DIY Garage floor ??

[scuba_dave]

OK, never even thought of this until I did a search
I have a 24' x 36' garage foundation, 4'+ down for Frost protection. Exterior foundation walls have R7.5 insulation boards. Garage will be insulated, but not heated
Above the garage will be a 24'x36' Great room
Approx 28' of one side of the garage will be attached to the house. A door will lead from the garage to the basement

Interior measurements between foundation wall is ~23' x 34' 4"

Can I do this myself?
With concrete deleivered?
The floor will only support vehicles - I have a Ford F150 extended cab. Wife has a Murano SUV

Standard floor is 4". Most DIY go thicker

Thoughts?

Thanks

[FSV_Projects]

Scuba Dave,

If your question relates to the concrete floor only, the answer is that you can do the work youself. Actually you could all the work yourself.

I don't know your building codes and your municipal permitting requirements, but I would suspect that a permit for this project is required. This means that you will have some type of structural engineering for the foundations and slab.

The loads described on your slab, truck and SUV, are not heavy loads. Certainly 4" of concrete can carry those loads. What you do need to consider is the subgrade.

Ensure that you are building on competent soils. This will mean removing any organic materials to clean native sois. Expansive clays are also a problem which may require an engineered solution. Fill the excavation with clean and well graded granular. Compact in 1 foot lifts.

Tie the slab into the foundation with rebar and use either rebar, 10mm or mesh for crack control.

If you follow these basic methods, 4" of concrete will be sufficient and will give you a beautiful floor.

- Frank Soellig

[thetopdoor]

Scuba Dave,

If your question relates to the concrete floor only, the answer is that you can do the work youself. Actually you could all the work yourself.

I don't know your building codes and your municipal permitting requirements, but I would suspect that a permit for this project is required. This means that you will have some type of structural engineering for the foundations and slab.

The loads described on your slab, truck and SUV, are not heavy loads. Certainly 4" of concrete can carry those loads. What you do need to consider is the subgrade.

Ensure that you are building on competent soils. This will mean removing any organic materials to clean native sois. Expansive clays are also a problem which may require an engineered solution. Fill the excavation with clean and well graded granular. Compact in 1 foot lifts.

Tie the slab into the foundation with rebar and use either rebar, 10mm or mesh for crack control.

If you follow these basic methods, 4" of concrete will be sufficient and will give you a beautiful floor.

- Frank Soellig


You seem to know a lot about Garage floors. Do you know anything about bringing in the fill to put below the floor? Reason I ask is I have been hauling in sand to build up a hill that I am planning to put my garage on. The sand packs really well and what I did last summer didn’t seem to settle at all. Do you have any Idea how long I would have to let the new sand settle before I pour my Cement? Also do you have any suggestions as to how to settle it faster?

[joed]

When you say do it yourself I presume you mean with some friends to help. That is way too much floor for one person. Also you need to be prepared to finish it properly. That is as much work as just pouring the concrete and happens 2-3 hours ofter the pour is complete.I would not attempt this job without 5 or 6 helpers.

[pushkins]

If your "building up" a hill then I hope you have some sort of retaining wall to contain the sand or have the foundation of the garage already built ?
Water and a vibrator will help with the settlement, a layer of rock wouldn't hurt over the top of the sand once it's compacted.

Note: Sand never really compacts, it just settles and becomes a little more dense, (easy to dig years later). The rock will not compact either but it will settle into a tight stable sub surface for concrete.