Photo: Felicity Tai

Can I build a shed directly on gravel?

Gravel shed foundations are one of the most straightforward, economical, and durable types of shed foundations out there. In addition, they're also one of the simplest to install on your own.

siteprep.com - How to Build a Gravel Shed Foundation - The Complete Guide

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a. Tape measure

This one’s a given for any construction project!

b. Marking paint

For marking straight lines for the edge of your foundation. Alternately, you could use stakes and string lines.

c. Level

A carpenter’s level (stick level) will be key to the success of your gravel shed foundation installation. It’s ideal to use a level that is at least 48” long.

d. Drill w/ ½” auger bit

This will be for drilling holes to stake down the shed foundation perimeter. The auger bit should be at least 18” long.

e. Sledgehammer

For staking down the foundation perimeter.

f. Circular saw

A power saw will speed up cutting the lumber for your perimeter. If you don’t buy precut stakes, you may also want a metal-cutting blade for cutting rebar stakes to anchor the perimeter.

g. Screw gun

Screwing the corners of your perimeter together before staking will keep things much tighter for the life of your gravel shed foundation. You could also use your drill for this.

h. Staple gun/hammer tacker

Used to fasten the stabilization fabric to the foundation perimeter before you add gravel.

i. Shovel

Whether you end up doing all the excavation by hand or just use the shovel to clean up the edges, it’ll be your best friend for this project.

j. Rake

For raking gravel of course! This will make it easy to get your gravel level before you compact it. A concrete rake is ideal, but a landscape rake or dirt rake could also work.

k. Tamper

This is to compact the gravel and lock it into place.

l. Wheelbarrow

This will make hauling and spreading gravel much easier than using only a shovel.

m. Personal protective equipment

You’ll need hearing and eye protection when using power tools. Work gloves are also strongly recommended.

n. Laser level (optional)

While a typical straight level is useful for leveling in one direction, a laser level can be extremely useful for finding the overall slope of your gravel shed foundation location. If you don’t have your own laser level, you may know a landscaper or contractor who would let you borrow theirs for an hour or two. Just remember to ask nicely!

o. Mini skid steer (optional)

A mini skid steer will speed the job up A LOT. This is especially true is your gravel shed foundation will be installed on a slope. Mini skid steers can be rented for about $200-$250/day or about $700/week.

p. Plate compactor (optional)

To really get your gravel shed foundation compacted well, there’s nothing better than a gas-powered vibrating plate compactor. It will not only save you a lot of time with the hand tamper, it will also pack your gravel much tighter and make a firmer base for your shed. You can usually rent a vibratory plate compactor for about $80-$100/day.

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What is a foundation anchor bolt?

fastenersplus.com - Anchor Bolts & Foundation Bolts - Fasteners Plus

Anchor bolts provide a strong and durable solution to connect both structural and non-structural elements to concrete material. Concrete foundation bolts are available in several different styles and size configurations to fit a variety of applications. They feature a headstamp for easy identification after the concrete is poured. L Anchor Bolts attach sill plates to masonry foundations and can provide anchorage for lightweight post bases. These L Shaped Foundation Bolts are to be set in wet concrete with threads exposed. J Anchor Bolts are often used to secure walls to concrete. These round J hook bolts typically hook around rebar or another securing piece inside the concrete wall depending on how the engineer draws up their plans. Using Galvanized J Bolts involves embedding the bolt into wet concrete. PAB Pre-Assembled Anchor Bolts are a versatile cast-in-place anchor bolt, well suited for high-tension-load applications. SSTB Anchor Bolts provide maximum performance and hold as an anchor bolt for holdowns and shearwalls. SB Anchor Bolts are another solution for holdowns and feature a rolled thread for higher tensile capacity. Wedge Anchors work great for anchoring the sill plate to existing foundations. Wedge Anchors are installed into a pre-drilled hole using the appropriate Concrete Drill Bit, where the wedge is expanded by tightening the nut. Once installed, wedge anchors are not removable after the anchor has expanded. Coupler Nuts are a tested and load-rated method to join threaded rod and anchor bolts. Not sure if foundation bolts are right for your application? We carry a wide range of concrete anchors and our product specialists are available to answer any product questions or help you place an order. Call us today at 888-794-1590.