Stedic Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Hi everyone, I'm thinking about putting my Eglu into a WIR or upgrading to a cube. I know most of you have a concrete floor round under your WIRs, but could it acutally go straight onto the soil? Obviously it'd need an eglu style skirt, but would it sink into the (clayish) soil? Have any of you got a WIR layed directly onto bare soil - do you have any problems with it rotting etc in the damp? I'm not sure I want to lay a big contre slab in my garden - I'll probably need to move in a couple of years and it might be a bit of a problem with buyers etc. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Redwing used to say put a piece of wood down first that you can sacrifice if it rots. Mine is on concrete but we put damproof plastic down under it so perhaps that would give some protection, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Hubby is a builder, & to make sure ours is 100% rat proof,the run he built is on a fairly deep concrete foundation. On top of that is a small amount of brickwork,then the wood & wire frames - you an see it in the picture in my signature below. The actual inside of the run is on soil ,topped with Aubiose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 We tried everything to stop the rats and spent a fortune and the only thing that has worked is a solid concrete base, they even burrowed under wire and concrete footing upto a foot deep and wide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Mine is on slabs, rather than a concrete base - easier to lay (for me on my own) and removable if needed. I haven't had a rat problem (so far) - I guess they could tunnel under the slabs, but it hasn't happened yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Mine has 1/2 x 1/2 inch weldmesh on the floor which is attached to the frame. That should keep foxes and rats out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 We've just had the base for our laid - concrete slabs. There will be a 6 inch overlap all way round when the WIR arrives next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 We've just had the base for our laid - concrete slabs. There will be a 6 inch overlap all way round when the WIR arrives next week. That's so lovely it's too nice to have a WIR on it Do you have hardcore under that or is it just laid onto the soil You can tell I know nothing about building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Mighty fine slabs, look forward to seeing what goes on top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 I am having the same discussion with OH at the moment. We are planning a run and are not sure if we are better to just lay slabs around the perimeter - to stand the run on preventing rotting and foxes or to pave the whole area. Would an earth base be better for drainage etc or should we pave it all? We would be greatful for any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum2boys Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 I am having the same discussion with OH at the moment. We are planning a run and are not sure if we are better to just lay slabs around the perimeter - to stand the run on preventing rotting and foxes or to pave the whole area. Would an earth base be better for drainage etc or should we pave it all? We would be greatful for any advice? We have decided to this - slabs around the perimeter to stand the run on and then possibly extra mesh laid flat and jutting out from under the slabs along the outside to make the distance between the inside of the run and bare soil slightly bigger - harder for pesky rats and nasty foxes to tunnel in We are leaving the soil on the inside of the run (as I am unable to concrete/pave a big area) and using hemcore or similar to raise the level slightly and soak up any poos! It be will raked out and be changed every so often with the dirty stuff added to the compost heap. To help keep the run dry, we are going to roof with pvcu or bitumen sheeting draining into a gutter which will also allow me to have a waterbutt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 That sounnds great and similar to us. I hadn't thought of extra wire - will have to include that. I just don't want to do it all and then decide I should have done it differently thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum2boys Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 I am the same! My poor dh is listening to all my "what if's" and "should we do this?" and he hasn't the slightest bit of interest at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
