Concreting in ground sockets: Instructions in 4 steps

Whether carport, patio cover or Privacy screen - Drive-in sleeves ensure a secure hold in the subsurface and at the same time distance to soil moisture and dirt. With our instructions you can also set the ground sockets in concrete.

The material

Before starting the actual work, have everything you need ready so that you can move forward quickly without further interruptions:

• Ground sockets in the required size and number
• Dry concrete as a ready-mix for mixing with water without additional additives
• Water (bucket or garden hose)

Tools and aids

Also, make sure you have all the tools you need:

• Spade and shovel
• Possibly. Pickaxe
• Bucket or concrete tub for concrete
• trowel
• Metal or wooden stick for compacting
• Spirit level
• Folding rule or Tape measure

In addition to the absolutely necessary tools, however, you should not forget the aids that simply make your work easier:

• Guide line with pegs
• straight wooden board or plank in the length of the planned structure
• Wood for building under
• Hammer and nails

The instructions - step by step

After everything has been prepared, you can set the ground sockets in concrete:

Step 1 - determine the location

First you determine where exactly the ground sockets are to be concreted in. The decisive factor for this is of course both the dimensions of the planned property and its location on your property.

• Roughly define the location in the property
• Position of the ground socket at a starting point, e.g. B. Fix the corner or end point of the object with a rod, peg or other marking
• Measure further layers from the fixed point according to the planning
• for carports, canopies, etc. Check perpendicularity using diagonal dimensions with two-dimensional alignment (both diagonals have the same length = right-angled)
• Mark all other ground sockets as well

Note: Think of a cross above the center of the sleeve and stake its ends outside the foundation area. In this way, you can use the end points to determine the center point and thus the exact position. Otherwise you will lose the center of the sleeve marked on the ground with the excavation.

Step 2 - The excavation

Now, by excavating the foundations, lay the foundation for the permanent hold of your ground socket. On the one hand, the loads of the structure are transferred into the ground via the foundation concrete; on the other hand, there is a Securing the position against tipping or even lifting, which should not be underestimated, for example, on roofs in strong winds allowed.

• around each sleeve position foundation outline with at least 40 x 40 centimeters or set around 40 centimeters in diameter
• Cut the sward (if present) with a spade and set aside
• Cut the soil vertically and dig it out
• Excavation depth at least 60, better 80 centimeters
• Remove loose soil from foundation holes

Note: Even with a small ground socket with little construction, the foundation should not be smaller than 40, but at least 30 centimeters wide. If the size is too small, the concrete will break out around the sleeve and the entire structure will tip over.

Step 3 - measure the sleeves

Now it is important to position each ground socket in such a way that the subsequent assembly works. Since the sleeves do not just stay in the air until you have concreted the foundations, you have to use a suitable auxiliary construction.

• check the exact center point of the ground sockets again
• Place a wooden board or lath over the foundation hole and support it with boards, wedges or other pieces of wood
• Align the lower edge of the board with the upper edge of the ground socket
• Fix the ground socket to the board with nails from below

Note: Align ground sockets lying in a row either with a guide line for an actual linear alignment. Or instead of individual boards, use a long plank to position several sleeves. So you can align all sleeves together both horizontally and vertically.

Step 4 - concrete ground sockets

The apparently central step - setting in concrete - is ultimately the simplest matter of the entire project.

• Mix concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions
• Fill the foundation holes in layers in 20 to 30 centimeter increments
• tamp down each layer with a stick or wooden slat to remove trapped air
• Fill concrete up to the top of the ground
• Check the position of the ground sockets after setting in concrete and, if necessary, adjust

Complete. After you have waited the time required for hardening according to the information provided by the concrete manufacturer, you can continue with the further development of your project. In warm weather and sunshine, always keep the surface of the concrete well wet to prevent it from drying out prematurely before it fully cures.

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