Concrete sleepers with a screed

[shifty]

Looking at renting a shed as a workshop, however the landlord isn't keen on concreting the floor but is happy to lay concrete sleepers, now my thinking is laying a screed over well prepared and bedded sleepers to provide a flat level surface to work from, then in the future he can take the sleepers up should he need to.

Has anyone done this before or is it a disaster and complete no go?

 

[RWG Contracts]

Looking at renting a shed as a workshop, however the landlord isn't keen on concreting the floor but is happy to lay concrete sleepers, now my thinking is laying a screed over well prepared and bedded sleepers to provide a flat level surface to work from, then in the future he can take the sleepers up should he need to.

Has anyone done this before or is it a disaster and complete no go?

I bet it could cost nearly as much for sleepers as concrete

 

[RWG Contracts]

How much weight would you be driving in workshop? My fear with screeding over the sleepers would be them moving and cracking the floor

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Working on old condrete sleepers sounds unpleasant. Adding layer of screed may be an answer but put down a layer of DPM to ensure you have a dry floor that won't sweat when the weather turns.
From my perspective laying a load of sleepers is not the easiest jobs unless you have a 360 or other suitable machine to lift & put them down anything like flat....so this will often be done in a haphazzard fashion resulting in you laying screed over big gaps & uneven substrate which will probably cost a lot more in time & materials.
Best scenario would be to use the sleepers for a roadway & concrete the shed properly in the first instance and presto you are both winners! If it is only a workshop for light machinery you could lay 75mm of C40 with reo mesh on 30mm chairs, thickening downwards at the edges to 120mm.

Prior & proper preparation is key here on the substrate.
SS

 

[shifty]

That was my thinking but he was thinking long term as he still wants a usable shed he can alter and not have to worry about breaking floors up etc and has a pile of sleepers already available so he's just looking to utilise them I guess? Would you say a screed is possible or would it just break up quickly?

 

[RWG Contracts]

That was my thinking but he was thinking long term as he still wants a usable shed he can alter and not have to worry about breaking floors up etc and has a pile of sleepers already available so he's just looking to utilise them I guess? Would you say a screed is possible or would it just break up quickly?

Are you driving over it with weight?

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I see the word 'USABLE' and I know the train of thought and I'm wincing In my thought process I see a long term let which is all about repeat buisness. Do 'cheap' do twice, do properly and you'll only have to do it once. On the cheap and no one will want to stay as the floor will be a mess and not pleasant to work on.
SS

 

[shifty]

Would be your mainline tractors and telehandlers really so 80-200hp tractors along with a forklift driving on it and a container for storage, he's not mechanical at all so wouldn't understand the need for flat floors for jacks and trolleys etc

I've seen a pad laid with sleepers in a field as hard standing and it was well prepared and laid and you can run a telehandler bucket along it to load muck no problem, granted it donesnt clean it aswell as concrete but they are not moving or hap hazard, so something like this with a screed over would be a good option, hence my thinking? Or perhaps I need to sway him more towards concrete floor from the off

 

[RWG Contracts]

Would be your mainline tractors and telehandlers really so 80-200hp tractors along with a forklift driving on it and a container for storage, he's not mechanical at all so wouldn't understand the need for flat floors for jacks and trolleys etc

I've seen a pad laid with sleepers in a field as hard standing and it was well prepared and laid and you can run a telehandler bucket along it to load muck no problem, granted it donesnt clean it aswell as concrete but they are not moving or hap hazard, so something like this with a screed over would be a good option, hence my thinking? Or perhaps I need to sway him more towards concrete floor from the off

I think he needs swaying towards concrete

But then I'm a bit biased

 

[Forever Fendt]

Looking at renting a shed as a workshop, however the landlord isn't keen on concreting the floor but is happy to lay concrete sleepers, now my thinking is laying a screed over well prepared and bedded sleepers to provide a flat level surface to work from, then in the future he can take the sleepers up should he need to.

Has anyone done this before or is it a disaster and complete no go?

Get it concreted end of,all that messing about just to end up with a sub standard job

 

[norse]

He could possibly sell the sleepers and put the money towards concrete and with a contribution from you that screed would cost nobody would bu far out of pocket.

 

[David.]

Come and borrow my shed for a few weeks, almost for free if you leave me 6" of "usable" concrete floor behind when you go.
Some people seem allergic to doing a job properly.

 

[joe soapy]

You could think out of the box, prepare the ground in sections, cast slabs in place that could
be easily removed after if needed

 

[milkloss]

Come and borrow my shed for a few weeks, almost for free if you leave me 6" of "usable" concrete floor behind when you go.
Some people seem allergic to doing a job properly.

You also have to remember some people don't have the cash to do things 'properly' as much as they would like to. I am sure most of us have been there at some point in life?

 

[David.]

We have indeed, I was aiming at the owner, whose concern seems to be that having shifty do a proper job will cause a problem in future.
Takes all sorts.

 

[wasted years]

You might be better looking for a supply of seconds panels and lying them on their flat than sleepers, screed will just break off IMO.