Concrete garages can weigh more than two tonnes, so a solid and durable concrete base is the ultimate foundation to keep a building stable throughout its lifetime. The base of the garage, like any building, is the most important part to create for it to successfully support the rest of the building. To make sure it is suitable, here are several important tips to laying the perfect concrete base for sectional buildings such as garages.
Preparation is key
Preparation before construction is the first step to avoiding future problems. To prepare the ground, lay a damp-proof membrane underneath the concrete to prevent damp from rising through the base. It is also good practice, especially on larger bases, to add reinforced mesh to give the base extra strength – this will help prevent any cracking in the future.
The position of the garage building is also of importance. Extra preparation is needed if the land is not flat by digging up the top layer to attempt to get the surface as flat as possible. Any building will not be able to function properly if it is not built upon flat ground and can break, damaging the structure as well as items inside. Constructing a flat shed base, even if it is on uneven ground, is incredibly important.
When choosing the specification and model of the garage, consider its durability and potential purpose. Concrete garages from Lidget Compton can be used as everything from additional storage to a workshop, or as somewhere to store garden furniture, so it’s wise to ensure that you plan ahead before committing to a size and style.
Keep it proportional
As well as making the base flat and level to build on, it should be proportional in depth and size according to the garage structure. The base should be three inches bigger than the building on all sides. If the base is too big and exceeds the size of the building, there is the potential for water to collect on the base. Due to this, many garage bases are made to be slightly larger to provide further stability.
In some situations where the concrete garage base is quite high in comparison to the surrounding ground level, it might be necessary to add a ramp to the front of the base to allow easy access to the building. In this instance it is important to ensure the end of the ramp is not higher than the base itself. This will cause water to run back towards and inside the garage.
Ensure the base is compact
The concrete base should be as compact as possible, otherwise it will crack and crumble over time if it is not poured over a solid base. Underneath the concrete there should be a minimum of four inches of compacted hardcore, with the base should be between four and six inches of compactable base in the main and eight inches thick around the outer edges, or even thicker throughout if you are planning on storing heavy vehicles in the garage – in this case you may want to increase this to up to ten inches for additional stability.