Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jul 25, 2007 7:55 pm Hi, perhaps you can answer some questions to this situation:
Behind our house there are three meters of space and then there is a shed 3 by 6 metres with a concrete slab underneath. There is a roof over the shed which covers the space between shed and house as well. I've got two ideas how to improve the space: 1.) Removing the walls of the shed but leaving the roof, which shhould be technically possible. Laying a concrete slab over the old slab of the shed and filling the space between the ouse and the shed. 2.) Constructing a deck, 70 cm high 3x6m. This option wouldmaybe include remove the old roof and building a new one. Taking the old concrete slab of the shed, constructing a wall around and converting it into a nice pond. I'm a bit thrilled with the pond but the deck and the pond would cost much more than solution nr. 1 but on the other hand it maybe add uch more value to the house. For both options we must have someone to help us . My questions: - Does someone know a good handyman in Brisbane southern suburbs or does anyone offer such services himself? - We have got lots of old fence timber - can we use this as decking material? We could reuse the timber from the roof as well. - Does really everybody search building permission? I'm a bit afraid, because our tanks are a bit close to the neighbour fence. - How much do we have to calculate for setting up the pond? Would you concrete the walls and then putting a pond liner? There is as well the possibility leaving the roof and maybe putting the pond under the roof, but I don't know if a pond can work ecologically if it's under a roof. Thanks for any suggestions! Re: deck or concrete slab/ pond 2Jul 31, 2007 5:26 pm If you choose the right plants a pond will work well under cover. Depending on the existing concrete slab you may be able to keep it and make your pond over the top. This would make a formal type pond.
I would use a Bessa wall and render the inside with a 50mm layer of water proof concrete or put in a plastic liner. The outside can then be decorated with rocks, rendering, timber, etc As for re-using the timber, roofing timber will not be treated and therefore should no be used close to the ground. If you want some help Doing it yourself i can offer our DIY services where a landscaper will come and give you a hand to get started and help with as much of the work as required. I also have services for renting tools such as excavators,mixers,etc. I can also do the complete job from start to finish. For more information please have a look at my website. Cheers, Re: deck or concrete slab/ pond 3Aug 01, 2007 10:23 am alokin There is as well the possibility leaving the roof and maybe putting the pond under the roof, but I don't know if a pond can work ecologically if it's under a roof. Thanks for any suggestions! The pond sure can work under the roof - in fact it will probably be easier to manage as you won't need any method of treating/managing algae which happens when the pond receives full sunlight. Think about the ponds you tend to see in Asian restaurants with huge koi carp etc - they are always crystal clear, and tend to be using a solids handling pump and a biological filter. As Solid Thinking suggested, a more formal pond would suit best. I would NOT use a plastic liner however - they just don't handle movement or the slightest sharp item against them. You should always use EPDM Rubber liner. It's the same product which is used to seal the top of flat concrete roofs / apartment blocks. It's available in pond friendly sizes and is very flexible so can handle things like claws and the odd rock. Re: deck or concrete slab/ pond 4Aug 07, 2007 7:19 pm Thanks for the answers!
I haven't had time to look som while. Well the things depends a bit on prices. I think decking is the most expensive. Concrete is maybe somewhere in the middle, and paving the cheapest , provided we're doing most of the work on our own, and we have perhaps 50% paving material to be recycled. The area is 6x6m. This ios pretty big. I helped laying plaster, but it is AGES ago. Solid thinkin: We would maybe interested in your service. How many days do you estimate would we need for the job? I think one day with someone to help should be enough to prepare a proper bed. Do you do carpentry as well? We removed cladding of the existing shed and the exsisting roof needs at least three posts. I'm still not ready to think over the project and still things are flipping in my head. We are thinking as well of a greywater pond for the washing machine. I know you should have special permissions.... Re: deck or concrete slab/ pond 5Aug 20, 2007 9:25 pm I think one day should be enough to get you well on your way.
Cheers, John Re: deck or concrete slab/ pond 6Aug 20, 2007 10:01 pm Quote: We are thinking as well of a greywater pond for the washing machine. I know you should have special permissions.... Not a good idea!!! Greywater should not be stored as it tends to start growing, smelling and becoming a health hazard. Especially in a open pond !!! Grey water should be ideally disposed of - ie watered out as soon as possible - less than 12 hours is ideal. Try it sometime - grab a bucket of your next washing greywater and and leabve it sit around for 2 days - then think about your next move Steve The concreter will take and reuse. In my case I bought structural LVLs and scraped them back and used them as joists. 1 5227 yep, clearly mark where the infloor heating pipes are before drilling or nailing 1 6121 Building Standards; Getting It Right! is this for a residential dwelling or a shed? If its for a dwelling, its out of tolerance and a "mistakes happen" isnt a good enough excuse to just move on. 1 2472 |