New home concrete stumps how to?

[rileyp]

I have read the Alan Staines manual on how to put them in but am a little confused

1 Set up hurdles and peg out stump locations no problem here
2 Drill holes no problem here
3 Pour concrete to bottom of hole to depth on plan.problem here
4 Place stumps in holes and aligned to string lines problem here
5 Backfill hole with concrete.no problem here

My questions

How is step 3 acheived in reality?
Is step 4 performed while step 3 is wet?
What is a typical depth and width used for say M and H class soil
I understand stumps arent that great for H type soil and so would be bigger.

Wouldnt it be easier to set up the bearers on temporary props and bolt all the stumps to the bearers then just pour each stump once?

Any advice much appreciated!
cheers Rileyp

[echnidna]

I have read the Alan Staines manual on how to put them in but am a little confused

1 Set up hurdles and peg out stump locations no problem here
2 Drill holes no problem here
3 Pour concrete to bottom of hole to depth on plan.problem here
4 Place stumps in holes and aligned to string lines problem here
5 Backfill hole with concrete.no problem here

My questions

How is step 3 acheived in reality?
Shovel concrete out of a wheelbarrow into the hole

Is step 4 performed while step 3 is wet?
Usually,
so you don't drop the stump in the hole you lift it in and work it around a bit until its at the correct height.

If I'm using a timber stump I'll level the top of the concrete pad and let it set before I put the stump in

What is a typical depth and width used for say M and H class soil
I understand stumps arent that great for H type soil and so would be bigger.

I'd need to refer to tables for that info

Wouldnt it be easier to set up the bearers on temporary props and bolt all the stumps to the bearers then just pour each stump once?

Sheds are sometimes built that way

Any advice much appreciated!
cheers Rileyp

[rileyp]

Thanks Bob for your fast response!
Shovel concrete out of a wheelbarrow into the hole
I understand how to get concrete in the hole.
I was more interested in how the correct level would be obtained in the hole if this was to be done for concrete stumps and let dry prior to installing the stumps if this was the method used.(drying first) I suppose a stick and measure back up to the string line would be good enough for a timber stump as a timber stump removes the criticalness of this as it may be lopped later
Sheds are sometimes built that way
Is the method I proposed less accurate and only shed worthy?
Cheers rileyp

[Canetoad]

no your method works great. Not sure how you would go with concrete stumps. I have always done it with SHS columns. Why are you using concrete stumps by the way?

[rileyp]

no your method works great. Not sure how you would go with concrete stumps. I have always done it with SHS columns. Why are you using concrete stumps by the way?

Im not just yet but would be happy to as I've lined up a heap of stirrups that way (set in wet concrete) for my existing deck and that worked out fine.
The block has a 400 mm fall every 10 metres and rather than level the home site and do a (I know small) retaining wall on the high side and a concrete slab for which I would have to pay someone I was thinking of doing a timber floor rather than concrete as I could it all by my lonesome.
Concrete stumps in Victoria are quite common and they are $5 each I believe up to 1200 long I think.
The cladding on the home will be weatherboard or simular.
cheers rileyp

[bugsy]

Concrete stumps in Victoria are quite common and they are $5 each I believe up to 1200 long I think.
The cladding on the home will be weatherboard or simular.
cheers rileyp

:0 thats cheap!
Where are you getting them from?

[OBBob]

Concrete stumps are very heavy, you may have trouble using the meathod you used for styrups.

It depends how quickly you are trying to do it. If you have a cement truck out the front and a 20 minute unload time then you are going to have trouble. But if can arrange a few helpers on mix on site you can just put the cenet in the bottom and sit the stump in, get it verticle and at the right height, brace temporoaily or back fill. They don't sink if they mix is OK. Do this with stringlines set up off your hurdles.

Then later, hire a laser level and if any need slight adjustment you can pack the tops with sqaures of cement sheet or bitument damp-proof course.

The main thing is to be really well prepared and think about the whol process beforehand, which is what you are doing! Everyone does it differently ... Good luck.

[OBBob]

:0 thats cheap!
Where are you getting them from?

You can get them from Cope for around that in Melbourne. All based on length.

[echnidna]

Thanks Bob for your fast response!
Shovel concrete out of a wheelbarrow into the hole
I understand how to get concrete in the hole.
I was more interested in how the correct level would be obtained in the hole if this was to be done for concrete stumps and let dry prior to installing the stumps if this was the method used.(drying first) I suppose a stick and measure back up to the string line would be good enough for a timber stump as a timber stump removes the criticalness of this as it may be lopped later
Sheds are sometimes built that way
Is the method I proposed less accurate and only shed worthy?
Cheers rileyp

I usually put some concrete in the hole, put the stump in and keep adding concrete (working it under the stump) until the top of the stump reaches a stringline.

Sheds usually have far less stumps to contend with and its practical to stick the frame together and block it up so you can pour the concrete.

Fitting stumps to a stringline is much faster than blocking up a bearer stump run and concreting afterwards. I used to be able to put 60 odd stumps in an afternoon. My best effort was 104 stumps to a stringline in 1 day by myself.

I used to get a load of minimix in and go like a cut cat to get it all in under the stumps before it went off.

[OBBob]

I used to be able to put 60 odd stumps in an afternoon. My best effort was 104 stumps to a stringline in 1 day by myself.

That's nuts! Us mere weekend warriors are not capable of that sort of thing ...

[bugsy]

sorry to butt in on the original topic but,
do you have to fit concrete stumps into concrete?
Can you just put in a block of wood for the stump to sit on and back fill?

[OBBob]

sorry to butt in on the original topic but,
do you have to fit concrete stumps into concrete?
Can you just put in a block of wood for the stump to sit on and back fill?

All the old palces were originally just redgum stumps on a slab of red gum, so I guess you could ... but it wont last as long.

[OBBob]

5 Backfill hole with concrete.no problem here

I stand to be corrected ... but unless you have a specific requirement or very tall stumps then you may not have to back fill with concrete. That's a lot of concrete, so may be worhth checking if soil is acceptable where you are.

[bugsy]

All the old palces were originally just redgum stumps on a slab of red gum, so I guess you could ... but it wont last as long.

what i am getting at is redgum stumps of 1.8 will cost somewhere like $17-$18.00.

concrete stumps $5.00?
thats a big saving if you dont need to surround it with concrete

[OBBob]

what i am getting at is redgum stumps of 1.8 will cost somewhere like $17-$18.00.

concrete stumps $5.00?
thats a big saving if you dont need to surround it with concrete

Yep.

I guess just a bit more of a PIA because you can't just set and lop the top off at the right height.