Watch this video before you hire a contractor to install a gravel pad for a shed. If you have the time, and more importantly, the energy, you could save $600 or more!
In this video, Diane and I install a gravel pad to support a new 12 ft. x 16 ft. Old Hickory lofted barn shed built on site. The gravel pad needed to be at least 2 feet wider on all sides, or roughly 20 ft. x 16 ft. We got two estimates from contractors, the first requiring that we tear down a section of our fence to allow access by heavy equipment. The second estimate was to do the leveling and compacting only, at a much less cost. Rather than demolish our fence resulting in replacement with new lumber, Diane and I decided to do the manual labor ourselves: lay down the landscaping fabric, move 7-yards of gravel by wheelbarrow to the building site, and spread and level the gravel with shovels and a garden rake. The job was a major undertaking, but by doing it ourselves, we didn’t have to demolish our fence and we saved about $600!
Background:
On March 11, 2021, we placed an order for 12’ x16’ Old Hickory Shed, lofted barn style from Redd’s Sheds located in Port Angeles, Washington. The shed had to be built on site because our backyard is entirely fenced in. Quin, the owner of Pacific NW Sheds and a subcontractor of Old Hickory Sheds, built our shed with a crew of three in just six hours over a two-day’s time on April 21-22. I recorded video of the entire process, with permission from all in advance, of course. The breakdown of the cost is provided below. All construction prices are up because of increased demand and increasing lumber costs. This project did cost more money than we had planned, but the end result was absolutely worth it!
Total Cost of the Gravel Pad: $627.18
Landscaping fabric - Vigoro 4 ft. x 100 ft. Matrix Grid Landscape Fabric (HD): $70.23
Fabric staples - Vigoro 4 in. Landscape Fabric Staples 75-Pack (HD): $10.83
5/8" Minus Crushed Basalt gravel, 7 yards delivered (Blake Sand and Gravel): $346.12
Level and Compact Gravel (Eli, contractor): $200
Total Cost of Old Hickory Shed: $11,243.82
Old Hickory lofted barn shed, 12 ft. x 16 ft. plus options: $9,808.28
Gravel Pad: $627.18
Build on-site by Pacific NW Sheds: $808.36
Prep and paint exterior of shed: TBD
6 май 2021
