tbourner Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 We have 4 long steps down from the road to the house, with a high grass garden one side and on the other side the grass slopes down with the steps. We want to dig it out and make a solid ramp instead. It's about 2 foot wide and slopes over a couple of meters, so there's quite a bit of earth to get out (although a lot can go in the back garden), plus the concrete needs to match with the top and bottom steps and carry on for another meter or so at the bottom. Next door is a builder and said he reckons around £400 to do it - does that sound reasonable? I have no idea if that's cheap or not! I guess we'd need a skip or hippo to do it ourselves, so that's £100 straight away, then hire a mixer, plus all the sand/cement/balast we'd need. How do you make a concrete slope anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Depending on how he is doing it I would say that sounds reasonable as long as he is breaking the steps out and forming the ramp properly. I price these on a daily basis for the council and would charge about £500-£600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlliRR Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Build formwork, pour in the mix, float it and compact in upwards. the mix and formwork are key. Price isn't too bad I guess if it incl labour plant and mats.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 as long as he is breaking the steps out and forming the ramp properly. What does that mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Demolishing the steps first, as opposed to infilling the steps with sloping concrete (had to repair a few of those). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Demolishing the steps first, as opposed to infilling the steps with sloping concrete (had to repair a few of those). Ah, no, the slope is going next to the steps not replacing them. I don't fancy having snow and ice like earlier in the year if we just have a slope to escape our house!! Basically the steps are staying as is and the 1-2' of grass verge is being replaced with concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 A photo speaks a thousand words. You can lose huge quantities of topsoil over even a fairly modest area. It sounds the sort of job I would DIY if it was here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Yeah I should get a pic. We've got holes all over the back garden, as well as some sunken areas that could do with filling, so I could probably absorb most of the soil waste. I've never worked with concrete though so no idea what looks/feels right, how deep etc. it will need to be. Basically would feel better having a pro do it, just don't want to overpay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Ok sorry, misread your first post. In that case the price sounds about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Yeah I should get a pic. We've got holes all over the back garden, as well as some sunken areas that could do with filling, so I could probably absorb most of the soil waste. I've never worked with concrete though so no idea what looks/feels right, how deep etc. it will need to be. Basically would feel better having a pro do it, just don't want to overpay. Concrete weighs a frickin' ton. I mixed some to fill a base in a porch, and even a bucketfull shocked me being an office boy kinda worker rather than manual labour. It was hard work. You need a very thick stodgy mix else it will all flow down the ramp you're trying to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Why did I read that as 'Building a concentration camp'..? Possibly because it's patriotic Trev? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Why did I read that as 'Building a concentration camp'..? Possibly because it's patriotic Trev? Heheh, I thought I might have turned those opinions round by now, I'm still waiting for you to change that quote to something else!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Why not build a wooden one ? a bit of tanalised timber for the frame and some decking to cover and job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjgreen3 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Concrete is cheaper than wood especially for external work, unless its pre-treated hardwood then it isn't going to last past 2 years unless you keep treating it. You could ask the builder if he would knock a hundred off if you stage the work by being his b*tch, I mean labourer. He could tell you what to dig out, you dig it out. Then when he isn't busy he comes and makes the formers, you mix the concrete under his supervision. Also you would learn a couple of things about concrete as well as getting it done cheaper. Plus its a sneaky way to keep an eye on him and see where this money goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjgreen3 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Topsoil can be lost in domestic refuge if you don't put in more than 20kg every collection (or more if you utilise your builders black bin ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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