stumps and slabs

[pike]

Hey all,

I'm still mulling over the hows and when for a workshop in the garden. The main reason I haven't started (other than just reading up on design decisions etc) is that I have 4 poplar tree stumps to be ground down first. They were 3-5 feet wide trees (or giant weeds if you please). I can't get them dug out as there is no access.

My question is, am I right in thinking I'm going to have to have a suspended timber floor? If I am to use the space fully I'd be building over stumps/roots (ground 10 inches below level). I guess a concrete slab over this is not an option?. I'm imagining cavities opening up as what was left of the tree rotted. Even if I was inclined to move concrete the 200 feet from the front through a garage.

Cheers,
Pike

 

[big soft moose]

Hey all,

I'm still mulling over the hows and when for a workshop in the garden. The main reason I haven't started (other than just reading up on design decisions etc) is that I have 4 poplar tree stumps to be ground down first. They were 3-5 feet wide trees (or giant weeds if you please). I can't get them dug out as there is no access.

My question is, am I right in thinking I'm going to have to have a suspended timber floor? If I am to use the space fully I'd be building over stumps/roots (ground 10 inches below level). I guess a concrete slab over this is not an option?. I'm imagining cavities opening up as what was left of the tree rotted. Even if I was inclined to move concrete the 200 feet from the front through a garage.

presumably there must be some access if you are building a 'shop so i take it you mean no access for light plant - your best bet therefore is a chainsaw with a root cutting blade and bar and a winch (plus someone who knows how to use it) - the stumps can then be taken out manually leaving you with a flat site.

 

[Dibs-h]

Hey all,

I'm still mulling over the hows and when for a workshop in the garden. The main reason I haven't started (other than just reading up on design decisions etc) is that I have 4 poplar tree stumps to be ground down first. They were 3-5 feet wide trees (or giant weeds if you please). I can't get them dug out as there is no access.

My question is, am I right in thinking I'm going to have to have a suspended timber floor? If I am to use the space fully I'd be building over stumps/roots (ground 10 inches below level). I guess a concrete slab over this is not an option?. I'm imagining cavities opening up as what was left of the tree rotted. Even if I was inclined to move concrete the 200 feet from the front through a garage.

presumably there must be some access if you are building a 'shop so i take it you mean no access for light plant - your best bet therefore is a chainsaw with a root cutting blade and bar and a winch (plus someone who knows how to use it) - the stumps can then be taken out manually leaving you with a flat site.

don't forget chainsaw pants!!

 

[pike]

presumably there must be some access if you are building a 'shop so i take it you mean no access for light plant - your best bet therefore is a chainsaw with a root cutting blade and bar and a winch (plus someone who knows how to use it) - the stumps can then be taken out manually leaving you with a flat site.

dyou know i'd never thought (embarrassingly) about how I was going to get any large projects out! though to be fair the whole thing is on the drawing board at the moment. anything i make will have to fit through a 3 foot door or failing that my neighbours got a wider gate.

the tree surgeons i've spoken to have never suggested taking stumps out with a chainsaw. presumably the winch would need something seriously strong to work off too.

i decided a while ago that chainsaws are not something i want to use myself. special offers giving away blood clotting bags with the saw put me right off.

 

[big soft moose]

Hey all,

I'm still mulling over the hows and when for a workshop in the garden. The main reason I haven't started (other than just reading up on design decisions etc) is that I have 4 poplar tree stumps to be ground down first. They were 3-5 feet wide trees (or giant weeds if you please). I can't get them dug out as there is no access.

My question is, am I right in thinking I'm going to have to have a suspended timber floor? If I am to use the space fully I'd be building over stumps/roots (ground 10 inches below level). I guess a concrete slab over this is not an option?. I'm imagining cavities opening up as what was left of the tree rotted. Even if I was inclined to move concrete the 200 feet from the front through a garage.

presumably there must be some access if you are building a 'shop so i take it you mean no access for light plant - your best bet therefore is a chainsaw with a root cutting blade and bar and a winch (plus someone who knows how to use it) - the stumps can then be taken out manually leaving you with a flat site.

don't forget chainsaw pants!!

indeed - i did say in trained hands which to my mind automatically means using correct PPE

 

[big soft moose]

presumably there must be some access if you are building a 'shop so i take it you mean no access for light plant - your best bet therefore is a chainsaw with a root cutting blade and bar and a winch (plus someone who knows how to use it) - the stumps can then be taken out manually leaving you with a flat site.

dyou know i'd never thought (embarrassingly) about how I was going to get any large projects out! though to be fair the whole thing is on the drawing board at the moment. anything i make will have to fit through a 3 foot door or failing that my neighbours got a wider gate.

the tree surgeons i've spoken to have never suggested taking stumps out with a chainsaw. presumably the winch would need something seriously strong to work off too.

i decided a while ago that chainsaws are not something i want to use myself. special offers giving away blood clotting bags with the saw put me right off.

the chainsaw needs to be fitted with a special titanium alloy chain that doesnt blunt when cutting into the soil, and a specially vented bar to throw out soil etc - I'll see if i can find a link

winch wise it doesnt reall need to be on a huge anchor as with the roots cut the stup comes out quite easily - normally i'd anchor to another tree but ive also anchored onto ground anchors or used a vehicle winch run through the house/garage or whatever using a couple of stop mounted pullies

this is a specialist job which i wouldnt recomend doing yourself unless fully trained, but then the same can be said for stump grinding.

 

[frugal]

Hey all,

I'm still mulling over the hows and when for a workshop in the garden. The main reason I haven't started (other than just reading up on design decisions etc) is that I have 4 poplar tree stumps to be ground down first. They were 3-5 feet wide trees (or giant weeds if you please). I can't get them dug out as there is no access.

This is going to sound daft (any any builders feel free to shoot me down as I have no idea what I am talking about), but if you have four 3-5' wide stumps, they must be fairly solildly in the ground. Why not cut them all down to the same height and use them as the four main supports for your suspended floor?

 

[big soft moose]

This is going to sound daft (any any builders feel free to shoot me down as I have no idea what I am talking about), but if you have four 3-5' wide stumps, they must be fairly solildly in the ground. Why not cut them all down to the same height and use them as the four main supports for your suspended floor?

not a good plan - tree stumps rot - in the case of poplar quite quickly plus they will transmit moisture to your wooden floor - no nice idea but a non starter - the stumps need to go before building work comences

 

[wizer]

I'd love to have a play with one of these

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVAJT2ThP-4
8)

 

[laird]

Now that's effective.

 

[chris_d]

What about a tree stump grinder? I hired one recently and it would easily get through a 3' opening. Very effective and cheap at ~£50/day. Safe to use too.

HTH,
C

 

[pike]

wow that rotor grinder made short work of the stump!

i can easily arrange for the local stump grinders but they only say they go 10 inches below ground level. i was about to get them in when i realised there will still be wood under that depth which would rot and cause problems later.

soft moose that sounds good but i dont know anyone who does that.

 

[big soft moose]

wow that rotor grinder made short work of the stump!

i can easily arrange for the local stump grinders but they only say they go 10 inches below ground level. i was about to get them in when i realised there will still be wood under that depth which would rot and cause problems later.

soft moose that sounds good but i dont know anyone who does that.

you could also of course do it the old fashioned way ie dig a dirty great hole round each tree stump - cut the side roots by hand with a saw or loppers then get several large hairy mates to help you lever them out (or hire a tirfor winch to winch them out )

(too late now - but for future reference its a lot easier to get stumps out if they are left a couple of foot high when felled as that gives you leverage on the rootball)

I know its a lot of work but i think given that you presumably intend to use the'shop for years to come its worth doing it properly now rather than storing up trouble for the future

 

[9fingers]

Not really sure why only grinding to 10" below ground level will be a problem.

How thick are you planning for the base? You will want you floor level to be say 6" above ground so i can't quite see your problem?

Bob

 

[big soft moose]

Not really sure why only grinding to 10" below ground level will be a problem.

How thick are you planning for the base? You will want you floor level to be say 6" above ground so i can't quite see your problem?

Bob

I could be wrong but i think the issue is with leaving wood in the ground that will then rot and create voids - as i understand it pike is only planning to have a sprung floor 6" above grount to avoid this problem - and my suggestion vis removing the stumps was to allow him to have a slab or poured concrete floor instead which imo will be better for supporting heavy machinery

 

[pike]

yeah thats all it is, i'm just wondering if others think as i do that grinding down to 10" below ground level is not suitable for laying a monolithic concrete slab over. what ever wood is left (and they are quite big tree remains up to 4 feet wide) would rot and cause instability.

i might try and dig around one and cut the roots but i'm fairly sure that is going to be way too much like hard work, especially x4!

thanks.

 

[DaveL]

The other way to remove them is burn them out. If they are fairly dry its not that hard to do, but not if they are close to the house, shed, fence, etc.

My brother in law took out a big conifer stump, lit a fire on top of it and just kept it burning by adding small bits to it every few hours, burnt for 2~3 days, left quite a hole in the ground. I would think you could encourage it buy drilling some big holes and adding a dose of something flammable, before you start.

 

[wizer]

TNT

 

[DaveL]

TNT

Best let A&E know before you start a Tom. :roll: :wink:

 

[big soft moose]

The other way to remove them is burn them out. If they are fairly dry its not that hard to do, but not if they are close to the house, shed, fence, etc.

My brother in law took out a big conifer stump, lit a fire on top of it and just kept it burning by adding small bits to it every few hours, burnt for 2~3 days, left quite a hole in the ground. I would think you could encourage it buy drilling some big holes and adding a dose of something flammable, before you start.

this works quite well but note that the something flamble ought to be deisel - using petrol will leave you with no eyebrows and an interesting tan - if you are lucky