PT-screed

[Incline]

Here's an idea that worked reasonably well to level a gravel pad.

I'm building a 12'x24' shed on a gravel pad. The floor joists sit directly on the gravel so they needed to be supported across the entire length and level both directions. I wasn't sure I could accomplish the task with just the light material bucket.

After getting it relatively flat by eye, I clamped a 2"x8"x12' in the jaws of the 4:1 bucket, put it in float and backed over the pad area. I was pleasantly surprised at the results. I also confirmed that my "eye" left a little to be desired as the PT-screed corrected many spots that I thought were flat.

Just a random tidbit in case anyone had a similar project - Andy

ndy

 

[MossRoad]

Nice! :thumbsup:

 

[cqaigy2]

There you go.

 

[joshlee]

I will have to keep that in mind, thanks.

 

[m5040]

Nice cup holder and tool box. Is that a Hurst shifter?

 

[joshlee]

Haha! That does look like a Hurst shifter! My neighbor had a 69 Road Runner with a shifter something like that.

 

[Incline]

Leave it to this group of gear heads to blow off the screed and go right to shifter........guilty as charged.

 

[cqaigy2]

Ha, ha. That's the first thing that came to mind. nice Hurst.

 

[RegL]

Here's an idea that worked reasonably well to level a gravel pad.

I'm building a 12'x24' shed on a gravel pad. The floor joists sit directly on the gravel so they needed to be supported across the entire length and level both directions. I wasn't sure I could accomplish the task with just the light material bucket.

After getting it relatively flat by eye, I clamped a 2"x8"x12' in the jaws of the 4:1 bucket, put it in float and backed over the pad area. I was pleasantly surprised at the results. I also confirmed that my "eye" left a little to be desired as the PT-screed corrected many spots that I thought were flat.

Just a random tidbit in case anyone had a similar project - Andy

View attachment 623686View attachment 623687ndy

Are you in a really dry climate? I dont think I’ve ever seen anything built with joists directly on the ground.

 

[joshlee]

I seen that palm tree at the neighbors and figured either CA or FL, then I seen your location is CA. Instead of dry air, we have "the air you wear" out here in the East.

 

[Incline]

Ya, I used to live in Minnesota where I'd have had this on 4' deep pilings. I've actually never done one this way but apparently it's not only common, but recommended by many shed manufacturers. Pressure treated lumber of course. The gravel allows water to drain away and it provides better load support for the PT it will house......assuming the ground is flat, hence the pt-screed.

 

[ponytug]

Great idea! Thanks.

One minor thought; you may want to put down wire mesh under the beams to keep rodents from tunneling up under your shed. I've been told to go down 2' around the perimeter with the mesh. I can tell you that the ground squirrels came up under one of our horse stalls that is built that way and had a field day. Any additional compaction that you do now will help you later keeping the varmints out.

Just a thought.

All the best, Peter