Carport workshop

[FrankS]

I am planning to construct a work area in my carport. The floor I'm planning is to be concrete pavers on 50mm bedding sand. I'm thinking of spraying the soil with Roundup, then a layer of builder's plastic or possibly weed mat then the sand. I just purchased, at auction, 2 lockable steel cabinets to house most of my tools.
Being a tyro at this is not too easy for a 76yr old pensioner. However,I'm willing to have a go. Any suggestions re the setting up would be appreciated. Just finished renovating a studio for my wife so I know about working with second hand things.

Cheers

[fenderbelly]

I think spraying your soil with round up would be a waste as it only works on the green parts of plants.

If you put builders plastic down surely that will stop any moisture from wind driven rain soaking away. ( im assuming its open and not got 4 walls and a door ).

if you lay your pavers and then spray any growth i would imagine you would soon be weed free.

Remember im not in the building game.


Cheers Fred

[bsrlee]

Just being a pessimist, but make sure the cabinets of tools are out of sight and preferrably locked up inside somewhere. Anything that looks 'interesting' - i.e. can be flogged at the nearest pawn shop or weekend market - and not too well guarded tends to disappear.

Even in 'nice' towns - you have no control over the blow-ins who may just be driving past & looking for a quick score. Hand tools, both 'Armstrong' and power, are favourites with thieves.

A bench that is well bolted to something solid like the fence or brick piers is pretty safe, but a few yobs with a ute can make even table saws disappear quickly. Unfortunately about every 6 months or so we read on here about another member having gear stolen - tools or several hundred dollars of timber turned into firewood :((

[FrankS]

OK Fred, where in hell is "bottom of the leg"?
Thanks for your comments

[Christopha]

OK Fred, where in hell is "bottom of the leg"?


Maybe Footscray?

[FrankS]

Yea! I like that..a bit like the Boot = Italy.
The area of my carport I'm thinking of using has 2 walls and would be the rear part of the actual "carport". Thanks for your thoughts.

[Fuzzie]

Hi Frank,
You need to prepare the ground first by removing any grass/vegetation before laying the base. If you lay the base on bare ground any subsequent growth that appears will most likely be growing only in the jointing sand.

I don't think the plastic would do much except make it easier for the sand base to move around. Most instructions for paving I've read say to use 30-40 mm of bedding sand on an even base. If the base isn't even or you need to build up the level then you need to lay down and compact a layer of roadbase. Road base is pretty easy to work with.

Typical instructions can be found here PGH Paving Guide (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/www.pghclay.com.au/technical/pgh/PGH%20Paving%20Guide.pdf)

For small areas you can compact with a lump of wood and a 4lb hammer or rubber mallet, for larger areas a compacter is easier. I've just done some paving and found the Bunnings Hire shop to be the cheapest place to hire a compacter. $45 for 1/2 day or $65 for 24 hrs and you can borrow a courtesy trailer to shift it.

[fenderbelly]

OK Fred, where in hell is "bottom of the leg"?
Thanks for your comments


Look at the map of SA.

Cheers Fred

[Bob38S]

If I could add a suggestion[s]

- ensure the cabinets are secured to one of the walls

- be aware that tools inside a metal cabinet which is partially exposed to the elements could end up with moisture/rust problems - WD 40 is not a long term solution DAMHIK.

- pavers should be as large as possible [300 - 400mm would be ideal rather than the brick type] and I would tend to locate them on crusher dust [screeded with a slight fall and firmed] rather than bedding sand - contrary to pamphlets, I know but bedding sand tends to be a haven for ants which end up moving the sand everywhere. Some pamphlets also recommend up to 5mm gaps between pavers and this is filled with a paving sand or some even use a sand cement mix [which stains beautifully unless you are very careful] - I have found that in a situation similar to yours that basically fitting the pavers as close as possible was more successful.

Just some thoughts, regards,
Bob