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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Hardcore for garden shed base https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1430510090 Message started by edmozley on May 1^st, 2015, 8:54pm

Title: Hardcore for garden shed base
Post by edmozley on May 1^st, 2015, 8:54pm

Hi

I am having a 7' x 5' concrete base built. The builder I am using has been quite adamant that he can just pour the concrete onto the earth in a timber frame but I would prefer to have a hardcore base for the concrete to go on.

He has dropped of a load what looks like old render taken off a house from a previous job of his and says he will use that. Is this OK or should I be buying bags of proper hardcore from the shop?

[gallery]edmozley/1430510703.jpg[/gallery]
[gallery]edmozley/1430510705.jpg[/gallery]
[gallery]edmozley/1430510709.jpg[/gallery]

Title: Re: Hardcore for garden shed base
Post by woodsmith on May 3^rd, 2015, 9:35am

There is not much loading with a shed but it's always a good idea to dig away the loam. If he wants to use this hardcore it needs to be solid and not friable and then well whacked down, it's difficult to see just how big the pieces are but its not a good idea to put a sand binding on top of a coarse hardcore, the sand can migrate through the hardcore over time and leave the concrete unsupported. Best to just lay the concrete directly onto the hardcore.