What aggregate to put under my shed?

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Jul 5th, 2021 7:42 pm

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Jul 3rd, 2021 9:41 pm

quisibo [OP]: Jr. Member; Aug 20, 2007; 128 posts; 102 upvotes; Thornhill, ON

Jul 3rd, 2021 9:41 pm

What aggregate to put under my shed?

Hi-

I'm in a subdivision with about 10 feet between my house and my neighbour.

I'm going to be putting up a shed at the side of my house.
I've already built 2 other sheds...but I've got an idea for this new one. I'm just looking for confirmation that it's a sound idea (or not).

I'm proposing that instead of digging down and putting the aggregate (hpb) below ground, I put it above ground. So I would level the soil (of course grade away from house), then lay down a geotextile berrier, then add my aggregate (hpb) then build my shed on that (on 4x4 or 6x6 skids, then base, then shed). because of the elevation of the shed, i will build a ramp.

The reason I'm thinking of doing this is:
1. it would save me from digging and removing a ton of soil, and
2. my neighbours grade is about 6 inches higher than mine. This way I don't get any of his water...and he wont get mine...it will go inbetween our houses. (I may even french drain in-between our houses to ensure water gets away from our homes).

PS- it'll be a lean-to shed anchored to my house

Questions:
Is this acceptable? What would you do?
Is hpb the best aggregate idea? Or would crusher run or something else make more sense?
Should I french drain between our homes (or is that a waste of time/energy/money)?
And, any issue covering up thise pipes at bottom of my house (electrical conduit)?

Last edited by quisibo on Jul 4th, 2021 1:14 am, edited 2 times in total.

13 replies

Jul 3rd, 2021 9:49 pm

hierophant: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6904 posts; 6675 upvotes

Jul 3rd, 2021 9:49 pm

You're thinking of putting in a shed in that space?!?! When you already have 2 sheds???? If yes, I pity your neighbour.

+2

Jul 3rd, 2021 10:02 pm

James Stonehenge: Deal Addict; Dec 25, 2012; 1404 posts; 743 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 3rd, 2021 10:02 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ You're thinking of putting in a shed in that space?!?! When you already have 2 sheds???? If yes, I pity your neighbour.

I think he’s built 2 before not that he has 2 already, I hope I’m right with this….also doesn’t a shed have to be a certain distance from the property line? In your case , unless it’s one of those tall narrow ones for rakes and shovels, I don’t think it meets the setback bylaws but I could be wrong.

+2

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:07 pm

l69norm: Deal Expert; Jun 12, 2007; 19598 posts; 6373 upvotes; London

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:07 pm

quisibo wrote: ↑ Hi-..
PS- it'll be a lean-to shed anchored to my house

Questions:
Is this acceptable? What would you do? I'll some pics to see what I'm dealing with. :..

Don't think the city is going to allow this. I check with them first otherwise they'll come by after you are done and force to rip it all out

+1

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:08 pm

aznrsx1979: Sr. Member; May 11, 2008; 845 posts; 382 upvotes; Vancouver

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:08 pm

Based on what I could find in a quick search of The City of Vaughn's website, it doesn't look like you can have sheds located in the front or side yards of your property.

Sheds
The permitted area of a shed depends on the frontage of the lot.
The shed must be located in the rear yard and set back from the property line 0.6 metres (about two feet).
The height of the shed must not exceed 2.5 metres (about eight feet), which includes the height of the pad it is constructed on. If there is more than one shed on the property, contact Building Standards.
https://www.vaughan.ca/services/residen ... fault.aspx

There's also information found in the zoning by-law (4.1.1 Accessory Buildings and Structures):
https://www.vaughan.ca/services/busines ... 3_2018.pdf

+1

Jul 4th, 2021 12:12 am

CuriousJack: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2015; 1153 posts; 1533 upvotes; 90.00° N, 135.00° W

Jul 4th, 2021 12:12 am

2 feet from property line is too narrow. How about the doors? When you open your shed it will go over the properry line.

You are lucky, I am not your neighbour.

+3

Jul 4th, 2021 11:35 am

2000teamti: Jr. Member; May 12, 2021; 138 posts; 62 upvotes

Jul 4th, 2021 11:35 am

Above grade your hpb will probably wash away unless you do something to prevent it from washing away.

I’d dig a trench, line with landscaping cloth, fill the bottom with road base and compact. Put your sleepers on top of the road base and fill around the sides with road base.

+2

Jul 4th, 2021 12:35 pm

azn_dan: Deal Addict; Feb 10, 2006; 3601 posts; 964 upvotes

Jul 4th, 2021 12:35 pm

Trying to understand how you are going to contain the HPB above grade. Are you planning to wrap it in the geotextile and just have the shed sit on the fabric? Or are you laying something down along the perimeter to contain it?

Jul 4th, 2021 12:37 pm

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 24432 posts; 23672 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

Jul 4th, 2021 12:37 pm

2000teamti wrote: ↑Above grade your hpb will probably wash away unless you do something to prevent it from washing away.

I’d dig a trench, line with landscaping cloth, fill the bottom with road base and compact. Put your sleepers on top of the road base and fill around the sides with road base.

CuriousJack wrote: ↑ 2 feet from property line is too narrow. How about the doors? When you open your shed it will go over the properry line.

You are lucky, I am not your neighbour.

All of this.

Honestly … for a guy who supposedly built 2 other sheds
This is a hack job

Plus ya you are being a dick neighbour!

There’s barely enough room to walk while keeping to your side.

I doubt you have even spoken to your neighbour about this scheme … cuz if you were my neighbour I would be making a fuss for sure.
Improper footings = poor drainage
Structure in a passage way etc

WHY exactly is it that some city dwellers buy a house in suburbia stacked one upon the next … and think whatever they do doesn’t affect anyone else. They can just do as they please cuz it’s MY PROPERTY.
Ya no.

I hope your neighbour causes YOU as much grief as you clearly are gonna cause them without any consideration either
Ie … hope they call Bylaw 2 minutes AFTER you’ve spent the money & time to build this crap

+2

Jul 4th, 2021 2:22 pm

quisibo [OP]: Jr. Member; Aug 20, 2007; 128 posts; 102 upvotes; Thornhill, ON

Jul 4th, 2021 2:22 pm

tha ks for yur reply. my shed is probably not what yur thinking it is. think of an attachment to my house. about a foot off. just enough room to store a ladder and so e garden supplies. it will have barn doors that dont go to my neighbours side.
i have apoken to my neighbour, who's more excited about it than me...in fact, he wants me to build him the same design on bis side as well!

i get what everybody is talking about with bylaws and being a good neighbour, i get it, but thats not what my questions or concern was about....

maybe ppl just cant help themselves....

anywayz...all good here...maybe we just let this post be, and move on...

+2

Jul 4th, 2021 10:11 pm

SubjectivelyObjective: Deal Addict; Jun 26, 2019; 2034 posts; 1772 upvotes; GTA

Jul 4th, 2021 10:11 pm

quisibo wrote: ↑ My concern is the aggregate underneath amd whether raising the graval above soil is ok, rather then digging down.

The primary cause of settlement is due to organics in the soil. Hence, if you base/found anything on topsoil, you're setting yourself up for potential differential settlement and a bad time.

For anything like this, I always say to remove the top soil and found it on some good fill or native material.

Also, how old is your subdivision? If its newer, you should account for the fact that the ground will settle more closer to the house foundation.

+1

Jul 5th, 2021 12:17 pm

tim-x: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2005; 3232 posts; 2832 upvotes

Jul 5th, 2021 12:17 pm

quisibo wrote: ↑ tha ks for yur reply. my shed is probably not what yur thinking it is. think of an attachment to my house. about a foot off. just enough room to store a ladder and so e garden supplies. it will have barn doors that dont go to my neighbours side.
i have apoken to my neighbour, who's more excited about it than me...in fact, he wants me to build him the same design on bis side as well!

i get what everybody is talking about with bylaws and being a good neighbour, i get it, but thats not what my questions or concern was about....

maybe ppl just cant help themselves....

anywayz...all good here...maybe we just let this post be, and move on...

RFD is full of warriors that always criticize others for not being a good neighbour, or citizen etc. and then post a few days later asking how they can get out of their stunt driving charge and how the system is rigged against them etc.

+1

Jul 5th, 2021 1:47 pm

rngun: Sr. Member; Jun 24, 2005; 712 posts; 117 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jul 5th, 2021 1:47 pm

How about using plastic paver patio base panels instead of gravel?

+1

Jul 5th, 2021 7:42 pm

deals4realz: Member; Nov 27, 2020; 284 posts; 566 upvotes

Jul 5th, 2021 7:42 pm

The fact that OP deleted photos says everything anybody late to the party like me needs to know. Please put it back up OP, I had a rough day and need a good laugh.

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