Oppinion needed

[bc.gold 3,406]

My shop is getting a new 4 inch thick slab at 20 mpa, should I go with rebar or fiber mesh.  The shop measures 22ft by 25ft.

[The Tuul Crib 7,339]

What is the ground below ? 

Soil , rock , sand?

[JoeM 8,345]

I've done both, prefer rebar with zip strips.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

I used compacted QP base, with 6 inch 3/4 gravel compacted on top of that. Than 5 inch 4500 fiber mesh with wwm. 

In the end, still shot a crack. Lol

Yes, I had expansion joints. 

 

Glenn

[Achto 29,402]

I'm not a concrete expert put given the fact that you are in Canada I would guess that you have two types of concrete just like we have in Wisconsin. Cracked concrete and concrete that is going to crack. Ahh the joys of frost.

[bc.gold 3,406]

The four inch  slab is going over an old concrete floor, figured I would drill a few 12 inch diameter holes through the old floor to help secure the new floor. If I were concerned about frost would drill these holes well bellow the frost line.

 

The problem with Manitoba concrete is that the province at one time was covered with a huge salt water lake and it's difficult to find salt free gravel. The best gravel comes from Arden Ridge with perhaps three ready mix plants using it.

 

Fortunately the plant I'll be ordering my mud from is one of the plants using Arden gravel.

 

Since the shop is mainly used for hobby will probably go with the fiber mesh, maybe add some rebar on the side of the shop that will be used for brake and oil changes.

 

Thank you all for your advice.

[oliver2-44 10,719]

I suggest putting 1” of washed sand tamped for compaction over the old floor.  Use the 12” holes through the old slab as you are planning,  The sand will absorb some movement of the old slab to help prevent the old slab cracking the new slab. 

[rjg854 12,201]

Road mesh in the concrete is always good, so when it does crack at least it stays together. 

[peter lena 9,274]

how about laying in a PEX TUBING GRID FIRST ? you live in cold country, if you have the pex installed you can always hook it up later. that would ensure thorough drying and let you have a comfortable  solid heat zone. that would be my 2 cents, good luck . pete

[Kenneth R Cluley 590]

In my opinion wire mesh is better, fiber is added in mixer and seen many occasions where it was in concentrated lumps etc, wire mesh is always going to give uniform coverage and strength if installed correctly. 

[bc.gold 3,406]

1 hour ago, peter lena said:

how about laying in a PEX TUBING GRID FIRST ? you live in cold country, if you have the pex installed you can always hook it up later. that would ensure thorough drying and let you have a comfortable  solid heat zone. that would be my 2 cents, good luck . pete

 

Did in-floor heat with my first shop, 26ft. x 60ft., it's a spoiler for sure. The amazing thing that I found was while working on that heated floor had very little back pain.

 

With this old shop that I now have, due to back problems L1 and L2 am no longer able to spend long hours in the shop so heating 24/7 would be a waste of money.

 

I did have a Clean Burn waste oil fired hot water boiler hooked up to one large cast iron stand up radiator which kept the shop at a comfortable temperature. The waste oil boiler could easily consume 500 gallons during the cold season and it's a PITA keeping the oil clean and filter maintenance along with compressed air along with prolonged power outages sometimes lasting for days.

 

I get about 200 gallons of waste veggie oil a year a simple home built centrifuge will clean it up enough to use as fuel in my Lister powered Kohler generator. There's an addition to the rear of the shop that will house the generator, then with remote start it can be fired up half an hour before heading out to play.

 

I'm not going to put a lot of money into this project as both Pat and myself realize that one day we may have to move into a small house that we have in one of the small towns nearby.

 

Living rural, no meals on wheels.

Edited June 13, 2019 by bcgold

[Darb1964 1,119]

I like wire mesh, six inch floor and twelve inch wide and deep on the edges with rebar. Alaskan slab what we call it. Cut joints to control cracks.the old floor broke up for a reason bad materials under it,need to dig out old floor or same thing will happen.