DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

hi everyone

hope someone can help me with my next project.

Currently down the side of my house i have a concrete driiveway. Although the surface is very rough and cracked.

What im looking at doing is putting a lean to up down the side with a garage door front.

What i want to do is use this as a work area for cars. So i was wondering what options i have for making this area a smooth concrete area.

1) dig up concrete, replace with something else, could i use a screed so i could lay a smooth finish concrete, if so what sub-base etc do i need.

2) Is there some way i can level the existing concrete and maybe use some of these rubber garage floor tiles?

any help i much appreciated.

The first thing to think of is, you really need a flat strong smooth floor.
When you jack up a car, as the car goes up, the jack rolls along the floor.
If it cant roll, the car may fall over, or off the jack and kill you.
The next point, a strong floor. My car weighs in at around a couple of tonnes.
Divide that weight onto four very small wheels on a jack, the floor takes a lot of weight on a very small area.
The next consideration is room. You need enough space on both sides of the car to open the doors wide. You need space for your legs outside the car when working under it.

Best thing, dig it all up, build up a level base with hard core, level the hard core with pea shingle, soak with water before laying concrete to avoid cracking, lay at least four inches of concrete over that, knock it down and trowel it as level and as smooth as you can. Lay a damp proof sheet, then lay another two or three inches concrete made with sharp sand, level and smooth that. When its dried off a bit, cover with sand and keep the sand damp for about ten days. Don't let the sun dry the sand.

See our projects section on driveways and paths.