Would this slab & breeze blocks be strong enough like this?

[gardening_gal]

I've given up on the idea of building a wooden raised platform for my water butts. I've run out of wood and don't want to buy any more right now.

There are a few solid density breeze blocks I can lay my hands on for free so I'm wondering if I just used a few of these with a 900mm x 600mm 50mm thick utility slab on top, would the slab be strong enough to take the weight of two x 100l slimline water butts if it was supported on 3 sides only? I wouldn't need to have the side walls right at the edge of the slab, I could move them in more so they were nearer to the underside of each butt.

I was thinking about leaving the front open so I could store the watering can or a hose under there.

Or does it have to be supported all the way round?

[Mikey]

I would add an additional block down the centre between the two butts, you can still leave the one end open then and the slab should have no stress points.

[Fleurisa]

That sounds just like our waterbutt stand

[Potstubsdustbins]

Like Mikey say's ^^^^^^.

One more point make sure they are on a solid base otherwise this blocks will just sink into the soil. After all you are asking them to support over 400lbs.

Potty

[Bill HH]

I would also use mortar rather than do it dry. Perhaps you intended to do that anyway.

[gardening_gal]

Thank you everyone. I was intending to mortar the blocks Bill. I was working on the 'how hard could it be' basis.

Our weather has been very wet for ages and the forecast shows no let up so I expect it will be a bit before I can get this done. Bit of a nuisance really as it would have been good if the butts were in place now, they'd have been filled in no time.

[bretty666]

If your blocks are standard 50cm long by 20cm wide you could put one block on the left then one on the right then measure your middle then centre that middle block then space between your blocks would be 40cm then place your slab ontop. simples. and your slab is 60cm deep so jist center your block and you will only have 5cm of overhang front and back my ceiling beams are 60 cm apart covered in 2cm ply..im 128kgs and i can jump around and not break it. if your containers arent 40 cm wide (so that they cant sit on the middle block and the edge blocks at the same time prioritise the edge blocks as this will give you a better weight distribution compared to if they were both on the middle block and not toughing the edge blocks...

[Bill HH]

Now I have become a grandad I view everything with safety in mind, this space underneath sounds very much like an ideal den for toddlers. So think of that when building it.

[gardening_gal]

Thanks both.

Bill we don't have small children, we don't have grandkids nor do any other small children ever come to our garden so we don't need to worry on that front. Having said that, I'm not a 'that'll do' person and I do tend to always do things as properly as possible so safety is never too far from my mind generally, kids or no kids.

Anyway, things are on hold for now as we may have to move.