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Redline3504
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# Posted: 18 May 2014 09:10pm
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Hello all new to the forum here. I have read and read lots of great info on here, but im running out of time.
I am having a shed builder build a simple 12X16 gamble roof shed on treated 4X4 as a skid design. My intentions are to slowly turn this into a mini cabin as many of you have already done. My 2 biggest issues are time and money (LOL). So the builder suggests a lime stone pad basically 1' larger in each direction of the cabin as a base. This cost comes in at $600 dollars for a guy and his machine to complete. (Remember I have very little time to do allot of this myself). I do have a 3 day weekend coming up next weekend, my question to you folks is: Is there a reason I can't just level the area myself (it's already almost perfectly level) and use patio stones for the shed to sit on? I could do the whole job in a couple of hours and for about $150 to $200 saving me $400 for some thing else. I did think about putting the lime stone down myself but it is going to be a holiday weekend and im doubting any quarries will be open (not to mention I would have to borrow a pick up truck). The cabin will be sitting on a hill side and is basically on sand (mid Michigan all we have is sand).So I don't see where any issue of drainage or moisture should be a problem. What are your thoughts??
Thanks in advance.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 18 May 2014 10:08pm
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I'm wondering if you have issues with ground heaving in your sandy soil, from the freeze and thaw cycles in winter. If so, eventually a stone on grade foundation will have problems as the stones become misaligned. I've heard of people in Michigan digging 4 foot deep footings to get below the frost line with their foundation, but I don't know the situation in your area.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 19 May 2014 04:51am
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I would look around your area at other cabin foundations. How are they built? How old is the build? How has it held up through the years?
Speaking from experience I would not scrimp on a foundation and I would do a lot of research first. Our cabin was built in 2007 and we are having heaving problems that are being repaired this summer.
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TheCabinCalls
Member
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# Posted: 21 May 2014 12:51pm
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If you call a quarry direct you should be able to get limestone delivered within a short distance (30 miles) for $12-20 a ton. If you got 10 tons you'd be out $120 - 200. Then you'd need friends with shovels and wheelbarrows...without a machine it would take a few hours to move.
If you had to rent a small loader you'd be out another $150 and could get it all moved in 45 minutes.
Time is money...when you don't have one use the other.
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 26 May 2014 08:36pm
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As was said, don't scrimp on a foundation, better to do a pier and post foundation so you can jack it up later on.....
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Gregjman
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jun 2014 01:10pm
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Rock isn't terrible to shovel. When I put a pad down for my bathhouse I brought a trailer full to the road. I then shoveled from that trailer to my atv trailer and drove it back. Honestly around 30 trailer fills on the atv took me less than 3 hours by myself. That was probably 2 yards of rock.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jun 2014 11:56pm
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Cant you have a 10 yard dump truck just drop off a load. Mark the area with an orange stick where you want it dumped. Call it in, give them the address and tell them its marked. Have him dump it, then you can lay a nice thick bedding down below the shed. Extra can be for walk area etc.
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