12 x 30 shed questions

[redhat]

I am looking at getting a 12x30 pre-built Amish shed to store equipment in. I want to put it on top of a gravel base (I guess thats better than just putting it directly on lawn?).

What type of stone is good for that?

Also, figuring 12' x 30' with 4" of gravel, would 6 ton of stone be enough? How much sounds right?

I guess another question, how do y'all usually anchor these things down? My town's building code recommends doing so. I don't think my 10x12 shed in the back 40 is anchored down at all.

Thanks.

 

[vwmaniaman]

You might want to have some plastic sheet under the gravel to keep sweating down off the wood floor.

 

[Lubener]

I used #57 limestone to line the ground in my 20x40 pole building. I don't have a good feel for gravel amount on a new install but you will need more than 6 tons to cover it at a four inch depth.

I would call a 12x30 a type of barn, not a shed. What is the construction, wood or metal? I have 4x6 inch treated poles sunk to the frost line . I would consult with your city's building department on size and depth requirements since they will be doing an inspection upon completion.Your wood 10x12 would not require anchoring.

Is there an actual wood floor or is the gravel going to be your floor? If there's no wood floor, don't waste your effort laying down plastic. It will be like swiss cheese with the weight of the gravel on it and anything on top of the gravel.

 

[Tdbo]

Put down a layer of visqueen underneath the shed.
Then put a layer of gravel over it. I simply used the cheapest that I could buy in bags.
Put the shed on top of it.
Actually, what I just outlined is code in the city that I reside in.
Mine sits on block. It has never been anchored. It has plenty of weight in it.
How does the city recommend it be anchored? Follow that process. It will be easier that way.
In 26 years, I have never had an issue.

 

[DriveHard]

A quick calculator shows that to not quite be enough...and I would error on the thicker side, so I would go for at least 8 tons personally... That will give you about 6 cubic yards which should allow for 5" depth. Of course you will want to be slightly over your building size on each side...so probably about right.

 

[Convert]

I have a 12x24 and the local town required it to be anchored, Klotter Farms used an anchor called a Duck Bill, its driven into the ground 3' and expands if its pulled out , just gets bigger, think a Molly with a ss cable anchored to the shed runners.

TOMB

 

[JohnnyG]

You could also choose limestone crush with "fines". Once that stuff packs down, say with a vibratory compactor, it can become like concrete.

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

I've never seen anybody put gravel under a shed around here. They just use stacks of concrete pavers under the runners to get them up out of the dirt. Unless you lay your gravel perfectly flat it's going to be a bear trying to dig into compacted gravel to level the floor.

 

[PimTac]

This is a really big shed. Will it have large doors on one end in case you want to store a vehicle?

If WNY is western New York then the supports would have to be deep enough due to frost. Having more than the four corners might be prudent as well including supports on each side of the large doors if yours will have this option.

I might consider holes dug or drilled deep enough and filled with concrete along with a foundation J hook. That J hook would be installed like a house foundation with the top threads going thru a hole in the shed sill
Plate and secured with a washer and nut. Maybe three supports on each side with two more on the front if you have large doors.

 

[Pablo]

I poured a concrete pad for mine.

 

[JTK]

It's all per the township. You're going to want to check and be clear with the size. I know in the East Aurora area, a shed can sit on the ground, but you are supposed to pull a permit and have the plans reviewed by town building/zoning. If you are digging to anchor it (pole barn style), there has to be footers and it has to be below the frost line and inspected by the town prior to building in my area.

I forget the size of my inlaw's Amish pre-built shed, but I believe it's 10'x20'. Rough cut board and batten w/ press treated plywood floor and metal roof and some extras. It was a bargain ~8yrs ago. I can't imagine the cost today for something 12'x30'.

Keep in mind, unless you set something up ahead of time with specific instructions, the delivery guy's job is drop it and go. They're not going to do ground prep work, leveling, etc. These skid mounted sheds are designed to drop and go and essentially ride/float on surface unless you modify them otherwise.

My inlaws shed was set on a very old and cracked concrete pad where a small garage once sat. I had to jack and shove a concrete paver under the front right afterwards. Other than that, it's all on the old pad. The day it was delivered was a fiasco because we had to move a massive wood pile so the guy could make the swing to drop it where we wanted. The trailer was making some disturbing sounds in the process. Point being, be mindful of where you want it and the room the rig needs to get it there. Inlaws did not do this, then it was all up to me to make things happen as per their custom. LOL

 

[Pablo]

Here = over 200 ft sq = permit

 

[KGMtech]

Does Western New York get Tornado's ? I don't recall one myself - we drive through that area usually 2x per year for last 30 years. Small chance that your new shed will switch zip codes after the storm.

For a building that big, I'd be getting a compacted gravel with stone dust pad made up prior to delivery.

 

[dlundblad]

Perhaps some #2 crushed limestone tamped down with 72’s on top. They also have a #2 with dust if time is of the essence and you don’t want to pay for 2 delivery fees. The former may give a better end result though.

I do like the idea of a sheet of plastic being put down too.