concrete inside standing building?

[ffr1988]

We've got a 24x22 little 2 bay detached garage/shed that was built sometime in the 1980s. I've added underground elec, carriage house doors & the next step would be to improve on the gravel floor.

It's a wood framed building & the foundation is concrete block - it would seem reasonably easy to just make forms to cover the open doors & pour concrete over the gravel inside, right?

the garage is used to store our Shelby Cobra replica on one side, & the other bay is for lawn mowers, chainsaws, tools, spare parts, etc. I'm going to hang a gambrel in there soon so that I could age a deer or two before processing. I do some mechanical work, any carpentry will be done outside (dust!) & there is virtually no chance of ever doing any welding in there - as I've only got one line buried & it's on a 20A circuit. plus I dont own a welder ; )

If there are things I'm over looking, or other options I should take into account - please let me know!

Thanks!

Jim

 

[ConCretin]

Jim, I noticed no one has responded to your post. It might be because you have asked a very broad question. There are many issues related to placing a garage slab from vapor barrier to reinforcing to mix design. I should also add that there are varying opinions about many of them.

I suggest you spend some time reading other threads and give the search function a try. If you still have questions, give a thread another shot.

 

[rburke65]

Since we don't have any pictures, I see no reason you can,t put down a vapor barrier and like you said, form the opening and place a floor.

 

[ffr1988]

here's a pic, although you cant see much of the floor. it was a windy evening, normally I dont keep leaves inside

what I am wanting to know is that for my intended usage - is concrete the best option, or should I consider some other alternatives IE racedeck?

 

[ConCretin]

A concrete floor would be a vast improvement over a dirt floor and would offer additional protection to whatever you store in there.

How is the garage structure supported? Are there concrete or masonry foundation walls under the wood framing? Placing a concrete slab against wood could be problematic.

 

[bczygan]

First off......NICE car!
No reason you can't pour a floor. Put expansion joint material around the perimeter. Make sure the existing material is adequate for a base and properly compacted. Make sure water can't pool around the structure and get under the proposed slab. Grade the surrounding earth down and away from the foundation wall. Make sure the roof has gutters and the downspouts kick out away from the building. Make sure the slab height won't interfere with the doors. Consider installing some large conduit sweeps in the concrete out under the walls for future electrical runs. Even if not for your use, it will allow future owners easy method for bigger electrical service.
The most critical thing is a proper base and good drainage. No dirt or organic material and a well compacted base material. If that means removing the existing material and replacing it then do it. Your slab then will have less chance of cracking. Use Visqueen under the slab and at least wire mesh in the slab.

 

[ffr1988]

thank you both for the responses! the Cobra is a FUN car, something I had wanted since I was in elementary school. Honestly, it's every bit as much fun as I had hoped!

the foundation for the garage is block, it rises approx 9 inches above grade, there is actually asphalt leading up to the garage - which I only recently discovered. the previous owners had a tremendous mulch pile in front of the garage, & it always appeared to be dirt. After I removed the overhead doors & installed the carriage house style doors I had to do a little excavating of the high spots & found asphalt a couple of inches down!

I know it doesnt look like it in the photo, but it's a lot more gravel than dirt - I guess it's the shadows in that shot? here's another shot where you can see the block foundation - if you can look around the shelves

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4761/picture018mp.jpg