Garage/Shed Slab Help

[Thewaxmania]

I've just bought a house and before I moved in, the previous owner decided it was a good idea to tear down the shed in the yard. Don't know why, could have been rotted more than I noticed or just decided they needed some extra firewood. Who knows. But what was left was an 8'X14' concrete slab. An old one too with plenty of cracks, chips, and depressions from years of tools and tractors sitting on it (presumably). There were even some small roots from a nearby shrub that had crept into the cracks. Now, I had planned on a shed project in the fall and I had decided on a shed of 10'X14' to fit my lawn equipment and maybe even my motorcycle tucked into the corner during the winter. Initially I was going to build it on the other side of the yard and on skids but now that location has been eliminated and will serve as the site for a future garage build.

So my question is this...what do I do with the old slab? Its exactly where I plan to put the new shed, its cracked, its 2 feet too narrow and its clearly not thick enough (2-3" I presume) to build on, but just the thought of breaking it up and starting over gives me aches in my back. Is it possible, with proper preparation, to pour on top of it? I've heard some people talk about drilling holes in it and treating the top with a chemical concrete adhesive agent and then forming it up and pouring on top of the old slab, but I don't know enough about the options to go anywhere from here.

I'm young and don't have much money to spend so pre-fab sheds and calling a contractor to come in and take care of the situation are not options. I can build anything and I know how to work with concrete, I just don't know if I can work around the old slab without headache. Plus, I may be "grandfathered" with the old slab and if I removed it, the location would be too close to the lot line and would require zoning relief in my town. So that's the other complicating element.

Much appreciate any advice you might shovel my way!

 

[K04GTI]

Rather than taking a jack hammer to it, could you rent some sort of power equipment like a backhoe and just bust it up and load it into a roll-away disposable container. I have no idea.. Sounds kinda expensive regardless since you'll have to rent some power equipment and at least a large bin to throw the material into. I'm not sure that you can load that much concrete into one of those roll-away containers.

 

[richtersrodz]

Been there done that with the lot line stuff. Bought a house, tore down the garage, and then the city would not let me put up another garage back in the same spot. Had to totally screw up my back yard and turn it, and face it out the other direction. Then, put in a whole new driveway, that cut right through the middle of the yard.

Fast forward a few years.. On my new house, they were pouring the apron for the driveway. It was too short, (forms already made up) and I had them add 8 more feet to the end of it. 4 months later, where they added on the extra 8 feet, is where I have my camper trailer sitting (small 21 footer). They did crappy prep work on the extension, and I now have I think 5 cracks in the slab, that run the full 8 x 30+ feet wide. So whichever way you go, just make sure you tie it in good, or make a good base. Mine was a failure on both parts.. and they were professionals.

 

[Thewaxmania]

Thanks for the dialogue. I mean, I think its probably going to be fine. Its a small shed that will have MAYBE 1,500 lbs total spread over the entire area. My tractor only weighs a few hundred and the bike is only 650-700lbs and the rest of it is just the run of the mill lawn tools. The weight of the building is more than the contents. My father and grandfather poured a slab for a shed about 30 years ago with about 100 bags of concrete and sand, by hand, in a wheelbarrow and my father has parked his tractor and his behemoth of a 900lb motorcycle on it for 20 years and there's not a crack in it. No heaves from freezing and thawing and we live in New England. I think I'm just overly cautious.

 

[southalabama]

Personally, I'd sledge hammer it if its only 2-3 inches and get rid of it.

FYI a dump truck load of broke concrete is going for $300 around south alabama.