Base for shipping container

[Conor]

Have a 20ft container arriving tomorrow PM for site storage / workshop duties.

 

I've an area cleared and compacted stones down... But it's far from even. I was thinking of setting down a few 40mm thick paving slabs on the low corners. Would these be up to the job of taking a container that will be full of general tools and materials? How accurate do I need to be with levels? Maybe 4 tonnes in total, not much more.

 

 

[Ferdinand]

Personally I would look more at breezeblocks.

[nod]

That looks fine to me 

[Conor]

3 minutes ago, nod said:

That looks fine to me 

I've a feeling I'll get some funny looks from the driver when I get the spirit level out...

[joe90]

I used Large blocks of timber on the four corners of mine but I had a JCB to lift it and get it level, easier when it’s being unloaded just have some timber  handy, even if you slip the driver a tenner for five minutes work to satisfy your OCD!.

Edited February 3, 2020 by joe90

[Conor]

2 minutes ago, joe90 said:

I used Large blocks of timber on the four corners of mine but I had a JCB to lift it and get it level, easier when it’s being unloaded just have some timber/breeze blocks handy, even if you slip the driver a tenner for five minutes work to satisfy your OCD!.

 

Good thinking. Its being delivered for free and the guy is doing an extra run in the afternoon so I'm not going to push my luck taking his time. I need to get a telehandler in again soon so I think I'll get one that's capable of lifting it so I can take my time! It's going to have furniture in the back and a workshop in the front so want it as level as possible.

[joe90]

Frankly it won’t take 10 minutes whilst it’s being unloaded, if you want it spot on a good car jack at each corner (one at a time) afterwards will enable you to fine tune it.

[Ferdinand]

Scaffold Planks might do it.

 

3m ones would go across the width and give some space for adjustment.

 

And you might actually be able to ore level those by moving your gravel around.

 

Another possibility could be 8ft concrete fence posts, which would fit exactly ... but prob too tight time wise now. Some people use these for sheds.

 

Pesronally I might even use the screw adjustable heavy duty patio feet from Wallbarn, which cost minimal amounts .. but you definitely won’t get those.

Edited February 3, 2020 by Ferdinand

[Oz07]

Waste of stone covering it with a container. Put the container on some bearers or blocks on the ground if temp

[Conor]

2 minutes ago, Oz07 said:

Waste of stone covering it with a container. Put the container on some bearers or blocks on the ground if temp

That makes even more sense. I'll drop it round the back of the house on some blocks instead. 

[joe90]

My container is on blocks above soil and rats have nested under it, maybe not a waste of stone, especially if it’s going to be hard standing after the container is gone. My container is going this year (if I can sort the crap out that’s in it) and replaced by stone to be a hard standing fir my caravan. You will need some stone at least near the door to access it without clods of earth on your boots

Edited February 3, 2020 by joe90

[Ferdinand]

3 minutes ago, joe90 said:

My container is on blocks above soil and rats have nested under it, maybe not a waste of stone, especially if it’s going to be hard standing after the container is gone. My container is going this year (if I can sort the crap out that’s in it) and replaced by stone to be a hard standing fir my caravan.

 

IME rats will go under stone.

 

To stop rats round here takes a concrete slab, especially if there is a potential food source.

Edited February 3, 2020 by Ferdinand

[Declan52]

Concrete blocks will crush. You need to use of cuts of timber like you would see under scaffold legs.  Bits of plank or joists

[Conor]

We're in the posh bit of town. No rats here ? squirrels on the other hand....

 

@Declan52 I've just torn down the roof of the old house and have some massive purlins I can chop up with the chainsaw.

[Declan52]

2 minutes ago, Conor said:

We're in the posh bit of town. No rats here ? squirrels on the other hand....

 

@Declan52 I've just torn down the roof of the old house and have some massive purlins I can chop up with the chainsaw.

Only need to be 450mm long. No point in wasting it.

[Simplysimon]

1 hour ago, Conor said:

No rats here ? squirrels on the other hand....

if they ain't red, they're rats

[Triassic]

Mine is stood on two breeze blocks at the front and 1.2m  tall piers at the back. I slide mine down a slope, then used a bottle jack to raise it slowly, 150mm at the time, using temporary timber packing. Once level, I built the piers out of second hand bricks. It’s stood there for three years so far. 
 

ps - the piers don’t have any foundations, other than a 2foot square paving slab.

[nod]

Straight onto hardcore onsite 

As long as the ground is solid 

[Thedreamer]

 

Here is what we did. Mixture of timber and blocks.

[ProDave]

Looks easier than a static caravan, just 4 points of contact (I have a total of 12 piers supporting my static caravan, I don't think it is going to move)

 

 

[eandg]

Planning to have a container on site for secure storage to be later repurposed into a shed-cum-garden office. On a couple of metres worth of made ground though - would the same suggestions above apply or would that be one for an SE?

[joe90]

1 minute ago, eandg said:

Planning to have a container on site for secure storage to be later repurposed into a shed-cum-garden office. On a couple of metres worth of made ground though - would the same suggestions above apply or would that be one for an SE?

nah, stick it on timber blocks as said above , if it does subside a bit, Jack it up and put in a bit more packing ?

[scottishjohn]

2 hours ago, Simplysimon said:

if they ain't red, they're rats

tree rats

[Simplysimon]

bought some kwikstage of a selfbuilder and his container had been placed next to a shed, when he was finished with it as storage he put the wood fired boiler in it and roofed over the shed and container. clad in the same material you didn't realise it was there until he opened a large door.

[Onoff]

Down here was once known as Bidonville with good reason. Pretty much every dwelling was a shack. It was the done thing to put down a layer of crushed, broken glass pre any floor slab to discourage rats.