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neb
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2013 13:29
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I'm looking at a work area outside the cabin but don't want to pour concrete and not able to any way. I need to have a hard surface so I'm out of the mud and dirt. Any suggestions for a substitute that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg?
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bobrok
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2013 15:26
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I just saw a pressure treated platform on craigslist recently for real cheap. I know what you mean about a hard (and level) surface; I usually end up removing the furniture from the deck and use that or my trailer bed for lack of a decent work surface. CL is a very good friend of mine for repurposing stuff.
If there happens to be a road repaving job going on nearby they sometimes mill the old road surface. There is a huge pile of millings near my camp that is being picked away at for various purposes. Laying down a pad of this type of material would certainly give you a hard surface over time albeit not very level.
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Just
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2013 19:34
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you could do a small pad of road fabric covered with a layer of soil cement . I did a 12 x 12 pad 15 years ago and it did the job for me . Not meant for cars but good for a atv. Google soil cement ., all you would need to get on site would be a few dry bags of what we call Portland cement and a few hand tools .
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neb
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2013 19:54
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Ok boys that is what I was looking for some thinking outside the box. I will look in to the soil cement product that might be my ticket. I actually need a place to do some carving and a place to store stuff like 4 wheeler. Would you be able to sweep things up with this soil cement product?? Thanks
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Just
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2013 21:20
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not as good as cement but yes I think it might work for you neb. I had some in a 8 x 8 tool shed and it was flat and hard and rodent proof . you may need to catch some rain water to make it, up there on your hill . if my memory serves me rite I think I used 80 lb. of cement for every 10 sq. ft. of floor.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2013 21:27
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Just
Thanks I think that is what I will do.
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Borrego
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# Posted: 11 Nov 2013 09:52
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A friend of mine suggested an alternative to me for the same concept. The military used this on islands for runways in the Pacific in WW2. You rototill the dirt/sand and mix in some concrete. Once it's leveled and done, you wet it down and it turns pretty hard, enough for planes, anyway....
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 11 Nov 2013 10:30
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We used "screenings", which is the very small parts they get when they crush gravel. It was tamped and wet and it held together like concrete. We used it for a driveway and it worked really well. However we used it also for a patio right off the house and would occasionally track the small pieces into the cabin. We ended up putting flagstone on top of it for the patio.
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Nirky
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# Posted: 3 Mar 2015 02:16
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Neb, did you end up doing the soil cement? If so, how's it working out?
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 3 Mar 2015 14:26 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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5/8 minus gravel, this will be everything down to even sand. It packs in and doesnt shift, the rain will wash the dirt in and it wont be muddy and it wont shift/migrate.
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Nirky
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# Posted: 3 Mar 2015 15:45
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Mdt, I found these two videos on YT. They made a stable, hard floor mixing 1/2" Portland cement to 3 1/2" of soil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3M-GVdz1xo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15oN2MFjdVU
Certainly with less Portland binder it won't be as hard as concrete, but it may not need to be.
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Littlecooner
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# Posted: 3 Mar 2015 19:36
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Not sure what type rock your local quarry is producing, but most "crusher run" aggregates will set up just like concrete. Limestone makes the best one, as that is a product in cement. Crusher run is usually a mix of 1 1/2 inch down to dust size aggregate - as it exits the primary rock crusher. As the rain and traffic sets in over a few weeks, it is just like concrete. After a month or a few rains, if you have more loose stuff that you desire on top, just sprinkle the top with mortar mix and water the stuff in, let it set up and it will produce a hard surface, easy to blow off with a blower or if you put sufficient mortar mix, you could sweep the area. No use to pay for concrete and finishing. Just the cost of trucking stone from the quarry. OK, you can have a cold one after you get it all level.
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AK Seabee
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# Posted: 3 Mar 2015 22:29
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Have you thought about recycled asphalt (RAP) or recycled concrete? The recycled concrete would work well in warm or cold climates. If you use the recycled asphalt you can place a driveway sealant on it and it will perform like a driveway surface. The downside is that in warm weather the oils bleed. just an FYI
It was mentioned above but if you have gravel soils you can mix cement in with your soils. Just rake up a couple inches of soil, mix the cement, water and roll/compact. Would set up like concrete unless you do a lot of turning and maneuvering with heavy vehicles.
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