Now that I have got my walls set out I just need a bit advice/general thoughts on the foundations. Two points really
1. How do you know when you have dug to a suitably stable piece of ground? I know - how long is a piece of string. Any thoughts would be useful.
2. Surprisingly, considering my first question I have built a couple of walls before and considering the way I did them I am surprised they are still standing. I thought in both cases that I probably had the concrete too 'solid'. I am told that a 50% slump would be ideal. Given that I will be using a 3:1 mix how do I determine how much water to add other than a suck it and see approach?
On a separate subject I previously asked a question about hardcore as the first layer of the footings and was shot down about using hardcore. I have just re-read the DIY book and it specifically says to put hardcore down first. I know that you guys are very good so can you help me out of this conundrum?
As ever thanks.
1. How do you know when you have dug to a suitably stable piece of ground? I know - how long is a piece of string. Any thoughts would be useful.
2. Surprisingly, considering my first question I have built a couple of walls before and considering the way I did them I am surprised they are still standing. I thought in both cases that I probably had the concrete too 'solid'. I am told that a 50% slump would be ideal. Given that I will be using a 3:1 mix how do I determine how much water to add other than a suck it and see approach?
On a separate subject I previously asked a question about hardcore as the first layer of the footings and was shot down about using hardcore. I have just re-read the DIY book and it specifically says to put hardcore down first. I know that you guys are very good so can you help me out of this conundrum?
As ever thanks.