Another Shed Question

[Berner]

I notice some of you guys put down a plastic sheet underneath their sheds. Do you guys use this as a vapor/insect barrier?

I'm planning on pouring sono tubes and putting crushed stone down under the joists. The joists will rest on top of the crushed stone. Should I put a plastic sheet under the stone?

 

[ClintonH]

No expert but I believe it's to keep moisture out. Probably works for insects to a point but obviously not foolproof.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Unless you are building your shed in a wet area, crushed stone alone should be fine. Mine is pallet on dirt, and it works just fine.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Crushed stone doesn't get rid of any moisture, it just cleans up the workspace.

Don't fight with moisture, just give it a good way to dry and leave.

 

[Wood Duck]

Plastic sheeting under the gravel could capture a puddle of water and make the shed more humid, rather than less. If you have decent drainage I'd just use gravel over the soil, and provide plenty of ventilation so any humidity easily escapes.

 

[Berner]

Sounds good. Looks like I will go with a few inches of crushed stone, no plastic. Can't wait to get the permit for this thing!

 

[Bagelboy]

I put plastic under mine a few years back. The reason, because I use pallets to stack my wood and I didn't want them to rot. To this day, the pallets are like new. The shed stays dry because I put a shingle roof on it, so there is no moisture on the plastic. I would still use plastic in my opinion.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Can't wait to get the permit for this thing!

You gotta get a permit for a 128 sq ft shed?

 

[Light in the Dark]

You need a permit to fart in the wrong direction in MA.... I didnt pull one though. Let them come and bother me over it.

You gotta get a permit for a 128 sq ft shed?

 

[billb3]

I don't get using sono tubes and then resting joists on the ground.

Usually when you put a shed on a crushed stone base it is because there is a lack of support on the base for blocks/piers.
The crushed stone in this case most certainly serves several purposes - from support to moisture control.

 

[Berner]

You need a permit to fart in the wrong direction in MA.... I didnt pull one though. Let them come and bother me over it.

You got that right. One of my neighbors was building his shed when he got a cease and desist letter. Better to ask for permission than beg for forgiveness in this case.

 

[Berner]

I don't get using sono tubes and then resting joists on the ground.

Usually when you put a shed on a crushed stone base it is because there is a lack of support on the base for blocks/piers.
The crushed stone in this case most certainly serves several purposes - from support to moisture control.

I Am putting in sono tubes for the footings of the structure. I am nervous about the weight of all the wood so I am planning on resting the joists on crushed stone for extra support. Better to overbuild it once than have to fix it again.