Project Snapshot
- Type: Culvert removal & slab
- Location: Astley
- Client: Private Business
- Piles: N/A
- Beam: 18 x mesh
- Concrete: 30 cubic metres
THE CHALLENGE
This particular project was not our typical piled foundation. We were employed by a company to remove an old, clogged culvert fitted by a farmer some years ago.
The company also wanted to install a centrifugal material recycling machine on top of a slab, which we were also going to pour.
The challenge was excavating the old concrete slab, which was 300mm thick. This took some time, but with a road saw and some precision pecker-drilling, we managed to break through to the topsoil layers.
WHAT WE DID
Excavation
We used a combination of a pecker drill, digger bucket, shovel and road saw to successfully break out the pre-existing concrete slab. Once we had completed this step, we used the digger bucket to excavate a channel from one end to the other.
We then removed the old culvert, exposing years of muck that had built up. The new culvert was then installed in its place, and we filled the cavity surrounding it using MOT.
The MOT was spread out in 300mm layers, and then compacted down using a whacker-plate until the base for the concrete slab sat at 300mm from floor level.
Steelwork
As this project needed a concrete slab, we used 18 A393 mesh sheets, along with H10 spacers for the mesh to sit on. This was installed primarily by using the 10 tonne digger on site, which saved hours of labour.
Concrete
We ordered four 7.5 cubic metre drum mixers to deliver C35 grade concrete for the slab. In order to properly install the concrete for such a wide area, we also arranged for a concrete boom pump to make installation quicker and easier.
The total concrete needed for this slab – along with filling two small trenches for supporting the ducts coming out of the warehouse – was approx. 30 cubic metres, and the pour was completed in the early afternoon.
THE OUTCOME
This company went from having a non-functional culvert under an old slab, to a new culvert, new concrete slab and a recycling machine installed on top. If you would like to see a video of this project, click here.
We were keen to be part of this project, as it is definitely not something we do regularly. Our team performed well, and managed to get this project over the finish line within the timeframe agreed with our customer.
Phone: 0161 706 0365 | Email: enquiries@rhinopiling.co.uk
