Stone pile foundation to level for plastic shed?

[JimR1998]

My garage is filling up with lawn and garden tools, bikes, and pool stuff. I'd like to get a 12x20 plastic-type shed that I can build on site. The location isn't ideal: it's about 2-3' out of level and was used to dump excess soil over the summer, so not very compacted. It's not easy to get machinery there without making a big mess.

I was thinking of getting a truckload of clean stone and simply leveling the area while pushing the stone into place. One side would have deep stone about 3' high and it would taper down to about 6". I'd use bigger rip-rap to keep the steep sides of the pile in place. Then let it settle for a season and build the shed on top of skids. I figure if it sinks a little bit I can always shim it. I think 3/4 stone would be more stable and self-compacting than if I tried the same thing with soil.

Other options: excavate the whole area, or build a deck on piers neither of which I really want to go through.

Thoughts?

 

[The Cobbler]

that is alot of stone, I'm not sure i would want to do it that way.

 

[southalabama]

Compacted dirt then small layer of stone.

 

[88thunder]

Small retaining wall for the high side?

 

[readhead]

Have you considered building a wood platform to build the shed on? Go down to natural soil, place some pier blocks, post up to build the platform. Use all pressure treated material and when you are done build the shed.

 

[TractorJeff]

Road Gravel (has fines mixed in) could be put down in lifts and compacted with a lawn roller. Rip-Rap to reduce slides on the 3 foot side, settle for a year in which time grass would grow on it further binding the top layer. Then put the shed on it.
Southeastern PA? You could actually start the process as soon as the Frost goes out and have grass seed before the Spring rains come, Grass by May, set the building by July 1st.

 

[doctordirt]

When you say stone, are you talking round stones? I would recommend that you use a crushed stone, that way they lock together. This would help on the slopes and also when grading to develop a level site.

 

[JimR1998]

When you say stone, are you talking round stones? I would recommend that you use a crushed stone, that way they lock together.

I was thinking 3/4 - 1" clean stone, like gravel. Clean stone because I wasn't planning to compact it in lifts, mainly just push it in place and drive over it with a machine. Definitely not round stone.

Have you considered building a wood platform to build the shed on?

I did consider a platform but it would need to be an irregular pie shape. The narrow part of the pie is the access path to the wide area where the shed goes. I would probably do a retaining wall and fill before I did a platform.

I'm also not exactly sure what I want the finish grade to be. With stone I can figure it out as I go along, trade off height for a larger leveled surface.

 

[yelchevelle]

I don’t know if I would do what you are wanting to do, but I think it might could work. I would never do it for a client because I don’t take any chances with paid work. That being said, I could see if you are wanting to get into as inexpensively as possible and you are willing to live with consequences for yourself, I would do riprap (maybe 12”) up to about 6” from finished grade. I would then do a layer 2-3” thick layer of 1.5”-2” clean coarse stone, and level up with 3/4” clean coarse aggregate. I probably would plan on a minimum 3 ft extra on outside of building.

 

[jsaw]

I had a truck load of crushed run brought in to use under my 10x14 shed. I raked it level. It is 2feet deep on one end and level with the ground on the other end. The crushed run stays in place nicely.

 

[MatBirch]

Just curious- you say it's not easy to get equipment in there to do dirt work, yet you can rip-rap in??
I'd at least run a jumping jack over the loose soil before hand.

Otherwise it sounds very familiar to my plans for the summer.
My "hill" is created by a huge tree. I cant go up or down with soil, but I think with rock, the tree wont be harmed

 

[p_mori7]

Get some Gabions.

 

[zippyslug31]

Are you familiar with plate compactors (and/or Jumping Jacks)? You talk about driving around on it, but don't want to get machinery in there? Not sure what your limitations are, but if you're able to get a car in there, you should be able to get a Bobcat in there.
But, screw all that anyway... you need to get it compacted and done in layers. A plate compactor is easy to use and not that big. I'd go that route due to the small size you're talking about.


EDIT: And, only then, consider where and how you will form up and contain the area. If it's not sufficiently compressed together, nothing short of a concrete wall is going it contain it.

 

[p00p]

level out the gravel, put down a few concrete deck blocks, build a "floor" on the concrete deck blocks, & place sheshed ontop.

 

[BSAschields]

I did the same thing a few weeks ago.... I found a free shed on Facebook and it had to be delivered quickly... Couldnt get any foundation built or delivered fast enough so I used what I had and leveled it ... Holding so far but the wife hate the way it looks so Ill need to do a retaining something or other around it... Should do it anyway so the stone doesnt wash away I guess.... Any ideas for how to achieve something that looks good but inexpensively??? I was thinking planters or something... That would make the wife happy







One thing I did do though was that I had a lot of broken cinder blocks and bricks laying around so there it a lot of that under the crushed stone... Bit of a stabilizer I hope

 

[KenC]

Depends on the look you (wife) wants. For my preference, I'd place a load or dirt around it tapering out enough to mow easily, then sod.

Next choice, for me, would be a short retaining wall made with interlocking concrete 'stones' of a brownish color.

I also like ramps that fold and make a door rather than having separate doors and a ramp extending into the yard. Looks better, mows better and more secure.