Zym
New member
1st post. Please be gentle...
I have an old wooden dairy barn, 36'w x 48' l., that I'm considering converting into a decent shop. It has a complete concrete floor in it but it's been "rake" textured - very rough - I guess to keep the cows from slipping? It's impossible to sweep or roll anything other than tires on it.
Anyway, the bldg has a block stem wall on three sides, so, I'm thinking of adding a concrete overlay. The existing concrete looks to be at least 4 inches thick - they didn't appear to be chintzy with the concrete around here. I'm not sure it has any reinforcement though. But, there is only one crack in the whole thing that I've found - across one of the corners - which looks to be where erosion has occurred outside of the foundation corner. It's been full of cattle and other livestock, had tractors parked in it, etc.
My plans for the bldg are as follows: mechanic area in the front third, office and storage in the center, and wood shop in the rear third. I should be able to get a couple of vehicles in there if I had to.
My question: in the interest of keeping costs down, what is considered a reasonable thickness for an overlay? Two inches? And, what type of reinforcing steel should I use if any? I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!
I have an old wooden dairy barn, 36'w x 48' l., that I'm considering converting into a decent shop. It has a complete concrete floor in it but it's been "rake" textured - very rough - I guess to keep the cows from slipping? It's impossible to sweep or roll anything other than tires on it.
Anyway, the bldg has a block stem wall on three sides, so, I'm thinking of adding a concrete overlay. The existing concrete looks to be at least 4 inches thick - they didn't appear to be chintzy with the concrete around here. I'm not sure it has any reinforcement though. But, there is only one crack in the whole thing that I've found - across one of the corners - which looks to be where erosion has occurred outside of the foundation corner. It's been full of cattle and other livestock, had tractors parked in it, etc.
My plans for the bldg are as follows: mechanic area in the front third, office and storage in the center, and wood shop in the rear third. I should be able to get a couple of vehicles in there if I had to.
My question: in the interest of keeping costs down, what is considered a reasonable thickness for an overlay? Two inches? And, what type of reinforcing steel should I use if any? I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!