A double garage build thread - but not a double garage!
Discussion
skwdenyer said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Unless I've misunderstood, it doesn't sound like much of a problem - grind the concrete down a little in the recesses to reach a spec height / flatness, or use levelling / grout to bring it up a touch if the extra height won't be a problem.
Basically - they f***ed up the depths of the pits - even though they had the plans and the details and I described it to them several times.
So they came back with an angle grinder with a concrete grinding disk on it and set about lowering the level of the concrete at the bottom of the pits until their grinder died. Then they came back a few days later with a new grinder and finished it off.
In fairness, neither I nor they really paid too much attention to how perfectly flat it was - it * looks * fine, but the builder measuring it with a steel rule from a piece of wood across the top in hindsight wasn't as accurate as the lift fitters with their lasers. We/I didn't know at that point that it needed to be perfectly flat (or as near as) although thinking about it now, it's obvious that it would need to be.
With regard to the builders, I had a think about it and I am not sure that a) I want them back anywhere near the place b) they would come and c) if they did come they would have the patience to do it properly. So I am going to have a go at it myself. The lift fitters said that I could use leveller and that although the height is tight but they could swap some adjustment nuts for half nuts and it would fit - but I am not too sure about the strength of leveller as a support for the lift - I would rather (at this stage) try grinding downwards to level it.
So that is my weekend planned.
Stedman said:
TriumphStag3.0V8 said:
Thanks. It's the Super V8 (so hopefully an even better choice). 2 years of looking to find a good one with the full spec/every option.
Nice! I have an XJR. Supercharged with comfort dampers must be nice. and the suspension means it is much more wafty when not being planted - obviously not quite as good in the bends as an XJR. I used to have an X308 XJR. I sold it 10 years ago - it is still exactly where I left it (very weird) about 2 miles from my house. It annoys me to see it sitting rotting (I part exed it for the x-type as I was doing 120 miles/day for work) when it was basically immaculate when I traded it in. I am half thinking that now I have the garage I might go and see if I can get it back .....
However.... there is a queue of projects that it would go to the back of.
Rover 75 (mechanical resto) (45%)
Surf (Engine rebuild) (0%)
Mini Cooper S (Engine rebuild) (0%)
X308 Sovereign (spectacular MOT fail resurrection) (20%)
X Type (engine replacement) (0%)
MG Midget (Full resto) (70%)
Stag (Full resto) (40%)
1968 Mini Countryman (Full resto) (20%)
1969 Mini Traveller (Full resto) (0%)
s
t - now that I write it down, I have way too many projects. Looks like I will be keeping the lock-ups and not asking for the XJR back!Edited by TriumphStag3.0V8 on Thursday 1st September 00:26
TriumphStag3.0V8 said:
Well that's my next update ruined
Basically - they f***ed up the depths of the pits - even though they had the plans and the details and I described it to them several times.
So they came back with an angle grinder with a concrete grinding disk on it and set about lowering the level of the concrete at the bottom of the pits until their grinder died. Then they came back a few days later with a new grinder and finished it off.
In fairness, neither I nor they really paid too much attention to how perfectly flat it was - it * looks * fine, but the builder measuring it with a steel rule from a piece of wood across the top in hindsight wasn't as accurate as the lift fitters with their lasers. We/I didn't know at that point that it needed to be perfectly flat (or as near as) although thinking about it now, it's obvious that it would need to be.
With regard to the builders, I had a think about it and I am not sure that a) I want them back anywhere near the place b) they would come and c) if they did come they would have the patience to do it properly. So I am going to have a go at it myself. The lift fitters said that I could use leveller and that although the height is tight but they could swap some adjustment nuts for half nuts and it would fit - but I am not too sure about the strength of leveller as a support for the lift - I would rather (at this stage) try grinding downwards to level it.
So that is my weekend planned.
You can get levelling compound with excellent compressive strength, such as https://www.smetbuildingproducts.com/products/floo...Basically - they f***ed up the depths of the pits - even though they had the plans and the details and I described it to them several times.
So they came back with an angle grinder with a concrete grinding disk on it and set about lowering the level of the concrete at the bottom of the pits until their grinder died. Then they came back a few days later with a new grinder and finished it off.
In fairness, neither I nor they really paid too much attention to how perfectly flat it was - it * looks * fine, but the builder measuring it with a steel rule from a piece of wood across the top in hindsight wasn't as accurate as the lift fitters with their lasers. We/I didn't know at that point that it needed to be perfectly flat (or as near as) although thinking about it now, it's obvious that it would need to be.
With regard to the builders, I had a think about it and I am not sure that a) I want them back anywhere near the place b) they would come and c) if they did come they would have the patience to do it properly. So I am going to have a go at it myself. The lift fitters said that I could use leveller and that although the height is tight but they could swap some adjustment nuts for half nuts and it would fit - but I am not too sure about the strength of leveller as a support for the lift - I would rather (at this stage) try grinding downwards to level it.
So that is my weekend planned.
Important to pay attention to allowable thickness of material for levellers.
But if you can handle the height the I’d go for levelling-up over grinding concrete every time!
skwdenyer said:
You can get levelling compound with excellent compressive strength, such as https://www.smetbuildingproducts.com/products/floo...
Important to pay attention to allowable thickness of material for levellers.
But if you can handle the height the I’d go for levelling-up over grinding concrete every time!
This, in spades. Hateful job when well ventilated and it will be exponentially worse carrying it out down in a hole!!Important to pay attention to allowable thickness of material for levellers.
But if you can handle the height the I’d go for levelling-up over grinding concrete every time!
Rushjob said:
skwdenyer said:
You can get levelling compound with excellent compressive strength, such as https://www.smetbuildingproducts.com/products/floo...
Important to pay attention to allowable thickness of material for levellers.
But if you can handle the height the I’d go for levelling-up over grinding concrete every time!
This, in spades. Hateful job when well ventilated and it will be exponentially worse carrying it out down in a hole!!Important to pay attention to allowable thickness of material for levellers.
But if you can handle the height the I’d go for levelling-up over grinding concrete every time!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Didn't OP say 7mm was max tolerance, i.e. they would pack to 7mm?My suspicion is that, unlike a piece of conventional industrial machinery (designed to be supported on studs/bolts and then grouted after installation), these lifts are designed on the assumption of a flat surface and a large bearing area, to avoid the need for the lift chassis to have to accommodate any point loading and resultant torsional stress.
skwdenyer said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Didn't OP say 7mm was max tolerance, i.e. they would pack to 7mm?My suspicion is that, unlike a piece of conventional industrial machinery (designed to be supported on studs/bolts and then grouted after installation), these lifts are designed on the assumption of a flat surface and a large bearing area, to avoid the need for the lift chassis to have to accommodate any point loading and resultant torsional stress.
Will have a good look at the pits this weekend to see exactly what to do. I feel a bit more reassured after the comments about the leveller above - will check out the link.
It's a 4T lift as the 3T was out of stock - but I don't have anything that weighs that much to put on it.
RichB said:
Rushjob said:
Cold said:
I wouldn't when the idea is to plop a 3 tonne lift on the resultant job.
It's rated at just under half a tonne per cm2, I don't think a 3 tonne lift will cause it that much of a worry......Using a screed is a bodge.
Cold said:
RichB said:
Rushjob said:
Cold said:
I wouldn't when the idea is to plop a 3 tonne lift on the resultant job.
It's rated at just under half a tonne per cm2, I don't think a 3 tonne lift will cause it that much of a worry......Using a screed is a bodge.
But let's not forget that epoxy-modified cementitious grout would commonly be used under machinery subject to a wide range of very large dynamic loads. So one could select, say, a resin-based concrete repair mortar in place of "screed" to obtain decent mechanical performance under dynamic load.
But you are quite right, the wrong "screed" product applied in the wrong way with the wrong surface preparation could easily crack over time. Whereas simply grinding-back the existing concrete would have the benefit of avoiding that potential problem.
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