Astroturf And Lampposts

[pickleye]

Hi Guys,

I've got three small lampposts to fit (approx. 1metre tall) on an Astroturf lawn, (once the gardener has landscaped and laid the Astroturf.) 

I’ve dug the trenches and got my SWA’s in place and back filled.  I’ve got a hole at the end of the trench with duct and cable coming up ready to concrete a base or back fill.  But, I’m not sure of the best method of anchoring the posts down, as I don’t know what the finished lawn height will be.  I don’t want concrete above the lawn level, or too deep down.

I’ll be at real work when the lawn is prepared, the gardener told my mate that it would be straight off the paving, but that doesn’t give me a height to work to.

If it has been a normal lawn I could have just dug out, concreted and made good the turf, but I’ve never had anything to do with this stuff.  From what I can tell it’s laid over compacted dolomite.

Has anyone had anything to do with this stuff?  Any better ideas?  I’m probably over thinking it as they are paying a fair penny for the lamps and the lawn.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kerching]

That must be the worst font to read in the history of the world!

anyway if it was me...i would concrete a base to a position that i KNOW is going to be below lawn level, fit some 10 mm threaded rod and with the cunning use of nuts and spacers adjust the ' pseudo' new fixings base to a position level with the lawn when it is finished.  Make up the gap twixt lawn and concrete with some slate by cutting an X under the lamp which is covered by the new lamp base.  If you see what i mean, its a bit difficult to put into words and it has been a fecking long day!

 

[Steve3948]

Well there are many different pile lengths, just like you get with carpet.

So you just need to find out the pile length and get you concrete base just under that.

 

[Adrian]

put your lights in and say to the gardener to work to your height of the base of the lights and make it his problem

 

[matt.leung]

he can always cut around the posts when the landscaper is fitting the astroturf....

put the posts in. and let him worry about levels...

 

[pickleye]

Kerching,

Odd regards the font, I pasted in from word and the font was tiny so I changed to comic 14 and previewed it and it looked fine, so posted.  Viewing on my iPhone it looks more like copperplate spider scrawl - hey ho, I'll see if I can edit it.

I had half considered the idea you suggest but drilling down and using rawl bolts with studding, but wasn't sure id get the sleeves in and tightened up properly.  I think ill go with your idea, Many thanks. :Applaud

Steve

I don't know the height of the finished lawn, not just the pile - could be 200mm out depending on how he "levels" it

Adrian and Matt

If only   I don't know the gardener, but my guess would be "his problem" would become my headache  :facepalm:

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[OnOff]

Why not shutter up a base but only fill with concrete fairly low i.e. not right up. Whack in some stainless steel studding with levelling nuts and washers set at the lampost base hole centres. When all's finished you can set the lamps to the height desired and whip off the excess stud (suggest hacksaw rather than the grinder considering the "plastic" grass and don't forget to file off those burrs!). Could even then backfill to bring the concrete up level. Whack some cheapo tennis balls on the stud ends if they are a hazard before you cut them low.

EDIT: SORRY! Just read the other posts on the same lines! Long day too. BUT I did get off a £330 parking fine!

 

[pickleye]

I had thought about that too on/off, just little worried about the shuttering being the wrong height and they cut round it leaving a gap around the lamp base once its installed.  Also the studding being knocked out when they compact the surface (assuming that is their plan)

Maybe, using the supplied flimsy template, make a few more out of ply to keep the studs parallel along the length.

Shame I can't call in and have a word, and the home owner is out all day - leaving them to it :facepalm:

Another thought was to concrete as high as I dare, then drill for a resin fixing after lawn is laid, but not sure how debris and damp concrete will the effect the resin.

Hmmm food for thought.

 

[OnOff]

Rawlplug Kemfast is generally fine in damp concrete - there are a few types so check. There's alternatives of course. That's a fair shout to just cast a low slab and drill later. Lost count the number of times I've had to run a die nut down concrete covered M16 stainless studs!

You do need though to clean out the drilled hole properly of debris. You can buy a "blower". I've just run an old driver around in the hole before and set the vac to blow!

 

[Sidewinder]

That's chargeable work though Onoff, on top of any quote due to the incompetence of others, so a good earner!

 

[steptoe]

OK,

todays tip if you are shuttering to below finished height and dont want your rods moved,

assuming you are throwing in 2' of concrete to start, concrete the rods in the first foot of concrete, when you are pouring the 2nd foot sleeve the rods with some 1&1/4" or 1&1/2" waste, gives you a bit of movement on the rods, you can line them up spot on when you pour your finished level,

remember to cut the sleeves flush with the 2nd pour at the top up stage and thus the holes will fill with the final pour too and give added strength to the rod holdings,

 

[OnOff]

That's chargeable work though Onoff, on top of any quote due to the incompetence of others, so a good earner!

I DON'T miss the grief of working with major contractors. When the gits give you a "Site Instruction" for something like that then argue the toss at final account as it wasn't an official order...........

Digital cameras were a God send I remember! "Here's the photo of your other subbies concrete covering my studs.............let me know when it's clean and I'll come back!". Saying that I've had them say we didn't protect our works fully. In the end we used to dip them in hot wax like you get on router/mill cutters.

2" diameter holes for 10mm dia studs then 5 star grout! :coat