Stone pad for shed advice

[joseywales]

I'm getting an 8x12 or 8x14 shed. The company also installs the pad if I want. So they level the area and out down stone, but no woodend ties around the perimeter. That's an upcharge and doubles the price.

Anyone ever do it without the wood?

 

[Stuart in MN]

The biggest threat to the shed (assuming it's made of wood) will be water. You want to keep it up off the ground, or at least in a high spot where water will drain away. If it were me, I'd have the shed supported on concrete blocks, or at the very least on treated wood rated for ground contact.

 

[Ditch]

 

[Eslader]

You can also do cement pavers. The advantage there is that if you're on a slope, you can stack pavers on the downhill side to make up the height. That's what our shed company advised us to do, and it's worked great. Shed's fully solid, and it only took about 12 small digs instead of leveling out the whole 12x16 area.

 

[joseywales]

The shed would be vinyl or smart panel, so not wood. The shed does come with treated strips the length of the bottom that would sit on the stone and keep the bottom of the shed of the stone.

I'm just asking if we can skip using railroad ties around the perimeter of the stone.

 

[joseywales]

You can also do cement pavers. The advantage there is that if you're on a slope, you can stack pavers on the downhill side to make up the height. That's what our shed company advised us to do, and it's worked great. Shed's fully solid, and it only took about 12 small digs instead of leveling out the whole 12x16 area.

Did you deal with the rest of the ground under the shed, to prevent vegetation, etc.? A weed barrier at least? Just having soil under the shed would not only create weeds, but that would hold a lot of moisture and rot the bottom of the shed, even if it isn't in direct contact, I would think. My BIL use to park his Nissan Pathfinder on the grass all the time. Even though he drove the truck nearly every day, the moisture rotted out the frame in spots and he had to scrap the truck.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Putting down some gravel or stone is still a good idea, along with having decent drainage so water doesn't collect underneath, but nothing is going to grow directly underneath the shed since it blocks the sun. Without the stone you will get some weeds around the edges, where partial sun is available.

 

[ilovevocs]

If they are laying a stone base I would persist that they remove the loamy soil; the top 5" or so. Any organic matter left behind, grass, is going to decay over time and compact.

What ever is on top is going to settle over time as a result. Things sag, get out of level, doors don't close properly, ect.

So to your response about the requirement of edging, I would say not unless you are placing the shed in a low point and using it to retain the stone to increase the height of the treated sleepers.

If you start with a level site and remove 4"-5" of soil the earth will retain the stone. Assuming your treated sleepers on the shed 4x4 or greater water shouldn't be an issue.

Seems to me like the railroad tie option is being offered for use as a means to compensate for low sites; elevating the shed by retaining the stone base above grade.

Personally I would choose to cut and backfill as required to create proper drainage around the shed and use the stone as a base for the foundation on properly compacted soil.

 

[joseywales]

So to your response about the requirement of edging, I would say not unless you are placing the shed in a low point and using it to retain the stone to increase the height of the treated sleepers.

If you start with a level site and remove 4"-5" of soil the earth will retain the stone. Assuming your treated sleepers on the shed 4x4 or greater water shouldn't be an issue.

Seems to me like the railroad tie option is being offered for use as a means to compensate for low sites; elevating the shed by retaining the stone base above grade.

Personally I would choose to cut and backfill as required to create proper drainage around the shed and use the stone as a base for the foundation on properly compacted soil.

Thanks for the added advice, but you hit what I was asking. I figured the ground would hold the stone, as long as they do it right, which they tell me they will. I was concerned about erosion down the line, and the stones "leaving". Thanks

 

[kbs2244]

Without a strong edge you are building a haven for all kinds of critters.

 

[joseywales]

Without a strong edge you are building a haven for all kinds of critters.

So, I was thinking about running chicken wire over the base of the shed where the gaps between the skids are. Two or three times over. Overlapping it, so the holes were smaller, in hopes of keeping most out. It's more about deterrence than prevention - make it hard enough so they go somewhere else. I guess you're saying the ties would keep critters from burrowing? I had a 20 foot shed, with stone and ties, and there was a 30 pound groundhog living under that thing! I'm open to ideas for sure.

 

[theoldwizard1]

A couple of ways to keep critters from building a home under your shed.

• Raise it up so that light and air get under it.
• Remove the sod by at least 1' larger that the footprint of the shed on all sides. Lay down some kind of GALVANIZED fencing, thicker than chicken wire. Cover with 3-6" of compacted gravel.

 

[joseywales]

A couple of ways to keep critters from building a home under your shed.

• Raise it up so that light and air get under it.
• Remove the sod by at least 1' larger that the footprint of the shed on all sides. Lay down some kind of GALVANIZED fencing, thicker than chicken wire. Cover with 3-6" of compacted gravel.

The perimeter the installer wanted to use was 1', so this is an idea I can get behind. Critters not wanting to dig through the wire. I like it. Thanks

 

[ilovevocs]

Thanks for the added advice, but you hit what I was asking. I figured the ground would hold the stone, as long as they do it right, which they tell me they will. I was concerned about erosion down the line, and the stones "leaving". Thanks

Glad to help. I have received allot of good advice from this forum and enjoy giving back.

Best of luck, and post up some pics when its done.

 

[D45]

Weed stopper, crushed limestone and wood timbers for perimeter

Do it yourself, very cheap and stable

Throw down some pressure treated 4x4s to get it up off the ground

 

[theoldwizard1]

Weed stopper, crushed limestone and wood timbers for perimeter

Do it yourself, very cheap and stable. Throw down some pressure treated 4x4s to get it up off the ground

BEAUTIFUL ! Guaranteed no critters underneath !

 

[engineer2]

Guaranteed no critters underneath

True. That's the problem around here. If you elevate your shed, you'll soon have an assortment of raccoons, opossums and skunks fighting over the free lodging. Guess which one usually wins?

 

[joseywales]

Weed stopper, crushed limestone and wood timbers for perimeter

Do it yourself, very cheap and stable

Throw down some pressure treated 4x4s to get it up off the ground

What is it that keeps the critters from living under the shed? Is it just too high off the ground for their liking?

 

[ard]

Nothing. Who cares? Have dogs or cats? THAT is what keeps critters down. No amount of wire, rock, etc will make outdoors 'critterproof', IMO

 

[joseywales]

Nothing. Who cares? Have dogs or cats? THAT is what keeps critters down. No amount of wire, rock, etc will make outdoors 'critterproof', IMO

I hear ya. The neighbor behind me has two dogs and a pet ground hog the size of a small turkey living under his shed! It's pretty hard to keep a determined critter out. Like so many things, it's about deterrence, not prevention.

You can't stop them, but maybe send them off to a path of lesser resistance. Therein lies my goal.
And if that fails:

 

[theoldwizard1]

What is it that keeps the critters from living under the shed? Is it just too high off the ground for their liking?

They are not likely to gig through that compacted gravel. If there was wire mess down first, it would be guaranteed !

 

[joseywales]

They are not likely to gig through that compacted gravel. If there was wire mess down first, it would be guaranteed !

Oh, I followed you on that. I was looking at the raised platform, but he wasn't saying there was wire under it. I get what you're saying - anything to slow them down.

 

[D45]

I have built three sheds this way, using 4x4s to get the shed up off the ground......I have never used screens or had any issues with critters getting up underneath

If critters do get underneath, again, it has NEVER been a problem

 

[joseywales]

I have built three sheds this way, using 4x4s to get the shed up off the ground......I have never used screens or had any issues with critters getting up underneath

If critters do get underneath, again, it has NEVER been a problem

I hear you and don't doubt you. Was just curious how it works. I'm actually printing the picture to show to the installer. THAT'S how much I believe you. Thanks

 

[Kevin54]

I'm getting an 8x12 or 8x14 shed. The company also installs the pad if I want. So they level the area and out down stone, but no woodend ties around the perimeter. That's an upcharge and doubles the price.

Anyone ever do it without the wood?

I have moved my shed 3 times over the course of 20 years. Each and every time it was set on crushed stone with no wood surrounding/barrier for the stone. I bring the stone about 1'-2' past the perimeter of the shed. I also prefer to put the stone down myself so that I know it is compacted and level. I use #57's with stone dust. You need the stone dust to help compact and tie things together. Rent a plate compactor, and put the stone down in layers of 3"-4". Dampen and compact. Rinse and repeat. You want to have at least 12" of stone to prevent any frost heave (if you get frost)

 

[Kevin54]

Nothing. Who cares? Have dogs or cats? THAT is what keeps critters down. No amount of wire, rock, etc will make outdoors 'critterproof', IMO

It will if you have an enclosed barrier all the way around. The only animal I have EVER had under my shed was the occasional field mouse or a garter snake. And we have all sorts of "****, possum, groundhogs, and so on. The key is, you can't have any open ends.