Flowable Fill for base?

[Uncle Buck]

I am putting up one of those nasty little metal buildings in my back yard to hold all my lawn stuff, mowers, snow thrower, roto tiller etc...

I would definetly remove the building when the time comes to move someday,
(i think they are an eyesore) I have considered using flowable fill as a base for the floor kit that came with the buiding due to the ability to easily remove when the time should come.

I do not care if the stuff cracks, in fact, I am sure it would since I only intend to spread it out on the surface of the ground. I think it would still give enough support to the floor kit to keep it out of the dirt. I am also considering gravel, any thoughts?

 

[MXtras]

Pea gravel sounds like a decent option.

Scott

 

[Uncle Buck]

Pea gravel sounds like a decent option.

Scott

So why not flowable fill?

 

[kbs2244]

I woulldn't go with pea gravel. It is washed and those little peas never stop rolling around.
Around here we have what they call "driveway gravel" It is crushed stone with a 3/4 inch max size. But they don't wash it, so it still has the sand, clay, and smaller bits in it. That lets it pack down better.
Fot an indoors floor you would spread it arond and rake it level, then soak it.

 

[boiler7904]

If the flowable fill is latex based, it can re-emulsify and turn into a real mess. If you want to go that route, go with a cement based product making sure that your gravel base is well compacted.

If it's as temporary as you say, go with compacted gravel (with fines) or a pressure treated wood base. To me, the flowable fill material is more hassle than it's worth.

 

[PAToyota]

Flowable fill (at least as I know it) is just very low grade concrete. Is that what you are talking about? It would be easier to break up than concrete, but still a bit of a chore. Also, more expensive than just pea gravel. If the shed doesn't have a floor, it would be a good option because it would be basically like a concrete floor but would be (somewhat more) easily removable when the time came. If the shed has an integral floor, flowable fill would be overkill in my opinion...

 

[Uncle Buck]

Flowable fill (at least as I know it) is just very low grade concrete. Is that what you are talking about? It would be easier to break up than concrete, but still a bit of a chore. Also, more expensive than just pea gravel. If the shed doesn't have a floor, it would be a good option because it would be basically like a concrete floor but would be (somewhat more) easily removable when the time came. If the shed has an integral floor, flowable fill would be overkill in my opinion...

Yes, you understand correctly. You don't think that assuming no wire mesh was involved I could not easily break it up with a sledgehammer and remove it in chunks later on if I wanted to? To me, easier than shoveling a ton of rock back up. Also, my understanding is that FF costs about half what regular concrete costs. The floor kit is a metal strip kit you assemble, then lay sheets of plywood on. This thing must be assembled on a level surface, or else they are supposed to be a bite to assemble.

 

[Uncle Buck]

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[carcruse]

Flowable fill is cement stabilized flyash. Has a compressive strength of about 100 psi. It is easily dug out with a backhoe, so you shouldn't have much of a problem removing it later. The only uses I have seen for it had pavement or dirt placed over it so I don't know how it would be if left exposed.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Flowable fill is cement stabilized flyash. Has a compressive strength of about 100 psi. It is easily dug out with a backhoe, so you shouldn't have much of a problem removing it later. The only uses I have seen for it had pavement or dirt placed over it so I don't know how it would be if left exposed.

I am familiar with the application as it relates to construction, and underground utility sewer type projects. My issues are, could a guy with a sledge hammer break up a thickness with no steel reinforcement of say 4-6 inches? Hand work only, forget the hoe. And is it roughly half the price of concrete per yard?

 

[carcruse]

Yes. As I said "so you shouldn't have much of a problem removing it later"