Concrete Slab Ledge Question

[Sleepy1]

I'm in the process of finally getting my metal building built (about 40x60). I've built a nice pad over several months. Still, I live on the Gulf Coast with lots of rain, mud, swamps, etc. I've noticed many metal shops around here with stains along the bottom secondary to splash following some of our best storms. I've thought and explored lots of info and realize many people surround the building with flagstone and other types of small rock.

Can anyone offer any criticism to my thought of extending the slab an additional 18 inches? Obviously, this would be at an elevation about 1.5 inches lower than the building's notch ledge.

Thanks for any input

 

[ConCretin]

The title attracted my attention but I quickly realized I don't have any real experience to share. My second thought was that a border of crushed stone, possibly containing drainage pipe would serve the same purpose but diffuse the spray and 'absorb' the water rather than just deflecting it.

 

[jack stand]

^^^^and/or spend that concrete money on gutters.
I'd do both.

 

[egdede]

Just pour a sidewalk around the perimeter, sloped 1/4"/foot to drain away from the building. Watch that crack between the sidewalk and slab, Sikka fill it when it appears (as it probably will).

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

That’s certainly a waste of money. Vegetation, gutters, and grade/slope are your friends!

 

[That Guy Scott]

Gutters first. I used class 2 base material and some 3/4” gravel on the back of my shop, all left over material from other projects. Spread out to 18” and plate compacted. It gives a less muddy place to walk If I need to go back there. Eventually, I’ll finish the concrete

 

[Sleepy1]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Sleepy1]

I have ruled out gutters as I'm surrounded by pines and will have 16' sidewalls. I'm trying to plan for the inevitable aging variable, as even now I wouldn't get too excited about getting up there on the regular.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

It takes a Helluva lot of **** to clog a 7"/8" gutter!

Metal Building Gutters: 6 Reasons Steel Rain Gutters Matter — Steel & Metal Building Kits by Rhino Steel Building Systems

Over 60% of RHINO customers add gutters to their steel building. 26-gauge steel in 7"x7" sections to protect foundations, prevent leaks, and guard landscaping.

www.rhinobldg.com

But this would certainly help-

8 Inch Commercial LeafBlox Gutter Guards (27 Feet)

Snoblox-snojax provide a new gutter guards available in 8 inch commercial leafblox 27 foot, easy to install No tools, nails, cutting, or drilling required!

snoblox-snojax.com

When you get to the point of fearing heights on a ladder- you hire someone else to do it!
Still better than having your foundation undermined, cracked/broken, and/or sliding away!

 

[billconner]

I like the first link has a concrete apron all around building

I'm not a gutter fan and especially with pines. Were it me, I'd try to go the gravel and French drain route. Would rather pull weeds and clean gravel than clean gutters.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I can't think of any problem with your idea other than cost. Wide eaves/overhangs help with the issue as well and can have other benefits.

 

[CraigStu]

Any chance of planting grass. What I don't like about concrete is that the rain splashes up a lot higher than one would think onto your wall. Gravel/small stone is better but I think grass would do the best job of reducing splash.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

I like the first link has a concrete apron all around building

Oh, you noticed that? What it said to me...
tried to do the apron/"sidewalk thing", didn't work- so had gutters installed!

 

[ycgoat]

I already have 6" concrete perimeter around the building and plan on adding a few inches of stone another 2' around the building and adding gutters as time and money come available.

 

[Sleepy1]

Thanks for the input. Here’s the progress. Now just waiting on some dry days.

 

[Sleepy1]

Little more progress after some rainy days…

 

[BertoBuckeye]

I read several threads of people with metal buildings where they put it on a pad with no overhang of the sheet metal (over the edge of the slab) and they had a hard time keeping water from coming in at the bottom. This could be solved with a slope on the outter slab but ehhh.

Check out my build thread for what I did for my perimeter wall to make sure I kept water out. You could do something similar and then put concrete around the perimeter but there are probably better ways to do it (more cost effective).

 

[Sleepy1]

Berto, that was the first I had seen of your build thread. Very insightful, and I guess, basically what I'm trying to accomplish. But, I think your's may be a bit more elegant. Fantastic job!

 

[sjvicker]

On our current home anytime we've had a concrete project we built more and more of a sidewalk around the house. Now we're about 80% of the way around the house and love it. We're planning to build a shop and barndo in the next few years and are building in a 6' perimeter sidewalk around all of the structures.

We're planning to have gutters (necessary in the PNW) and the 6' sidewalk so that we can use scaffolding with casters to clean out the gutters as I hate ladders but have no problems with heights. If it ever gets to the point where I dont want to set up the scaffolding then it'll be easy to rent a scissor lift for the day and do the cleaning.

 

[Sleepy1]

The apron got poured.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm glad to see the secondary pour is lower than the shop floor. Looks like it's going to be a nice place.

 

[DaveInTX]

Hey Sleepy - any updates on this? Are you happy with the way the apron was poured?