My Dream Almost Complete At Last!!

[Dave81]

That looks superb Steve. Loads of work and loads of satisfaction when complete.

[Steve]

Hiya Dave, hope you are well matey

Yeah, it is very satisfying but Im steaming towards 60 and Im certainly not able to graft constantly like I could a few years ago. Just taking it steady and doing as many hours as I want to without the fun going out of the project.

I finally had a delivery today that actually looked like a bargain for a change. The gravel grids arrived and Ive got the hardcore base down and pretty level. Tomorrow will be a morning of making sure the whole thing is perfectly level and then start laying the grids. I bought a reasonably priced laser level at the start of the project and its been a great bit of kit. Sorry, few pics sideways and not sure how to fix it

[Matthew Saxon]

So is the plan to use the grids inside the garage with 10mm gravel? The forecourt outside our house was tarmac on top of concrete. The cost to remove it then hardcore and gravel was crazy, so we used grids on top of the tarmac. They use half as much gravel and it stays put and doesn’t sink. The only negative is if you’ve put gravel in them, if you need to lift one, the gravel gets underneath and it’s really hard to get it down level again.

[Steve]

Hi Matthew....yes, Ive covered the floor with them and filling with gravel (though Ive runout, tote bag did half ). I need to be able to access all of my rainwater, septic tank and wastewater drains as they run under the garage and couldnt be moved therefore the grids give me half a chance of getting to them easily.

I did plenty of research and am impressed with how solid it all is

[Matthew Saxon]

That looks good, no oil stains! Yes theyre a clever idea. It's a bit of a shocker how much gravel you needto fill them. Clever solution to keeping access to all your services and I guess for floor jacking etc you can always drop a sheet of OSB down as the grids underneath are solid.

[Steve]

Yeah, think its a good solution to get around the restrictions I have with the pipework. I had another tonne bag of stones delivered today so will be able to get the floor finished. As you say, I will make wooden pads for axle stands, jack etc to avoid damaging anything.

Ive spent a couple of days just tidying up the doors and fitting locks etc. Plenty of varnishing and tweeking bits and pieces. I hate cutting out lock recesses etc but the sun was out and the music was good on the radio so I didnt mind. sorry, cant turn pics the right way round

[Matthew Saxon]

Hinges and locks are tedious, but doing it yourself means they’re done right. Definitely getting garage envy looking at your photos, I bet you can’t wait to get it finished.

[Steve]

Im sure there is a router tool the pros use to do locks etc as I cant see athem doing it with drills and chisels like I have to

I cant wait to get it done and signed off, its been a big part of my life for 3 years now (from planning etc through to almost built) and I cant wait to stop spending too. Considering Ive done it all myself its still cost a small fortune in materials. I dread to think how much it would have cost if I had paid builders to do it

[Derek]

Fantastic Steve, you must be well chuffed with yourself, what happens when you want to use a trolley jack or axle stands, can the floor take it ok.

[Steve]

Hi Derek, Im pleased its nearly done so my wallet can breathe again!

I will sandwich two sections of 18mm ply together to make a pad for the jack to go on and pads for axle stands too. The grids are rated for HGVs etc when filled with gravel so no worries there thankfully (up to 500 tonnes per sqm!!!).

Link below if anyone else is considering using them....

https://www.ibran.com/products/gravel-parking-grids

Cheers

[Steve]

Extract from website...

[sublimemike]

Think I'd be doing the same as you plan with trolley jacks for axle stands

[Steve]

Been a week of tidying up loose ends here and there and geting my window made out of a hardwood door frame I had which is now surplus to requirements. Sealed units ordered

Also finished the bench for my lathe and the floor

[Steve]

Made a couple of hardwood inner sills for the doors too, small niggly jobs that are good to get finished up

[cadboy]

looking very good Steve, nearly time to enjoy it then