I am looking at transforming an old barn into a house. In the "lower floor" the concrete floor is strong, but quite varied in height. Most places it's close to 8ft, but there are various troughs etc cut into it for sluice, feed etc.
Initial use would be garage/basement, but I want to leave the possibility of converting it into finished livable space later.
There's a ramp down one side I think we'll have to jack out, hopefully without disturbing the foundation. Most of the rest of the variation is only up to 6" or so deep. Typical areas might be 2" deep and several feet wide strips or 6" deep and 8" across.
Any advice on the best way to deal with leveling the rest of the area? I am trying to control (a) cost and (b) how much height we "use up".
The ideas that strike me initially are
(1) pour concrete enough to level it, then float a vapor barrier and plywood subfloor on top. That seems cheapest and easiest, but presumably not strong enough for a garage floor, and I'm worried that small sections of concrete won't be very stable?
(2) float it level with compacted fill, then pour a 4" reinforced slab over the whole thing (or at least the garage part). I'd lose 4", and it'd cost a bit more, but maybe a good compromise. Do I even need 4" depth if there's a strong base underneath?
(3) Try something like 2x6's across as joists, supported to the (variable height) floor every few feet by "stub joists", then put plywood subfloor over it. Loses more height. Cheaper? Might give good space to allow underfloor heating, electrical etc, at least in the non-garage part.
It would all get permits and approval before anything happens, but I'm trying to get a rough idea what I'm dealing with. Any advice much appreciated.
Initial use would be garage/basement, but I want to leave the possibility of converting it into finished livable space later.
There's a ramp down one side I think we'll have to jack out, hopefully without disturbing the foundation. Most of the rest of the variation is only up to 6" or so deep. Typical areas might be 2" deep and several feet wide strips or 6" deep and 8" across.
Any advice on the best way to deal with leveling the rest of the area? I am trying to control (a) cost and (b) how much height we "use up".
The ideas that strike me initially are
(1) pour concrete enough to level it, then float a vapor barrier and plywood subfloor on top. That seems cheapest and easiest, but presumably not strong enough for a garage floor, and I'm worried that small sections of concrete won't be very stable?
(2) float it level with compacted fill, then pour a 4" reinforced slab over the whole thing (or at least the garage part). I'd lose 4", and it'd cost a bit more, but maybe a good compromise. Do I even need 4" depth if there's a strong base underneath?
(3) Try something like 2x6's across as joists, supported to the (variable height) floor every few feet by "stub joists", then put plywood subfloor over it. Loses more height. Cheaper? Might give good space to allow underfloor heating, electrical etc, at least in the non-garage part.
It would all get permits and approval before anything happens, but I'm trying to get a rough idea what I'm dealing with. Any advice much appreciated.