Search results

Is a concrete block foundation suitable for a 12x24 shed in freeze-thaw country? I was actually thinking of using plastic pads called CAMO-BLOCK that accommodate 6x6 posts, similar to a deck block but without the weight. I don't think the pad itself makes a big difference, camo vs. concrete...

I found this on reddit done by a guy in the UK. He has detailed plans online. It's a 12x22 utility shed made of stacked and screwed 4x8 PT timbers. The roof is slate over a structural ridge beam. He's posted pictures over the years and to no surprise it's held up well. No obvious cracking or...

My garage is filling up with lawn and garden tools, bikes, and pool stuff. I'd like to get a 12x20 plastic-type shed that I can build on site. The location isn't ideal: it's about 2-3' out of level and was used to dump excess soil over the summer, so not very compacted. It's not easy to get...

Light loads continue to make holes/imprints in my driveway and now the top layer of aggregate is starting to flake off where we park. Contractor at first seemed like he would stand behind it but now he's back to saying "it's normal". "Any point load will leave a hole especially if it is...

I had everything powerwashed and dry and but didn't plan ahead and couldn't source Ghostshield locally. Concrete place had a penetrating sealer Baracade which seemed comparable. I used it on outside concrete, a garage surround and a large patio. Mainly wanted to seal out water and help with...

I had my driveway repaved in March and it's still very soft, a kid's kickstand will make a hole if left for a few hours. Patio table legs have made 1" deep holes, umbrella, etc. Car tires are even worse. Turning tires will loosen up the top layer of asphalt even with a smaller car, the SUV is...

I'm trying to put up a basketball pole. Every garage needs needs a spot to shoot some hoops, right? Does anyone have experience with epoxy anchoring for something like this? I missed putting L-bolts into the wet pour because that would be too easy. Ugh! My goal is to secure 5/8 threaded rod...

I have a vaulted garage 24' wide. The height is 8' on the sides going to 14' at the peak. My plan is to put 4 continuous rows of fixtures up: 30" in from each wall and then about 6-7' away from each other. With a 30' deep building, that's 7 four-foot fixtures per row x 4 rows = 28 fixtures...

I'm about to spend $28k converting an old block building to a garage. Even when it's done there are some inherent compromises with siting (sits low and at an odd angle to the house) but the cost of building new is 2x as much. We need it done now because we're re-purposing our existing garage...

I need to raise the floor about 8-10" in my garage. No issues with windows or doors. The existing slab has an expansion joint and a few minor cracks but nothing substanstial. Probably 3" thick and 60+ years old. Is it OK to put a layer of 2" XPS foam, vapor barrier, 4" 3/4" stone, and then...

Not sure if I should keep the same thread going and post questions as they come up. Anyway, quick backstory: I have a hollow 8" block building that I'm converting into a garage. I'm going to raise the roof and floor by about 3-4 feet because it sits low on the property. Initially I thought the...

I posted about this building before... a structure that I thought was a great asset when I bought the property is at risk of turning into a money pit. It's an unfinished block outbuilding that I'm looking to turn into a 2-car garage. Basically, we're looking to raise the height of everything...

Does anyone have experience using geofoam in a small residential application? I'm considering raising the floor height of a hollow block building about 3 feet. Conventional method is breaking up slab, fill and compact in lifts. The wall section, since it's hollow and unreinforced, needs to be...

I want to widen my driveway 4-5 feet for better garage access. Problem is, driveway is already on a hill and I'm not sure how to go about it. I have 12 feet to work with before the property line and the drop is 5' at most. If I extend out, I'll still have more horizontal distance than vertical...

I'm a long time reader and wanted to get some unbiased opinions on my situation. I very much admire the can-do initiative of people here but I have to contract everything out because I'm a slow poke and with kids I have no time. Anyway... Current state: Hollow cinderblock outbuilding on rubble...