I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be interested in hearing of any experience with this.

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it. Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.

Thanks.

Chris

On Friday 28 June 2013 18:26 wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage floor -
about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a viable
method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be interested in
hearing of any experience with this.

It would be possible - a lot of dust will result. You can hire push along
water lubricated diamond cutters - like they use on the roads. But with a
hand held 12" cutter, I would estimate it will take you a few hours to make
the cuts but that's a bit of a guess.

But the notion of slotting out the trench is a good one and will allow the
floor to be made good neatly and you will cause less damage compared to
trying to smash it out the hard way.


As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and replace
it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it. Would it be safe
to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a single garage door opening)
straight onto the floor,

It will be fine as the wall will only be supporting itself (as opposed to
the roof). I have internal walls in my house that just sit on the floor
slab. Brick should be find too - it's not *that* heavy.

or would some form of footing be advisable? If
normal brick would be too heavy, I guess lightweight blocks and rendered
would be OK.

Thanks.

Chris
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On 28/06/2013 18:26, wrote:
I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage
floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a
viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be
interested in hearing of any experience with this.

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and
replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it.
Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a
single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some
form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I
guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.


I think you'll both these works are notifiable. If there is any chance
of selling the house in the next 10 years or so, having a certificate
saying it is done to standard may save an awful lot of heartache later on!

My experience of "rules" is that underpinning would be required for a
permanent brick wall.

On 28/06/2013 18:39, Fredxx wrote:
On 28/06/2013 18:26, wrote:
I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage
floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a
viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be
interested in hearing of any experience with this.

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and
replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it.
Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a
single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some
form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I
guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.


I think you'll both these works are notifiable. If there is any chance
of selling the house in the next 10 years or so, having a certificate
saying it is done to standard may save an awful lot of heartache later on!

My experience of "rules" is that underpinning would be required for a
permanent brick wall.

We had a single-skin, single storey, block garage built about 12 years
ago, on our drive so that one sidewall forms the boundary with next
door. Now next door is actually about 18" higher than us, and there was
(is) in effect a concrete step of that height running the length of our
drives.

Building Control agreed that the 'upper level' concrete was substantial
enough for the boundary wall of the garage to be built directly onto the
existing drive, without having to away all the 'step' and digging out
new footings (and the garage has certainly been fine).

Our garage wall of course bears the weight of the tiled garage roof, so
takes much more load than the OP's proposed wall will exert.

--
David

wrote:
I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage
floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a
viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be
interested in hearing of any experience with this.


It should take no longer than 30 mins per side with a diamond blade.
Wear a mask and goggles, gloves too, don't try to to go too deep in one
pass, nor to cut through the full slab - a 50 -60mm cut will be enough, also
angle the cuts inwards at the bottom to make getting the chunks of concrete
out possible, see this sketch:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=b3oiea&s=5

Also, don't forget that you'll need space in the hole to dig, so make it
600mm wide at the top

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and
replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it.
Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a
single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some
form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I
guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.

if it's a 100mm slab, bricks would be fine, but use blocks for speed and
economical reasons, then render and paint

On 28/06/2013 18:26, wrote:
I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be interested in hearing of any experience with this.

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it. Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.

Thanks.

Chris

When we converted a built-in garage into a kitchen a couple of years
ago, we replaced the door with a cavity wall with quite a large window
in it - and left the original lintel in place, to hold up the second
storey. Nevertheless, the BCO wouldn't let us build on the slab. We had
to remove that bit of the slab, and put two concrete lintels across -
supported on the foundations of the side walls.

Since your work will be notifiable, ask your BCO what will be acceptable.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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On 28/06/2013 18:26, wrote:
I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be interested in hearing of any experience with this.

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it. Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.

Thanks.

Chris



I've done exactly what you plan to do - the drain that is. After asking
around, I hired a Stihl saw with a diamond blade (about £60/£70 for a
couple of days if I remember correctly). A lot of dust, get some
protection, but a doddle - like a knife through butter (well almost!).

On Friday 28 June 2013 18:39 Fredxx wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On 28/06/2013 18:26, wrote:
I need to install a drain underneath an existing concrete garage
floor - about a 5 metre run. This seems to be a daunting task.

Would cutting through a channel using a motorised disc cutter be a
viable method? The floor is about 4-5 inches thick. I would be
interested in hearing of any experience with this.

As another task, I want to remove the up-and-over garage door and
replace it with a brick wall, having a normal door opening in it.
Would it be safe to build a brick wall (dimensions typical of a
single garage door opening) straight onto the floor, or would some
form of footing be advisable? If normal brick would be too heavy, I
guess lightweight blocks and rendered would be OK.


I think you'll both these works are notifiable. If there is any chance
of selling the house in the next 10 years or so, having a certificate
saying it is done to standard may save an awful lot of heartache later on!

The drain might technically be - but I doubt if anyone's actually that
bothered. OTOH the notification fee may be quite small for such a job and
that can buy you quite some good advice from a decent BCO.

My advice to the OP there would be to drop in a single 6m pipe to avoid
joints under the floor and don't forget to surround the pipe with 10mm pea
shingle. That will pretty much guarantee nothing will ever go wrong with it.



--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage

Reading this on the web? See:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Usenet