Mileage @40p/mile etc £20
Wood for former £10
3hrs to level and make wood former
2hrs to shift concrete and level
1 hr return to remove wood former
= 6 hrs @ £15/hr = £90
Total £220 but round it up lets say £300 all in.
I am doing one at the moment that is 4 times the amount of concrete
and turfing the surround and removing excess top soil for £600
| |
| Paul Luton 2008-02-20, 5:25 pm |
| Nick Maclaren wrote:
> In article <MKXuj.29525$os2.25307@newsfe3-win.ntli.net>,
> Stuart Noble <stuart_nobleNOSPAM@ntlworld.com> writes:
> |> >
> |> You'd probably just need a few bags of sharp sand to make levelling the
> |> slabs easier, but cement isn't usually necessary. Get one level and pack
> |> the rest out as you go.
>
> Dead right. This is what I did - for my 10'x8' shed:
>
> Levelled the ground, trod it down well, raked it level, and iterated
> until it was within about 1/2" of the same level all over.
>
> Laid a 1-2" layer of sharp sand, levelled, trod and raked, and laid
> the slabs, adjusting by adding or removing sand as necessary.
>
> Put several tanalised bearers (2"x4", if I recall), long side up,
> to keep the underneath ventilated, and put the shed on those.
>
> I think that I screwed it down, but that isn't usually critical.
>
>
> Regards,
> Nick Maclaren.
Fifteen years ago I put a 6*8 shed on 4"*4" tanalised timber bearers
directly on the soil. A few months ago we moved the shed and the bearers
were as new. ( we did have guttering /water butt so the area under the
shed was bone dry). Time taken - minutes, expense - minimal.
Paul Luton
--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames
| |
| 'Mike' 2008-02-20, 5:25 pm |
|
"Paul Luton" <paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk> wrote in message
news:QLSdnS1JZ607GCHanZ2dnUVZ8vydnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> Nick Maclaren wrote:
>
> Fifteen years ago I put a 6*8 shed on 4"*4" tanalised timber bearers
> directly on the soil. A few months ago we moved the shed and the bearers
> were as new. ( we did have guttering /water butt so the area under the
> shed was bone dry). Time taken - minutes, expense - minimal.
>
> Paul Luton
>
In September 1986 when I moved into this house, I had a 10' x 8' shed laid
on 4" x 4" tantalised straight onto the bare earth.
Still there :-))
21 and a bit years!!
Mike
--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.
www.iowtours.com for all ex-Service Reunions. More being added regularly
After a lot of trouble www.nsrafa.org is now up and running for the National
Service RAF man
| |
| Dave Liquorice 2008-02-20, 5:25 pm |
| On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:55:09 +0000, Paul Luton wrote:
> Fifteen years ago I put a 6*8 shed on 4"*4" tanalised timber bearers
> directly on the soil. A few months ago we moved the shed and the bearers
> were as new. ( we did have guttering /water butt so the area under the
> shed was bone dry). Time taken - minutes, expense - minimal.
That is what our shed is on. The shed had more rot than the treated
timbers laid on the ground. Nno guttering but still fine and dry
underneath. The only drawback is the rabbits who like burrowing under
there if we leave a bunny sized gap. And inch gap all round is plenty for
ventillation.
--
Cheers
Dave.
| |
| alan holmes 2008-02-20, 5:25 pm |
|
"Honeysuckle Bunch" <me9@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:fph1ne$57o$1@aioe.org...
> Any advice would be welcome. I need a base for a shed 6ft x 8ft, I have
> had one quote for £400.00 for labour only, I am to supply the materials
> i.e. cement, sand, chippings and paving slabs. I was told to buy 10 bags
> of each.
>
> It seems a bit expensive as I have seen Hawklok tiles which would be quite
> cheap in comparison and I could lay them myself.
Does the shed have floor built in?
If so you only need to lay a few slabs to keep it off the ground.
>
> Does this quote of £400.00 sound fair, bearing in mind that the small shed
> is costing £200.00.
>
>
>
| |
| alan holmes 2008-02-20, 5:25 pm |
|
"Honeysuckle Bunch" <me9@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:fphei7$fub$1@aioe.org...
>
> "Nick Maclaren" <nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:fph7eo$f7p$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk...
>
> I did question that but was told that "he knows what he is doing", I
> suspect he was taking advantage of a female.
Whereabouts do you live?
Alan
>
> Cheers
>
> Honeysuckle Bunch
>
>
| |
| Stuart Noble 2008-02-21, 3:27 am |
| Paul Luton wrote:
> Nick Maclaren wrote:
>
> Fifteen years ago I put a 6*8 shed on 4"*4" tanalised timber bearers
> directly on the soil. A few months ago we moved the shed and the bearers
> were as new. ( we did have guttering /water butt so the area under the
> shed was bone dry). Time taken - minutes, expense - minimal.
>
> Paul Luton
>
>
Using concrete posts as bearers is an alternative
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| Honeysuckle Bunch 2008-02-21, 9:25 am |
|
"alan holmes" <alan.holmes27@myown.net> wrote in message
news:jr2vj.1631$yv1.429@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>
> "Honeysuckle Bunch" <me9@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:fph1ne$57o$1@aioe.org...
>
> Does the shed have floor built in?
Yes it does.
>
> If so you only need to lay a few slabs to keep it off the ground.
Thanks, I think that that is the way I shall go.
Honeysuckle Bunch
>
>
>
| |
|
| On 21/2/08 12:47, in article fpjrsf$55q$1@aioe.org, "Honeysuckle Bunch"
<me9@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> "alan holmes" <alan.holmes27@myown.net> wrote in message
> news:jr2vj.1631$yv1.429@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>
> Yes it does.
>
> Thanks, I think that that is the way I shall go.
>
That's what we've done here. Some slabs of concrete are on the ground just
back from the edges of the shed so that rainwater runs straight off it and
doesn't pool around it on the concrete.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
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| Honeysuckle Bunch <me9@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> I did think that he wanted rather a lot cement and sand to lay paving
> stones, perhaps he was going to take the excess away with him. He told me
> to buy the materials because he had a cash flow problem. There is Builders
> Merchants five minutes away from me which stocks ready made aggregate but
> this chap said that he wanted cement, sand and chippings because he has his
> cement mixer.
If you are laying slabs, then my rule of thumb is that 1 tonne of sand
covers 10 square metres.
600kg is roughly about right for your area, if it was to be used for a
driveway - you will not be putting heavy loads on it, so it'd be a lot
less for your use, though I do agree that 10 bags (250kg) is about
right. I'd only use 1 bag of cement with that.
If he was laying a full concrete base (though it wouldnt be very thick
with the amount of material he has requested), then the price is still a
little high, that'd easily be done in a day, even if the concrete was
mixed in a barrow.
A budget option would be to buy 4 8ft concrete fence posts at ~£12 each,
lay them down, get them flat, then put the shed on top(thats a tip
garnered from uk.diy).
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
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