Install a Gravel Pad for a Shed - DIY!

Watch this video before you hire a contractor to install a gravel pad for a shed. If you have the time, and more importantly, the energy, you could save $600 or more!
In this video, Diane and I install a gravel pad to support a new 12 ft. x 16 ft. Old Hickory lofted barn shed built on site. The gravel pad needed to be at least 2 feet wider on all sides, or roughly 20 ft. x 16 ft. We got two estimates from contractors, the first requiring that we tear down a section of our fence to allow access by heavy equipment. The second estimate was to do the leveling and compacting only, at a much less cost. Rather than demolish our fence resulting in replacement with new lumber, Diane and I decided to do the manual labor ourselves: lay down the landscaping fabric, move 7-yards of gravel by wheelbarrow to the building site, and spread and level the gravel with shovels and a garden rake. The job was a major undertaking, but by doing it ourselves, we didn’t have to demolish our fence and we saved about $600!
Background:
On March 11, 2021, we placed an order for 12’ x16’ Old Hickory Shed, lofted barn style from Redd’s Sheds located in Port Angeles, Washington. The shed had to be built on site because our backyard is entirely fenced in. Quin, the owner of Pacific NW Sheds and a subcontractor of Old Hickory Sheds, built our shed with a crew of three in just six hours over a two-day’s time on April 21-22. I recorded video of the entire process, with permission from all in advance, of course. The breakdown of the cost is provided below. All construction prices are up because of increased demand and increasing lumber costs. This project did cost more money than we had planned, but the end result was absolutely worth it!
Total Cost of the Gravel Pad: $627.18
Landscaping fabric - Vigoro 4 ft. x 100 ft. Matrix Grid Landscape Fabric (HD): $70.23
Fabric staples - Vigoro 4 in. Landscape Fabric Staples 75-Pack (HD): $10.83
5/8" Minus Crushed Basalt gravel, 7 yards delivered (Blake Sand and Gravel): $346.12
Level and Compact Gravel (Eli, contractor): $200
Total Cost of Old Hickory Shed: $11,243.82
Old Hickory lofted barn shed, 12 ft. x 16 ft. plus options: $9,808.28
Gravel Pad: $627.18
Build on-site by Pacific NW Sheds: $808.36
Prep and paint exterior of shed: TBD

[@angelachouinard4581]

You got some great help on this job. Delivery guy made a perfect drop and Eli is the most high tech contractor I've seen lately. Wish they were like him where I live. Love your canine supervisor!

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Nice drop on the gravel. Right on target. Nothing like a pro doing what he does best.

[@william9491]

I'd wager he could probably drive the truck in reverse too and could have dumped the gravel on the driveway 100 yards closer to where the shed is.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@william9491 Yeah?

[@Jerry-ko9pi]

I am planning on having my shed sit on some railroad ties and bring gravel up to the tops of them. I'll have 2" of gravel tamped down first to help railroad last longer. I will also have railroad ties around the whole area too with a place for a table and chairs out front.

[@karmad10]

FYI, i rented a plate compactor and it comes with wheels. I was able to unload it from my van by myself by using a 2 x 6 propped on the bumper. Was much simpler than i thought

[@ve3xtr]

Tough work. I just moved 5 ton of gravel for my shed pad. Did it in about five hours. I'm sore.

[@smackenzie1340]

Looks good but I would have rented a mini track loader for all that gravel to save your back.

[@joellennert1720]

I just don't understand why they didn't have it dumped in the backyard? Maybe their driveways too thin

[@igormord8636]

isn't that a wrong size gravel for compacting and good drainage? I though a 3/4 clean stone is what is usually used for such applications.

[@maxalvarado8114]

Correct. 3/4” stone drains and doesn’t need compaction because no pit fines

[@WARockQuarries]

5/8" Minus makes sense if the pad isn't contained within a timber frame. Otherwise the gravel will migrate because there are no fines to keep it compacted.

[@jewelbell5]

Why didn't you have it delivered to the back yard?

[@TROUBLEDAGREAT]

Was all 4 doing a 12x16 gravel pad till I watched this video WAY too much work because I'm doing a wood perimeter also & needs to be 4 inches thick. Guess I'll look up how much it costs to have someone do it! Screw that!!!!!

[@jonlukas3483]

How come you could not get the gravel closer?

[@randallwingett]

The gravel company will not drive their dump truck containing 10 tons of gravel on a concrete driveway. Thanks for watching!

[@vinceleese4936]

I would have spent a few dollars more and had two deliveries so the gravel could have been dumped closer. Working smarter and not harder.

[@FreedomEbiker1002]

We are looking to do this same thing for a tuff shed, what kinda person would you call to do the whole 9 yards?

[@randallwingett]

Ask the seller of the Tuff Shed. That’s how we got the contact info.

[@sipapito]

What type of gravel is that and why did you go with that type?

[@randallwingett]

I chose 5/8" minus crushed basalt gravel because it is darker in color than granite, which to me looks better, and it matches the gravel we used for our two parking strips. The cost: 5/8" Minus Crushed Basalt gravel, 7 yards delivered (Blake Sand and Gravel): $346.12. Level and Compact Gravel (Eli, contractor): $200 Thanks for asking!

[@sipapito]

@@randallwingett Thanks for the reply!

[@KellyMeinig-bp4tv]

@@randallwingett Thanks for the video! We're doing the same project (also in Sequim). Would you post please Eli's company name?

[@easterlake]

Definitely the wrong type of gravel. Should be 3/4 clean. Compacted, this won't drain very well.

[@watermouse9296]

Was that Walter White? Maybe his brother?

[@ChuckNorris-ju5fn]

Compacting the gravel pretty much defeated the purpose of using gravel

[@vinceleese4936]

Correct, you want water to drain away and not lay on top and rot the wood.