Groundwork Type Question

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

So, I've finally about decided where I'd like to position a kennel in my compound. It'll be one of the generic 'Mesh Panel' jobbies. Bolted to the 'ground' or, more precisely, the base it stands on.

 

Area I have ear marked for it is grass. I'd always thought I'd have to go to the rigmarole of getting a great slab of concrete layed where ever I wanted the kennel. But they - the suppliers - talk of 'Concrete or slabs' bases.

 

I've done my time in the building trade. Probably laid more than one slab patio. Isn't it a matter of laying down a bed of builders sand. Level it. Drop the slabs on top. Bit of cement fillet between them makes things pretty; Job done? It's been donkeys years. But isn't that about it?

 

Only, I'm thinking; Wouldn't that be a fair bit cheaper and easier than getting a f*cking concrete lorry in?

 

Take it away, lads!

 

Thankyou.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

So far. so good then, eh? Must say though, the sudden realisation that it'd be me manhandling f*cking great paving slabs about has suddenly dawned! Horror! Guess I'd just have to do as I do around here. Take my time and not be silly.

 

It's a lot to do with percieved cost too. I just have the impression that hiring that bloody great mixer truck and it's driver, along with the cost of the shit ....? Then, of course, before that even comes, I'd have to shutter off the area and put a load of hardcore in there. Just seems, on the face of it, Bloody expensive!

 

Next time I'm in town, I'll enquire about slabs. Or maybe someone of here will have costed such a venture already and can offer a judgement on which is truly the more hectic?

 

Anyway, nothing's going to happen anything like as soon as I could wish it. Months yet, at least. I'm just window shopping as I look farther foreward to the realisation of a dream or two ~ only this one's a bit of a desperate reallity too now.

[stubby 175]

I'd go for concrete mate, rembering to lay a few drainage pipes and gulley first, if you went for either a 4" or 6" slab, with a few bits of old mesh chucked in before it sets, then not much need for hardcore, its not like your building a brick dewelling on top

[TITCHY69 10]

hi ditch, i concrete all my runs but used to slab them i'd go for slabs that are 50mm thick and 3ft x 2ft these are the type of slads the council use on street pavments (heavy), once these have been laid they are there for good, when prepairing the area for slabing try either to go down to clay or if thats to deep take the bed down about 12 inches give i a good wack with a waker plate these can be hired for about £30 a day then put some hardcore down and give that a wack with the wacker plate, as for the bed for the slabs i use a semi dry mix 4-5 shovels of sand to one cerment, i think thats covered everything if not i would be glad to help good luck with you new project

 

ant

[Rolfe 2]

Ditch.........go for concrete every time mate. I slabbed my dog runs...hardcore base, Whackered it down, dot and dab bedded the slabs........pointed the joints etc. Still it moved after time........joints started to sink and hold urine etc.

Another point........if you are bolting the frames to the floor........you will have a hard job drilling through slabs.

 

Rolfe.

[harddigging 42]

weekend before last i did my base for the kennels i used fibre concrete £90 a metre plain concrete being £85 a metre i used 10 metere cubed. i worked ot the cost difference of using flags on the kennel area and there wasnt much init to be honest. ive used flags in the past off all differnt variatys some are better than others but the main problem that you will find with all of them no mater how you lay them over time the urine seeps below them and gets traped and before you know it your going into your garden on a hot summers day and your eyes instantly begin to water from the stench.

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Far better to use concrete, cost round 130 euro per meter, hard core costs 40 euro, done mine in a morning. Bits and pieces for the drain cost 27 euros.

 

 

How much you paying for your kennels??

[Malt 379]

Personally I'd go for concrete. If you buy the raw materials & hire a mixer, you'll probably save yourself a packet.

[dytkos 18,559]

Personally I'd go for concrete. If you buy the raw materials & hire a mixer, you'll probably save yourself a packet.

Think "Big Picture" Ditch! Do it right the first time and you won't need to go back to it!

Concrete all the way. You can mark out, add ballast and shutter your bay at your leisure you said so no imediate time constraints.

Bit of weed killer and some visquene sheeting or similar first. If the base is, say, 3m by 3m and about 100mm thick you will need about 1 cubic metre of concrete at about £100 (English). When you order, they'll ask you what it's for, ie driveway, foundations etc. Get a mate to be there when it arrives, you'll need a buiders shovel or two, a piece of (at least) 3" x 2" timber for tamping about 4 foot longer than the widest part of the base, maybe a float, watering can (with rose and water) and a short piece of tamp also.

An hour or so's graft should see it done. Don't forget the levels, if there is an inspection cover for your drains (or not, sorry)

it's a good idea to run the base towards this for ease of cleaning and swilling.

As Rolfe said, it's easier drilling and fixing to concrete than slabs!

Good luck. Cheers, D.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Ok, lads; Ye've convinced me. I Really didn't fancy much to do with those slabs, once I'd thought about it, anyway. Concrete goes down. Don't have to lift and stagger with the damn stuff!

 

Pat had a cattle crush laid last year. The 'crete was in and had the hose rose on it before I'd even got curious enough about the noise to wander up and have a nose. I'll have a word with him about it. He'll know where and about how much. My base'll be less than his so, if his costs don't knock me sideways, I'll be relatively laughing.

 

Also, I'd sooner pay the professionals to guage my mix than stand in front of a tumbler all day. I have enough trouble getting cement to come out uniform these days. And I remember that 'crete has to be right or else the Dog'll find the weaknesses, even if the SDS drill doesn't when I drill for the bolts.

 

Kennel I have in mind has to Contain the damn Dog. Not just look the part.

 

I'll go with the pro'

 

Cheers for the in put, lads.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Oh! Sorry, Tman. I'd rather missed the question, mate.

 

No, what it is; I'm going for a generic pen. Standard, commercially bought panels. I'd like bars - because they just look sexy as hell! - but the manufacturers reccomend, with 'aggressive' Dogs, one goes for 2" mesh. I've also heard from a lad who had a vile experience with such a Dog in a barred pen. I don't ever want to come home to find one of mine dragged through such bars, in living segments!

 

So that's basicly it for me, look. I'll get the concrete base down. Fit the enclosure to it. Again, standard, commercial, steel section roof over it, to keep the worst of the weather at bay.

 

Actual sleeping compartment? I'll get a box. They come in various materials and specifications, but all have hinged lids. Dog has to get in there. Not me. No need for a six foot tall cupboard then.

 

I'll be shopping with these people, Here. Take a good look and join The Dream!

[BULL 100]

concrete for definate

[ginga john 268]

Defo concrete for the base - with a slope and a drain - must be wood, preferably insulated, for the sleeping box.

I know the buggers chew it but its so much warmer than bricks alone

 

must be a few lads who will help out with the base for a supply of free ale, its how i did it!

 

good luck with the kennels and its very true that if you do it right first time they'll last longer than you will :laugh:

[RatSnatcher 0]

Ditch do some shuttering and peg it well, a bit of decent bit of mesh and get it poured from a lorry mate,

Forget about mixing it by hand mate, your be suffering with a tired back for days for the extra £ by getting it poured your mix will be consistant give it a light brushed finish and your be sitting down with the whisky within an hour

[the_stig 6,614]

ditch on one block of kennels i`ve got the old heavy 3 x 2 council slabs laid on road stone and a dryish wet mix of sharpe sand and cement - you know the rule dont 5 spot em otherwise its like a feckin cave underneath . on the other ive got a concrete base both work for me altough the slabs tend to dry quicker good luck