Concrete pad or ???

[slowpoke]

I have a "portable" [not really, just on skids] in the back yard. I want to add a cover off the back side of it for outside storage of equipment. It will be 20' x 8'. It will be very difficult to get concrete from delivery truck to that area of my yard. I will store wheelbarrow's, small yard trailer, small car trailer, and just misc small stuff. I can rent a mixer and do the pad myself [no experience] or maybe some one has another thought. Thanks, Joe

 

[kmacht]

Well, if the pad is only 4" thick that is only about 2 yards of concrete. You will probably have to find one of those ready-mix trucks that makes the concrete right on site for that small of a load. Most of the larger concrete companies have a 5 or 10 yard minimum. If you have a helper, the two of you should be able to fill wheelbarels from the truck and bring them back there. Figuring that the standard wheelbarrel is about 4 cubic feet that is only 7 or so trips each back and forth to the truck.

Have you thought about something other than concrete? You should be able to put down a bed of sand and then put concrete pavers or brick down for a similar price.

Keith

 

[rodnok1]

I would rent/borrow a mixer and DIY, get some buds to help with the heavy lifting. Break it into a couple of sections if you have to since you're not rolling jacks around don't worry too much above not being perfect.

 

[kbs2244]

Sometime concrete means “Permanent” to the tax boys.
Some border boards and well packed gravel would avoid that problem.

 

[srmofo]

crushed limestone and a rental vibrating tamper....maybe rent a bobcat for the heavy lifting and digging....or a couple of buddies and some beers, but if your friends are anything like mine the bobcat would be cheaper.

If the concrete truck cant get back there than the dump truck isnt going to either

 

[38Chevy454]

The compacted gravel is a good idea.

For concrete, can you get one of those small ready-mix trailers you pull behind your truck? Maybe you could get that back tot he area?

 

[slowpoke]

Thanks for your thoughts. Maybe rent a mixer and do 4 sections. Wonder if their is a site that will provide data as to materials needed. Thanks ya-all.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Since it's a portable, I would stick with some well packed gravel.

You'll need some type of frame work to hold it in, Menards sell RR ties. Rent a tamper and tamp every bit of it. Dig out the top soil and put down a base of larger stone. Start with a few inches of #2s, tamp it, then another 2 inches of 57s, tamp it, another 2" of 57s and tamp. Take the garden hose and wet it down. Put down a layer of 411s, about anothe 2 inches, wet it and tamp. Put a final layer of 411s down, again wet it and tamp it. It wil be damn near as hard as concrete.


Here's a link to what sizes are.
http://www.coffmanstone.com/pdf/CoffmanStone_2007 Agg Size Chart.pdf