May 5, 20179 yr Hi all, As some will have seen, we've now had the area for the garage excavated. It's going to be pretty much underground, with a BnB roof+ topping, or Comflor on top ( to take the weight of a car) The spec for the slab is 150mm with mesh all round and rebar upstands round the perimeter at 200mm centres. The perimieter is 300mm deep with mesh and rebar to a width of 1500mm The walls are specced as ICF with a 250mm core, with mesh up the middle. Whilst I have budgetted for this, the excavations have revealed rock round all three sides of the garage - and I'm wondering if there is scope to reduce the wall core down or the amount of reinforcements required - or if we could use fibres instead. Putting mesh up the middle of the ICF whilst not difficult per se, is much more work that say running rebar vertically or horizontally. So - wondering what people's thoughts are on scope to reduce the wall spec? Is this worth speaking to my engineer about or will he stick to what we have - which was prepared before we knew the ground conditions around the garage? Thanks, Jamie
May 5, 20179 yr The B & B floor should help if it restrains the walls. I have done an ICF basement and had a similar spec, with chalk soil. I think you could end up spending more on engineer costs than you save in mesh. I don't think you will get away with fibres either, but it is worth asking. How are you waterproofing?
May 5, 20179 yr Author 15 minutes ago, Mr Punter said: The B & B floor should help if it restrains the walls. I have done an ICF basement and had a similar spec, with chalk soil. I think you could end up spending more on engineer costs than you save in mesh. I don't think you will get away with fibres either, but it is worth asking. How are you waterproofing? I was thinking that about engineering costs. I've not decided on waterproofing yet - we will be backfilling with Gravel to let water drain down and out. Will either go for a bituthene membrane or some sort of paint on option - Alan has given me a contact for a product.
May 5, 20179 yr 6 hours ago, jamiehamy said: bituthene membrane or some sort of paint on option Use a membrane not a paint, they last longer. I did an underground building a long time ago and the only bit that was ever damp was the paint on tanking portion, the bit with the membrane was never damp and probably still isn't.
Create an account or sign in to comment