Cement thickness for a 2 post lift?

[Joelfke]

Sorry if this has been covered before, but i did a search and couldn't find much.

My father and I are going to be building a detached garage 26'x40'x12' high. Im wondering how much cement is safe to put a 2 post lift on? Also, how would one set up such a lift. At work they were installing a lift but obviously i cant just sit there and watch them work when IM supposed to work. I only saw them drill holes.

My father was thinking of making a plate 1/2" thick with bolts sticking up and putting 4 inches of concrete on top of that. Would that be strong enough? Do I even need to put a plate in?

 

[Evogun]

4 inch reinforced is what most manufactures suggest. Putting them up can be done with a cherry picker and some straps also a 4 foot lvl and a chalk string.

 

[Joelfke]

4 inch reinforced is what most manufactures suggest. Putting them up can be done with a cherry picker and some straps also a 4 foot lvl and a chalk string.

reinforced with that fiber stuff?

 

[tncatadjuster]

Sorry if this has been covered before, but i did a search and couldn't find much.



My father was thinking of making a plate 1/2" thick with bolts sticking up and putting 4 inches of concrete on top of that. Would that be strong enough? Do I even need to put a plate in?

Must be the way you typed it. Four inches on top?

If you simply put the rebar around the spot where the post is, your good. Drilling in the exact spot where the rebar is, will be an issue. Lay it out right and make allowances, give yourself room. 4" reinforced concrete is fine. Figure out the psi and you will see. The rebar is to keep the concrete together after it cracks.

 

[Joelfke]

would 4 inches thick with fiberglass in it suffice?

 

[d33pt]

i would go with rebar if it's going to be load bearing.

 

[hayfarmer]

Six inch 5,000 PSI. Don't go with 4 inch.

 

[Joelfke]

psi? the only PSI i know of has to do with compressed air....what is 5000 psi concrete?

 

[metal1313]

i would figure out where you want to put the lift and pour deeper there, 4in is fine for the floor but i might think that having a 6-8in slab to bolt the lift to would be better

 

[Daedalus]

psi? the only PSI i know of has to do with compressed air....what is 5000 psi concrete?

That is the compressive strength rating. A sample can withstand 5000 lbs per square inch without failing. Not all concrete is the same.

The best answer is to ask the lift manufacturer what their requirements are for the particular lift you would like to install. It's that simple.

 

[Joelfke]

That is the compressive strength rating. A sample can withstand 5000 lbs per square inch without failing. Not all concrete is the same.

The best answer is to ask the lift manufacturer what their requirements are for the particular lift you would like to install. It's that simple.

They "recommend" 4 inches. i feel like 4 inches, even if its a solid pour with no divisions would not be enough....hence me asking

 

[Daedalus]

Their recommendation is almost certainly based on more testing and analysis than anyone on this board has done, and you can bet they're being conservative. This thread has a lot of good discussion, including input from someone who works at BendPak. You can always pour more and feel good because you have "better" than recommended, but "better" can be a waste of money. I'm not sure why people rely on span tables with 100% faith when framing a roof, but want to do better than recommended when pouring a slab for a lift. Guess it's psychological.

 

[Joelfke]

Their recommendation is almost certainly based on more testing and analysis than anyone on this board has done, and you can bet they're being conservative. This thread has a lot of good discussion, including input from someone who works at BendPak. You can always pour more and feel good because you have "better" than recommended, but "better" can be a waste of money. I'm not sure why people rely on span tables with 100% faith when framing a roof, but want to do better than recommended when pouring a slab for a lift. Guess it's psychological.

i think you hit the nail on the head. the lifts at work i trust them but i dont know how much concrete is below me. if i knew, id probably feel better about how to do my own. its definitely psychological