How close can a pallet bin be to a garage?
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:24 pm
I'm new to the compost bin project and need some advice on how close to the garage might be too close.
The stud walls are built on top of the foundation as usual (the floor is poured within it and slightly lower) but we have had water come in in the past. While redoing the slab outside the side entry door, we found cracks through the foundation. Once those were fixed, dry floor . However, when the back downspout came off and water ran the wrong direction, it came in farther back. Sooo, obviously my garage is not liquid-proof.
To a certain extent I can have the bottom of the bin below the top of the foundation and sloped slightly down to the front but I'm limited by the surrounding garden bed. My other concern is the heat generated and some posts about spontaneous combustion.
The bin will be made of pallets, without a bottom, on the east side of the garage (not visible from any house window and no other spot available) and under 2' deep eaves. There is a downspout running diagonally along that side which will be behind the bin. Our prevailing weather comes from the SW-NW.
I do have some heavy-gauge plastic panels that can be cut and used as a barrier to run-off if anyone thinks that might be necessary. I don't know how much run-off/seepage there might be. This winter I'll have kitchen scraps, leaves, garden waste (mixed g/b), and browns from recycling, and also grass in summer.
Sooo, how far away from the garage should I build it and will the plastic be advisable?
Thanks for any advice!
Linda
The stud walls are built on top of the foundation as usual (the floor is poured within it and slightly lower) but we have had water come in in the past. While redoing the slab outside the side entry door, we found cracks through the foundation. Once those were fixed, dry floor . However, when the back downspout came off and water ran the wrong direction, it came in farther back. Sooo, obviously my garage is not liquid-proof.
To a certain extent I can have the bottom of the bin below the top of the foundation and sloped slightly down to the front but I'm limited by the surrounding garden bed. My other concern is the heat generated and some posts about spontaneous combustion.
The bin will be made of pallets, without a bottom, on the east side of the garage (not visible from any house window and no other spot available) and under 2' deep eaves. There is a downspout running diagonally along that side which will be behind the bin. Our prevailing weather comes from the SW-NW.
I do have some heavy-gauge plastic panels that can be cut and used as a barrier to run-off if anyone thinks that might be necessary. I don't know how much run-off/seepage there might be. This winter I'll have kitchen scraps, leaves, garden waste (mixed g/b), and browns from recycling, and also grass in summer.
Sooo, how far away from the garage should I build it and will the plastic be advisable?
Thanks for any advice!
Linda