Concrete for pens

[AvonValleyFarmer]

Not sure if this should be here or in the buildings and infrastructure forum?

I'm going to start building a new, all wooden sheep handling setup, mostly to hopefully make it less desirable to our 'traveling' community .

I need to get opinions as to how thick to lay the slab of concrete under the race and forcing pens? I'll concrete the holding pens when funds permit.

It'll take no heavier weight than the sheep and other people. No vehicles or anything like that. It's on an old disused railway line so good and solid.

I was thinking of taking a little off the railway line to a level Base then putting a 75mm slab down, or would that not be enough? Any ideas welcome.

TIA

 

[Northeastfarmer]

2 inch will be ample

 

[Paddington]

As I've got several posts and a gatepost to remove from a concreted handling area I would advise not concreting posts in, certainly not CCB ones which will need replacing in a few years time .

 

[GTB]

2 inch will be ample

Won't it crack when the base settles? I was going to say not worth putting less than 100mm. Not because of the sheep but because that would be a minimum thickness to lay without it cracking in future. But I'm no expert obviously.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Won't it crack when the base settles? I was going to say not worth putting less than 100mm. Not because of the sheep but because that would be a minimum thickness to lay without it cracking in future. But I'm no expert obviously.

Well I laid mine 2" thick on top of 1" of dolly on good clay and mine hasn't cracked...100 mm is over spec for sheep in my opinion.

I'm no expert either

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

As I've got several posts and a gatepost to remove from a concreted handling area I would advise not concreting posts in, certainly not CCB ones which will need replacing in a few years time .

I wasn't planning to, I'm hoping to get some heavy duty post shoes bolted to the concrete and then fix the posts into them. Then if one needs replacing ever I'll just bolt a new one in place.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

One says 2" the other says 4". I'll stick with 3"

 

[GTB]

I wasn't planning to, I'm hoping to get some heavy duty post shoes bolted to the concrete and then fix the posts into them. Then if one needs replacing ever I'll just bolt a new one in place.

Or set some sockets in the concrete?

 

[Zippy768]

I would say 4 inches. I'm not expert either

 

[Mur Huwcun]

2" won't hold bolt down shoes. Set galv pipes in the ground as sleeves then concrete the slab

 

[Spudie]

Won't pipes fill with water then rot posts quicker?

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

My main thinking behind shoes was of I ever wanted to change something it would be easier to do than if posts were in sleeves. Though my original plan was to concrete sleeves in.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

2" won't hold bolt down shoes. Set galv pipes in the ground as sleeves then concrete the slab

Would 3" be ok? Never actually used them before. I was a little concerned about the strength of shoes.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Won't pipes fill with water then rot posts quicker?

Fill the bottom few inches of the pipe with hardcore to aid drainage.

 

[Paul E]

Don't put wooden posts in steel sleeves.
The wood swells and sticks in the post, so you still have to take the sleeve out.

4", or else it'll crack.
Money spent on concrete is money well spent.

 

[pine_guy]

@RWG Contracts

 

[fox]

Make sure that what it's going on is solid. I'd still go 4" (100mm), the extra cost will be worth you not worrying about its strength for the next few years. You can always jackhammer through 4" concrete to take out or put in a post pretty easily if you change your mind.

 

[firther]

sleeves will have to be deeper than 3 or 4 inch anyway, you just dig deeper down were there going to go

 

[RWG Contracts]

2 inch will be ample

 

[RWG Contracts]

Wouldn't risk any less than 4"