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diy solar

diy solar

Breezeblocks sufficient to plonk metal shed/shipping container straight on top?

My house and shed are on 1 foot tall piers. Raining today so it looks like a swimming pool under my house right now.
That is why I am thinking of doing concrete blocks only on corners or maybe also seams so it won't get waterlogged around it.

I also read that is the way it has been done, to use stilts like you do, and historically, in very wet regions. I just remember that from videos I saw about the lousiana bayou. Also to keep away from crocs?
 
It is a big deal without a jack! Only have a few woodworking hand tools! I don't see myself using a jack regularly to justify using it the one time to make the structure.
What ever work you do; you will need tools. Now I'm over 70 I have tons of tools. Some only get used once every few years but if I ain't got them I can't get on. Do buy tools and look after them. A 2.5 tonne bottle jack will probably cost less than 40$ and then you've always got it. Much easier thanfinding a 20ft lever and a fulcrum. Hire some big items (JCB) but buy some kit and make life easier, regard them as an investment.
 
What ever work you do; you will need tools. Now I'm over 70 I have tons of tools. Some only get used once every few years but if I ain't got them I can't get on. Do buy tools and look after them. A 2.5 tonne bottle jack will probably cost less than 40$ and then you've always got it. Much easier thanfinding a 20ft lever and a fulcrum. Hire some big items (JCB) but buy some kit and make life easier, regard them as an investment.
And once you have a shed you have a place to store all those tools.
 
My solution was not to bother with a base and chance it,my situation really wanted a rolled in sub-base but I didn't have time.
How long has this lasted you and any signs of issues with the container?

Also are you also growing crops? Have you managed it ok on the boggy land?
 
I bought this thing for my 20’ conex. A lot more stable than the bottle jack. Though I wouldn’t try the 40’ with it.

It goes on sale periodically.

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Just thought this would not work on my land as it is a nobbly field! It would not roll.

Oh and another thing. Putting them on the bare mud can't be that bad since there are actually people that do this intentionally by burying them to make a bunker.

Hmm just reading some more and gravel is recommended over concrete as the former is better for draining. This is good because a tonne of gravel cost less than the price of 2 concrete paving slabs and probably similar for concrete blocks!
 
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intentionally by burying them to make a bunker.
Somehow I doubt they are deliberately burying them in a swamp. Conex aren't very waterproof if you are subject to flooding (or subsidence). Only you know if your bog has solid ground a foot down so it's OK to stack up a foot of concrete blocks, or if it's a 10-meter deep peat bog.
 
Somehow I doubt they are deliberately burying them in a swamp. Conex aren't very waterproof if you are subject to flooding (or subsidence). Only you know if your bog has solid ground a foot down so it's OK to stack up a foot of concrete blocks, or if it's a 10-meter deep peat bog.
I was digging today in chosen area and it is actually decent there from the bit I went down - about 4 to 6 inches. No squelchy squelchy there, unlike other parts.

Btw I was thinking, is it better to site it in a sunny part or a shaded parts given the uk climate? I am thinking sunny due to how little how weather we have so that it will better benefit from the heat through most of the year and dry out any condensation and generally keep it drier?

Depends what I wanna use it for of course but I want for tools and overflow of general storage I would not fit in the van.

Oh actually I think I will have ground mounted solar at some point so having it sited in the sun, close to where the panels would be, will be the obvious choice.
 
I’ve used a jack like this to lift my 20’ container:


I just used 4x4 lumber under it on desert rock base and it’s deteriorating after a few years.
 

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