How to dig a pad?

[DIESELbowhunter]

There are no posts that go into the ground. I’m having an Amish builder come and erect that building. I believe he prefabs most of it in his shop and puts it together at the location. Today when I get home from work I’m going to take a good look at what kind of soil I’m dealing with.

 

[Deere Dude]

I put a big pole shed up at my my new home and told the track hoe to make a pad for the shed. He said all the top soil was removed already from a previous owner. All he did was have a foot of crusher gravel brought in and his rid on vibratory roller pounded it down. When they got done I had a very difficult time digging for sewer lines it was packed so tight. Your picture looks like there isn't any non packing topsoil on the surface.

Make sure it is elevated enough that any drainage water won't touch the building.

 

[DIESELbowhunter]

I put a big pole shed up at my my new home and told the track hoe to make a pad for the shed. He said all the top soil was removed already from a previous owner. All he did was have a foot of crusher gravel brought in and his rid on vibratory roller pounded it down. When they got done I had a very difficult time digging for sewer lines it was packed so tight. Your picture looks like there isn't any non packing topsoil on the surface.

Make sure it is elevated enough that any drainage water won't touch the building.

2 votes for not even needing to remove soil. Something I never even considered. Thank you !

 

[sodamo]

Add another vote to dig in the posts and add crushed rock to elevate and level.

 

[gunny0628]

I also concur. Level what you can with stone AFTER you’ve placed your posts. Looks like that ground is pretty solid. And you’ll know once you start placing posts.

 

[DIESELbowhunter]

So the building itself is not going to have posts in the ground. It just rests on the ground. I’m getting it from an Amish builder and I believe he prefabs most of it then delivers it and puts it together. I took a better look at the ground I’m working with and I think I will definitely have a very thin layer of soil I’ll need to remove ( maybe just a couple inches ) . I recently had some stumps ground in that area and looking in the hole the grinder made, I was able to see the different layers of soil. This thin layer is probably just from leaves, and the small debris left from wood splitting sitting for years.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm curious why you are getting a building that is sitting on beams instead of having one built with poles in the ground? The difference in strength is significant. The only reason that I've ever heard of for building on beams is to be able to move it around, but that speeds up the deterioration of the building, and most of the time, they rarely get moved because it causes so much damage to the building.

 

[sodamo]

I agree with Eddie.
I would add that if you don’t want posts in the ground, possibly look at concrete piers to set posts on.