What is this concrete board?

[crazybrit]

My shop is a 200 sq ft extension on the side of the original garage. No clue when it was put on. 1950s/1960s maybe.

In the pictures you can see the level of the interior floor slab (my finger is pointing at it).

Directly above is what appears to be some kind of concrete board material. In 8ft lengths. It feels hollow behind if I tap on it.

Does anyone know what this is? The reason I asked is that when we moved in, the dirt for the yard was piled up against it.

We removed several yards of earth to lower the level of the yard by 6" and I built the raised wooden area you can see in the picture.

Obviously my plan is to fill the raised bed area with dirt but I'm wondering if this is ok to do?

 

[Copymutt]

Hard to tell from pics. I suspect it’s a Hardyboard. Not supposed to be ground contact as it will disintegrate. That said I’ve used it to cover slab sheet blue board for looks and stop damage to the blue board. It’s still good after 15 yrs.

 

[crazybrit]

Hard to tell from pics. I suspect it’s a Hardyboard. Not supposed to be ground contact as it will disintegrate. That said I’ve used it to cover slab sheet blue board for looks and stop damage to the blue board. It’s still good after 15 yrs.

I think, but could be mis-reading that the following is related to my question.

https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.co...ut-finish-over-exterior-foundation-insulation

 

[4xdog]

From the date and its looks, I'd guess asbestos cement.

 

[crazybrit]

From the date and its looks, I'd guess asbestos cement.

Thanks. If it is, does the soil need to be kept away from it? Hard to search for "asbestos" without getting 1001 lawyer websites

 

[rburke65]

I wouldn’t think you’d have to keep the soil away from it. I think you’ll be ok

 

[Dagny]

If it has been there that long and is still sound I wouldn't worry.

 

[crazybrit]

If it has been there that long and is still sound I wouldn't worry.

The previous owners brought in extra dirt and formed berms against the fences, accelerating them rotting from bottom :-( They also piled dirt up against these "concrete" boards.

So before they did this I have no idea if it had dirt against it.

In case question wasn't clear, I'm pondering raising height of dirt in pictured area by 6".

 

[Busted Knucles]

Asbestos

 

[kaymccampbell]

On the inside of your shop, are the studs right on the slab? Or are they on a short concrete wall?

 

[crazybrit]

On the inside of your shop, are the studs right on the slab? Or are they on a short concrete wall?

OSB on inside walls. I'm doing some rewiring in next couple weeks I'll pull some and look.

 

[Firebrick43]

You currently have good clearance from the soil now, no way I would personally raise the beds any. Even if you don't come up to the sill/siding splashing rain, vegetation against the building, and the bugs that come with them can cause considerable damage to the lower sections of the walls.

 

[nadogail]

This problem calls for more pictures.

 

[crazybrit]

This problem calls for more pictures.

Happy to take more. What do you need?