Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Oct 26, 2013 7:15 pm Hi folks Just gathering my info at the moment and doing some research. We are intending to redo our concrete driveway - including widening it a tad. Once done however, in the future, if we wanted to build a carport (which we would like to do at some point), there will be no grass/sand areas to dig in posts for the carport as the entire area will be taken up with concrete. So my question is, can you build a timber frame carport over entire concrete floor? How do the posts connect to the concrete and will they be strong enough to support the entire structure? (There is a possibility that one or two posts might be able to be dug into a grass area, but 3/4 definitely will be over existing concrete). Of course some suggest that we build the carport first, but we just don't have the funds for this at the moment but doing our driveway opens the gateway (so to speak) to other things we want to proceed with. Cheers Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 2Oct 26, 2013 8:03 pm You need post stirrups which you can buy at Bunnings. There are various sorts of stirrups including ones that can be cast in the slab and ones that you can bolt into the slab afterwards. To make sure they provide a good mounting point you need to make sure the slab reinforcement goes close to the edge. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 3Oct 26, 2013 9:40 pm Post stirrups would only be applicable if one or more sides were attached to the main dwelling,and then with roof bracing. For a free standing carport you need posts embedded in the concrete to a depth specified by your local council,or building surveyor,and then the size and amount of posts is determined by the area supported by each post,as is the loading,ie tiled or tin roof. Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 4Oct 27, 2013 8:09 am Thanks Bashworth and Chippy... I just did a rough measure - and ideally the carport would be approx. 5.5m length x 4m width. Approx. 2.5m of length would be able to be attached to house on one side. The rest of that side (approx. 3m) might be possible to be dug into the ground as it is on the 'open' side (not the fence side) - but not sure as it might need to be in line with the rest of it which would mean the posts would need to be on the concrete?? (hope that makes sense). But the other side would all need to be set onto the concrete as we plan to concrete right up to the fenceline. We currently have a garden bed running along the fence and it's just not quite enough room when getting in/out of the car. Maybe we could compromise though and leave enough width for posts to go in - or would that not work because you need to be able to dig around it and there would only be say 100m gap - not enough room to actually dig and make a hole?? Carport would be timber - probably flat/skillion, colourbond roof. Appreciate any further feedback. Cheers. HHCIB Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 5Oct 27, 2013 8:30 am You might at as well get the council approval for the carport/s prior so you are clear in what the requirements are. Then perhaps in the form work for the driveway you could leave sections for posts to be cemented in later on and these could be concealed with a 40x40 paver recessed into the driveway. http://camdenbuild.blogspot.com.au/ by invite only please pm me Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 6Oct 27, 2013 9:19 am As Robbie says,or alternatively what I have done in the past when building a carport which required posts inbedded in concrete is to cut a square of about 500x500 out of the concrete with a 9'' angle grinder,dig down my 600 or so and set the post. Fill it up with concrete to within 50mm of the top of the finished surrounding slab, and then for a decorative effect mortar exposed river pebbles to flush with the slab. Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 7Oct 27, 2013 2:05 pm Thanks for the input Robbie and OldChippy.... I think I will speak to council next week to gauge what might be required. Having just gone out for another look and ponder - maybe I could leave a strip up against the fence line un-concreted?? If I did that, what is the minimum I could get away with - to dig posts in later? 300mm?? 400mm?? 500mm?? If the latter, I would have to think of another option because that is more than I can afford to shave off my driveway width. 400mm I could maybe consider. 300mm I wouldn't mind - could plant mondo or fill with pebbles or something. I can see where the old carport used to be before we bought the house - the metal brackets are still in the ground.... they are about 300mm out from the fenceline - but of course need to allow room to actually dig. Anyway..... any thoughts on how much (minimum) I could leave? Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 8Nov 10, 2013 8:34 am So just revisiting this.... Things is - we are not sure we will get/can afford a carport for a little while (given all the other things we want to do around the house). So 'ideally' we don't want to pay for council permits (which you then have to ensure you have started the structure within 12 months of approval) - nor do we want to leave gaps in concrete where posts would go. (Ideally). What we would like to do, is concrete the area and then deal with a carport if and when we come to that. So, I gather that you can use stirrups if needed, but not for the entire structure as it would not be strong enough. So I just want to know - if the carport is approx. 6m x 3.6m, would having approx. 2.5m of one (6m) side attached to the house, and the remainder of that side dug into the ground (Ie either concrete into ground support or attached to house support down one entire side), be sufficient to allow the entire other side of the carport be supported by the stirrups?? Or - do you think it is really important that we do it the other way (ie get permit and/or leave gaps). As I said, I just don't want to leave potential gaps or dig in posts or get permits for something that may or may not eventuate for a while. And surely many other people go about getting a driveway done and then down the track think they would like to add a carport.... how do they get around it?? Just re-reading, there is Robbie's option of cutting around the concrete down the track, but I would like to avoid that IF possible just for neatness of the edges etc. But I guess that is an option that we have so that gives me some peace of mind. HHCIB Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 9Nov 10, 2013 11:36 pm There are often council rules about how close a carport can be to the boundary. Planning now for a carport is fine but only if it is done with regulations in mind. Otherwise just do the driveway for now and worry about the carport if it happens. Recently moved to a 60's home in need of some improvement! http://s797.photobucket.com/user/leenii ... ch%20House Old house: http://s797.photobucket.com/albums/yy25 ... loo/House/ Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 10Nov 12, 2013 8:45 pm I think the best option is putting a 450x450 paver where each of the posts would be. So that you can remove the pavers and pour concrete pads with posts or stirrups embedded in them. You could also pour the pads as part of the driveway slab. They would need to be approx 450x450square and the same deep, and be at least 100mm into the natural clay/sand. The issues you will run into with this option is proving what is under the slab when you try to get a building permit for the carport. Some certifiers may accept photos detailing size and depth as evidence but a some wouldn't (especially councils if private ones aren't an option). If the photos where allowed they would need to be very comprehensive. Using stirrups is fine but it may mean that the structure lacks bracing so you may need to install a timber cross brace or two between posts. Re: Carport over concrete driveway.... 11Nov 14, 2013 8:01 pm Why don't you just cast the stirrups into the slap with a 350x350x900 deep pier footing? Then just put a pot plant or something next to it to disguise it? Try and avoid bolt down stirrups as they give no bracing advantage at all. Cast into the slab is much better in this way. of course post into the slab is more solid again but you cant do this with timber. Also, not sure who said you cant put a free standing carport on stirrups, but this is not true. Also, don't use the pole type stirrup, use the staple shaped high wind bracket which is 600mm tall minimum. You could at least document the footing process if you wanted it approved later, worth a try anyway Thanks so much! So i really need to run this pipe into a soakwell? Any idea of how much it costs to install a small soakwell with piping? 2 365 Much a do about nothing. You can see the fall heading to the actual drains. Stormwater ingress will be minimal and it's far better to have the top sitting flush rather… 12 6795 As most others have posted above the install isn't compliant. The pipe is meant to be covered in loose soil or sand, the pipe has holes in it that leaks out a termicide… 10 6133 |