Introduction From South East Kent

[rjclark71]

For years I have dreamed of purchasing a small plot. One day I will, but in our area such land is quickly snapped up by small building firms. Often it is land you know well, land long assumed to be public, until it is not. Such is life.

 

A little about me. I am a concrete technical specialist, so if anyone needs advice, or if something has gone wrong with cement-based products, I can probably assist.

 

Take care.

[Oz07]

Welcome...

If doing ufh in slab, with the ufh stapled to insulation and no mesh, is this ok with concrete and cutting crack control joints in the top 3rd? Would the pipes likely accommodate any movement the concrete could make

Edited 8 hours ago by Oz07

[SteamyTea]

Welcome.

 

2 hours ago, rjclark71 said:

 

A little about me. I am a concrete technical specialist, so if anyone needs advice, or if something has gone wrong with cement-based products, I can probably assist.

Brilliant.

Hunt around on here and start dispelling many of the myths about this wonder product. My chemistry is not good enough to fully appreciate just how useful it is.

[saveasteading]

2 hours ago, rjclark71 said:

a concrete technical specialist,

Welcome.

Explain in what regard please?

 

2 hours ago, rjclark71 said:

land is quickly snapped up by small building firms.

Are you sure? Id have thought for big plots then yes, bigger developers will have it.

But on a small plot, the builder will only pay enough to retain profit after all costs including interest, selling and legal fees etc, and there is always risk.

For self build you may be prepared to pay a bit more IFFFFFF the site is very much to your liking.

You do not make money on a self build unless you are highly skilled yourself and do a lot of the work, whether design, management or physical...so maybe you have that.

 

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, Oz07 said:

cutting crack control joints in the top 3rd?

the pipes will stretch and perhaps even  slip a bit when pulled by the tiny movement.  

Using frequent joints, controlling the water content (low) and keeping the concrete wet while curing, the induced cracks will be small and insignificant.

 

OR, if it is all going to be covered then you don't necessarily need the crack inducers and can let it do its own thing with millions of micro-cracks.