Fill and Grass Leveling Yard For Boat Shed

[Ohio]

Ok, I stand by my suggestion. You don't want to bring in 18" of fill to just remove 6 inches a couple of months later. This is assuming that your area of MI experiences some of the brutal temps that MN does.

Why would you till anything?
Why would he be removing 6" of anything?

 

[AZMark]

Problem is, where I live the city has rat issue and I live near the railroad tracks, although i am pretty clean and clear of them, I don't want to introduce another area for them to make some nests.

I’ve got rats as well and did a smaller shed using cinder blocks to make a border, filled with dirt & aggregate and then put pavers on top. All to keep the rats & snakes from moving in.
Concrete is probably easier for your size.

@the MfM is that a dock or something? Where’s the water?

 

[HangOutdoors]

Why would you till anything?
Why would he be removing 6" of anything?

If I bring in too much fill I would have to take some out for the pad for leveling, I think was his point. I am thinking that I should just kill all the organic stuff, I went and bought some ground clear. Then till that stuff in a few inches, then bring in fill to 6" below grade. Let it settle over the winter. Then bring in sand for area of the pad and Frame it out with my 2 x 6's put the sand in the bottom and compact. Then pour pad. Then bring in topsoil to bring up the surrounding area enough for sloping grade away from pad then put shed on pad.

 

[Jim_in_Delaware]

Did you do it by hand? or use a sod cutter?

I did it by hand.

One of my Spring projects will be a 520 square foot patio and I will rent a sod cutter for the day.

Jim

 

[Ohio]

If I bring in too much fill I would have to take some out for the pad for leveling, I think was his point. I am thinking that I should just kill all the organic stuff, I went and bought some ground clear. Then till that stuff in a few inches, then bring in fill to 6" below grade. Let it settle over the winter. Then bring in sand for area of the pad and Frame it out with my 2 x 6's put the sand in the bottom and compact. Then pour pad. Then bring in topsoil to bring up the surrounding area enough for sloping grade away from pad then put shed on pad.

Killing it doesn't remove the organic matter, and tilling it doesn't either. But in reality its presence isn't that big of an issue. If you are pouring a 4" slab at 3000 psi, and you are only using it for storage, that bit of organic isn't going to be an issue. Why do you want to use sand instead of gravel? I would definitely want to compact any fill brought in. It won't take any time with a plate compactor.

 

[HangOutdoors]

When I used to do a lot of concrete work, a lifetime ago, we would always use sand and compact. Figured 12" of gravel, 2" of sand then pour on top. Planing on bringing the gravel in next week maybe, weather permitting and grading it out fairly well. Will pour slab in spring.

 

[the MfM]

@the MfM is that a dock or something? Where’s the water?

I take it you don’t have many oceans where you live?

(low tide)

 

[RobbieO]

Should i till the grass? Or just cover will fill

Why not talk to the contractor who will be doing the slab? You’ll possibly have to dig down to add sand and drain rock anyway. And possibly will need a footing depending on how thick the slab is. If you’re putting your boat on the slab, It will be like doing a driveway I would presume. I’m in CA, so it could be different in your state.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Why not talk to the contractor who will be doing the slab? You’ll possibly have to dig down to add sand and drain rock anyway. And possibly will need a footing depending on how thick the slab is. If you’re putting your boat on the slab, It will be like doing a driveway I would presume. I’m in CA, so it could be different in your state.

I am doing the slab. I can lay and finish concrete great. I used to do flat work and foundations some time ago. Boat is not going on the slab, just a large shed. Probably 10' x 16'

 

[Ohio]

When I used to do a lot of concrete work, a lifetime ago, we would always use sand and compact. Figured 12" of gravel, 2" of sand then pour on top. Planing on bringing the gravel in next week maybe, weather permitting and grading it out fairly well. Will pour slab in spring.

I have built about 40 homes in Ohio. We never have done it that way. (not saying there is only one way to do things, just offering perspective) Just use pea gravel, it levels itself, and cannot be compacted, so no need to compact anything. That eliminates the extra step of using sand.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I have built about 40 homes in Ohio. We never have done it that way. (not saying there is only one way to do things, just offering perspective) Just use pea gravel, it levels itself, and cannot be compacted, so no need to compact anything. That eliminates the extra step of using sand.

sounds good to me. Also the pea gravel won't wash out as sand tends to do.

 

[the MfM]

I am doing the slab. I can lay and finish concrete great. I used to do flat work and foundations some time ago. Boat is not going on the slab, just a large shed. Probably 10' x 16'

Any shortages out your way? How far out are you having to order?

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

I am doing the slab. I can lay and finish concrete great. I used to do flat work and foundations some time ago. Boat is not going on the slab, just a large shed. Probably 10' x 16'

Want to come pour a slab for the 252? Free boat rides for a week lol

 

[HangOutdoors]

Want to come pour a slab for the 252? Free boat rides for a week lol

If you have a couple more people and want to pay my airfare, I most certainly would Unless we head down your way next summer I wouldn't mind coming a few days earlier if we are towing the boat

 

[HangOutdoors]

Any shortages out your way? How far out are you having to order?

No shortages, can get a load next day typcially, at least when I called he indicated that when I was checking price and seeing if they could tint it out to a darker gray for me.

 

[steveinmd]

Bumping this thread for a slight thread drift. Knowledgeable people in here. I have some slight grade washout, away from the foundation. It's mainly underneath some trees I have in the front corner of the lot. The grass is thin and the soil runs off with enough rain.

Obvious fix is to add shade grass mix but I want to add some soil back in. My worry is the soil will wash away before I get any decent grass growth. How to fix this?

 

[zipper]

Search erosion and seed blanket or mat.

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Is it local rain water? Or surface ground water runoff from a larger watershed?

 

[steveinmd]

Search erosion and seed blanket or mat.

8 ft. x 112.5 ft. Single Net Seed Germination and Erosion Control Blanket 87343 - The Home Depot

Get a present-day upgrade to your garden with Unbranded Single Net Seed Germination and Erosion Control Blanket

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Is it local rain water? Or surface ground water runoff from a larger watershed?

Rain water. I'll snap a picture of the area after I get the leaves cleaned up

 

[steveinmd]

Search erosion and seed blanket or mat.

8 ft. x 112.5 ft. Single Net Seed Germination and Erosion Control Blanket 87343 - The Home Depot

Get a present-day upgrade to your garden with Unbranded Single Net Seed Germination and Erosion Control Blanket

www.homedepot.com

Is it local rain water? Or surface ground water runoff from a larger watershed?

Just above the trees, in a curve, the soil starts to wash out. Roots are showing closer to the trees. Grade slope is good and then it drops and flattens beyond the trees

 

[Bluewater272]

I take it you don’t have many oceans where you live?

(low tide)

Plenty of ocean here, that would be a hell of tide swing, folks that live on the water build longer docks where the grade causes this at low tide. I thought that was a lakebed with a low water level.