Foundation depth...?

[jimmyhorns]

After a bit of general advice.

Putting together a large bench for the club, and the supports are going to be made from aeriated block (breeze block)..

Its going to be three 'walls' built up to a height of 1 metre, with wood going over the top.

The walls are going to be built on to a compacted soil base...

So question is... how deep do I need to make the foundations?..

I was going to bury most of the 1st block giving me about 140mm below the surface, and concrete this in.....

There isnt going to be any significant load on these walls, just wind e.t.c.... so is this going to be enough to stop it from wanting to topple over?

[Mark_T]

Not an answer, but on a related point, if you didn't already ask, check your landlord is happy with you using concrete, as some farmers are not too keen on concrete going into the ground on their fields.

[jimmyhorns]

I forgot to say, its going to be braced at the top with a wooden frame, if that makes sense...

[jimmyhorns]

[QUOTE=Mark_T;1040925]Not an answer, but on a related point, if you didn't already ask, check your landlord is happy with you using concrete, as some farmers are not too keen on concrete going into the ground on their fields.[/QUOTE]

There is quite a lot of hardcore / old crap in this area, so it shouldnt be an issue..., but point taken.

I want to do it with as little footing as I can get away with for this reason...

[jimmyhorns]

I guess scaffold would be an alternative, driving the poles into the ground

[milly0812]

Foundation depth...?

We just need somewhere to put and work on Helis, sounds like you're over engineering what is essentially a table mate lol

[jimmyhorns]

Sure Don, but it needs to be sturdy, and survive being outside 24/7

I've looked into building legs on the frame. but the costs start to mount up very quickly because of the timber involved. The breeze will only cost £35, the timber at least double that if not more, and probably wont be as sturdy.

After going to all the effort of clearing the patch, I dont want to go back to something that wobbles every time the wind blows, I want something that is going to last and the works, thats all.

[milly0812]

Foundation depth...?

Maybe put a thread up asking what the other clubs use. I just remember the 'landing pad' that you put your own time and money into that was never used. Don't want to do the same with the bench and the landlord has a change of heart/direction ;)

[PorscheBoy]

Drive some scaffold poles into the ground (as suggested above), win some scaffold clamps and create a 6 legged frame, fix a timber top to the horizontal frame (I Might be able to win the scaffold clamps, not sure about the poles though)

[pgkevet]

You haven't got a terrible loading so why not keep it really simple: level the ground with sharp sand, loose lay some council type paving slabs, loose lay your blocks and a few scafold boards. If you don't like the heights/results then easy to re-stack and if it does prove at all rickety then you can always mortar later.... but I bet it lasts well enough.

Edit: the other way would be to buy and drive in some fencing posts, cut to height and build a top... stuff that's used on the farm anyway and looks in keeping.

[Jez N]

Agree with Don and would do exactly as PGK says

Make it simple and dont spend much money on it!

[jimmyhorns]

[QUOTE=milly0812;1040950]Maybe put a thread up asking what the other clubs use. I just remember the 'landing pad' that you put your own time and money into that was never used. Don't want to do the same with the bench and the landlord has a change of heart/direction ;)[/QUOTE]


Yeah, some of its been recycled already ;)

The frame is going to see use in the bench though, so its not all wasted ;)

[jimmyhorns]

[QUOTE=pgkevet;1040953]

Edit: the other way would be to buy and drive in some fencing posts, cut to height and build a top... stuff that's used on the farm anyway and looks in keeping.[/QUOTE]

Ah, I hadnt thought of that at all....

Might be the perfect way forward :)

[jimmyhorns]

Ok, so fencing posts + post spikes = £80

Breeze + paving slabs = £54 - cost of mortar...

thinking of going with PGK's paving slab idea... plus it means not having to sweat driving the post spikes in, and not having to deal with hitting a load of hardcore which im pretty sure is hidden under there.

No concrete to worry about either, just possibly some mortar..... shame they dont make breeze blocks like lego ;)

[flyingjacko]

Hi Jimmy, I have just worked it out around £50 for a verry heavy duty table. Benefits portable.
Thats using x4 post 1.5x75x75 Sawn £2.16 per foot, post pushed into soil or dug in, 2 Batons 38X100X3ft Sawn long £1.36 per foot screwed 1 @ each end top, Top X6 150x38x1.5 Sawn £2.05 per ft. Box screws 3"X12 £7ish. When all together give the top a sanding just to smooth it off.
That will give you a bench 1MT High X .900 Wide X 1.5 Long, If you did not sink it into the ground 2MTRS saved But would need some braces.

The footings ideally, Dig down until you reach mud = all depends on the ground and what you want, But you need to start off firm ground.


flyingjacko

.