I'm sorry, but this is NOT how to lay a shed base and time consuming. Sand would be the obvious choice to level and then pea gravel to lay on top of the plastic grid.
He literally admits this 2.5 min into the video, if you actually bother to watch it. As he says it’s fine for what he needs, which it might well be. But congratulations for knowing a better way that’s really good for you.
I'm no pro, but putting a plastic base on pea gravel that moves all the time isn't the best thing to do. Builders' sand would have Ben better than pea gravel inside. I will not be liking or subbing
I am no expert but I think it would have been easier if you'd used MOT type 1 rather than a mix of 20mm and 10mm gravel, probably a bit cheaper too. But it looks like you got there in the end, well done.
Hi John, yes there are definitely a few options here. I've been down the usual base/sub base route for a driveway, but was trying to make this a bit more lightweight as well as trying something different I'd seen used elsewhere. One thing I would do next time early on though is to edge/shutter the gravel so it doesn't run away! Thanks, DIY Dick
I'm looking at the this as a solution for the base of my 14'x8' "workshop" (we all know it's a mancave). A pack of 144 tiles (330mm x 330mm) laid in a 10x14 grid (3300mm x 4620mm) gives a sufficient foot print to build a 4m x 3m mancave. I have free & unlimited access to a compactor/wacker plate, I am physically able to mix and distribute a dry sand cement mix. Am I over engineering the base if I use the following method: Surface prep, remove turf, remove big rocks. Compact area, cover with 10mm soft sand and compact sand. Check level. Lay weed membrane. Cover with 25mm soft sand, level & compact. Check level. If level, cover with 10mm of 10mm pea gravel. Level pea gravel & compact. Place 14x10 grid. Check the grid is level. If the grid is level, fill with 10mm pea gravel. Run a straight edge across the grid to remove excess gravel. Compact & settle gravel using wacker plate. Check levels again. If levels still good, top up gravel. Compact & settle again. Check levels. Mix a dry sand cement mix, ensure mixed thoroughly. Cover grid with dry mix. Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the grid all the way round to settle dry mix. Apply more dry mix, settle again. repeat until grid is full. When grid is full, level off with a straight edge. Using a very light shower, a fine mist is best, dowse the grid. Cover as appropriate. Leave the base for at least 24 hours.
Can anyone help me how to level mine I've laid it but it's not completely level in areas any advice would help I don't ideally want to try remove the panels there filled with gravel
Hi Dick thank you for the great video Just a quick question Would the base that you put down with that work if I was to dig the grass up and put the base and gravel onto mud and would it not sink overtime as I’m thinking, on moving house and putting keter shed there. just think it would be easier than doing a concrete base or slabs. In my current house, I have done composite decking on treated wood frame with bitumen and flashing with a artisan 11ft x 7ft keter artisan shed on which took me ages to complete and is solid Also do you have a video where you stopped the gravel from coming out the sides of the base and also how did you secure the bottom of the shed to the base or does the weight of the shed stop ot moving on a windy day thank you
Thanks for the vid. Is the gravel used to make leveling relatively easy (in other videos I've seen sand used), or is it also to give more integrity to the base? The reason I ask is that I am attempting this job with my lady (both DIY novices) and she is insistent that, in an attempt to keep costs down, we'll simply use soil from another part of the garden to make things level, using a gravel board and spirit level to skim. Thanks again.
I didn't realise this video wasn't a joke until I read the comments! I'm still laughing.... the excellent and most professional commentary against the shoddy workmanship is comedy gold right there. I can't wait to see more..
I'm sorry, but this is NOT how to lay a shed base and time consuming. Sand would be the obvious choice to level and then pea gravel to lay on top of the plastic grid.
He literally admits this 2.5 min into the video, if you actually bother to watch it. As he says it’s fine for what he needs, which it might well be. But congratulations for knowing a better way that’s really good for you.
I'm no pro, but putting a plastic base on pea gravel that moves all the time isn't the best thing to do. Builders' sand would have Ben better than pea gravel inside. I will not be liking or subbing
So your "no need to infill panel" needed infilling. A bit pointless buying "no infill" then as I assume it is more expensive than infil panels.
How not to lay a shed base
all those voids are just asking for the rats to move in
I am no expert but I think it would have been easier if you'd used MOT type 1 rather than a mix of 20mm and 10mm gravel, probably a bit cheaper too. But it looks like you got there in the end, well done.
Hi John, yes there are definitely a few options here. I've been down the usual base/sub base route for a driveway, but was trying to make this a bit more lightweight as well as trying something different I'd seen used elsewhere. One thing I would do next time early on though is to edge/shutter the gravel so it doesn't run away! Thanks, DIY Dick
Should have levelled the ground with sand first
I'm looking at the this as a solution for the base of my 14'x8' "workshop" (we all know it's a mancave). A pack of 144 tiles (330mm x 330mm) laid in a 10x14 grid (3300mm x 4620mm) gives a sufficient foot print to build a 4m x 3m mancave. I have free & unlimited access to a compactor/wacker plate, I am physically able to mix and distribute a dry sand cement mix. Am I over engineering the base if I use the following method:
Surface prep, remove turf, remove big rocks.
Compact area, cover with 10mm soft sand and compact sand.
Check level.
Lay weed membrane.
Cover with 25mm soft sand, level & compact.
Check level.
If level, cover with 10mm of 10mm pea gravel.
Level pea gravel & compact.
Place 14x10 grid.
Check the grid is level.
If the grid is level, fill with 10mm pea gravel.
Run a straight edge across the grid to remove excess gravel.
Compact & settle gravel using wacker plate.
Check levels again.
If levels still good, top up gravel.
Compact & settle again.
Check levels.
Mix a dry sand cement mix, ensure mixed thoroughly.
Cover grid with dry mix.
Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the grid all the way round to settle dry mix.
Apply more dry mix, settle again. repeat until grid is full.
When grid is full, level off with a straight edge.
Using a very light shower, a fine mist is best, dowse the grid.
Cover as appropriate.
Leave the base for at least 24 hours.
Can anyone help me how to level mine I've laid it but it's not completely level in areas any advice would help I don't ideally want to try remove the panels there filled with gravel
Hi Dick
thank you for the great video
Just a quick question
Would the base that you put down with that work if I was to dig the grass up and put the base and gravel onto mud and would it not sink overtime
as I’m thinking, on moving house and putting keter shed there.
just think it would be easier than doing a concrete base or slabs.
In my current house, I have done composite decking on treated wood frame with bitumen and flashing with a artisan 11ft x 7ft keter artisan shed on
which took me ages to complete and is solid
Also do you have a video where you stopped the gravel from coming out the sides of the base and also how did you secure the bottom of the shed to the base or does the weight of the shed stop ot moving on a windy day
thank you
Thanks for the vid.
Is the gravel used to make leveling relatively easy (in other videos I've seen sand used), or is it also to give more integrity to the base?
The reason I ask is that I am attempting this job with my lady (both DIY novices) and she is insistent that, in an attempt to keep costs down, we'll simply use soil from another part of the garden to make things level, using a gravel board and spirit level to skim.
Thanks again.
so hard to even get it "level enough"! thanks for sharing!
Narration alone got my Like good job.
Thank you
I didn't realise this video wasn't a joke until I read the comments! I'm still laughing.... the excellent and most professional commentary against the shoddy workmanship is comedy gold right there. I can't wait to see more..
You not understand DIY then?
can see how you got ya mane now !