Asphalt or concrete for shed pad?

[davesl708]

Has anyone used asphalt for the pad for their small shed (16x20) used to store lawn and garden equipment?

Is it strong enough or durable enough?

The reason I ask is the contractor that repairs our private roads will do the work for a very discounted price while working on our roads.

 

[hcallaway]

Is should be strong enough and should be durable enough. It is not ideal, but if the cost factor makes it work it should be OK.
I used it for a pad. The summer heat would let the equipment make impressions. My pad really was not compacted as well as it should have been and the amount of asphalt could have been thicker.
Good Luck.

 

[davesl708]

Thanks hcallaway. The crew does a first rate job on the roads so thought I might try it. I would be half the cost of concrete. BX2200 with FEL and ballast would be the heaviest load (<2000lbs.)

 

[MikeInEburg]

If you always park the BX in same spot, you could put down some plywood to help distribute the load.

 

[davesl708]

If you always park the BX in same spot, you could put down some plywood to help distribute the load.

Good idea.

 

[Egon]

At half the cost it'll work. Just make sure the pad is high enough so water can't run in. Make sure it is compacted ell also. Compaction is the critical item in your case.

 

[s219]

Asphalt is only going to be as supportive as the base below -- so with good compaction, it's OK for what you want to do. But with soft soil or drainage problems underneath, it will have problems.

 

[square1]

What s219 said :yes:

 

[EddieWalker]

Asphalt should be fine for a small shed. I am curious how you plan to attach the shed to the asphalt? On the open sided carports that I've seen put on it, they drill right through it into the dirt and screw in anchors to hold them in place. I guess you could do the same for a shed. Either that or dig a footing around the outside of the asphalt and pour concrete for a footing?

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I'm going to offer the contrary opinion. Asphalt isn't really a solid, it's just really thick tar. It shouldn't be used in locations without regular vehicle traffic because it needs to be rolled regularly to keep its shape. Otherwise it bulges and cracks. That's the reason you almost never see it on sidewalks. They use it around here for bike trails and it has a lifespan of 7-10 years. As Eddie notes it wouldn't be suitable for holding up a building because it tends to seep. A 16x20 building is going to need some sort of footings.

An asphalt floor in an enclosed space is going to be unpleasant because the asphalt will release vapors. I would go with concrete or concrete footings and gravel if cost is an issue.