SITE PREPARATION FOR OUR STRUCTURES

Permits:

Before purchasing any structure we recommend that you always check with your county to determine if you will be required to get a permit.  Usually any building with a floor coverage less than 100 sq. ft. will be considered a non-permanent/movable structure and will not require any permits.  This is why our 8’x12’ buildings are the most popular.  Unfortunately we cannot guarantee you will not require a permit for any size structure as codes are different for every county and can change frequently.

In addition to possible permits that you may be required, there may also be county restrictions and/or variances that you must adhere to depending if your structure is considered permanent or movable/temporary.  These are usually simple guidelines that must be followed, but again every county is different and can change frequently.  We highly recommend that you know exactly if there are any size restrictions that you are compelled to follow, and where you are allowed to place your structure before ordering.  Guidelines can be as simple as in so many feet from your property line, so many feet from the road, and a set maximum sq. ft. structure depending on your property and house lot size, but can get pretty picky as in color requirements and height restrictions. 

Sometimes building specs and/or blueprints may be required for your permit.  Usually just a picture of the building from the brochure will suffice, but we will supply blueprints and/or sealed drawings when needed.

Structure Base/Foundation:

All the structures we sell come with either 4”x4” or 6”x6” Pressure Treated runners securely attached to the bottom base.  Although these will withstand decay while resting on bare ground alone, we highly recommend some sort of foundation to rest your structure on.  This will allow proper drainage and increased ventilation under and around your structure, plus help prevent unwanted animals and critters from nesting and making a new home.  Larger, more permanent structures usually require anchoring to concrete sauna tubes or a concrete slab.

The base/foundation size, (except for a concrete slab foundation), should accommodate the entire size of the structure plus a minimum of 1-2 feet on all four sides; maybe even up to 4’ for really large structures.  This will allow proper area for rain/snow melt off the eve portion of the roof and prevent a muddy mess around your structure.  Gutters could be used to prevent this also, but is not required and rarely used.  The disadvantage is that the structure is sitting entirely on stone that will eventually settle, possible moving your structure with it.  The strongest method is having the structure resting entirely on the framing and using the stone underneath to balance it.  The disadvantage would be the mud.

The desired location should also be completely level.  This can usually be accomplished by simply removing dirt humps and tampering down low area’s with new dirt.  This will benefit the overall appearance of your structure and eliminate sticking of windows and doors.

Possible Base/Foundations:

• Simple leveling of desired location with new soil and/or removal of any humps

• We recommend using 1” gravel fill which can be found at almost any local stone store.  It’s relatively cheap and usually delivered in bulk by the ton.  To prepare a gravel base some minor leveling and removal of grass is all that is recommended.  Level the gravel to a depth of 4-6 inches.  Less could be used but not recommended as an animal deterrent because groundhogs tend to dig through up to 4” of stone.  A frame using either 4”x4” or 6”x6” pressure treated timbers, or some kind of concrete or cement blocking, is also recommended to hold the stone firmly in place.  We currently offer framed and non-framed pads using 6"x6" PT timbers as an option when purchasing your structure, and is available to most surrounding area's.

Because of possible complications and numerous variations of customer's properties, we cannot offer flat rates anymore and calculate our fee based on total man hours and actual quantities of material used.  Stone is always applied at a minimum of 4" due to possible permit requirements.  If angles are needed for octagon or oval gazebo's there will be an up-charge of 20%.

	Pad Frame	1" Gravel Fill	Labor
Stone base only $400 Minimum fee		$25 a ton	$50 per man hour
6"x6" PT Timbers and Stone Base $700 Minimum fee which usually covers up to an 10x12 shed using 1 tier of timbers.	$4.00 linear ft.	$25 a ton	$50 per man hour

 

 

• Concrete sauna tubes are usually used with our larger permanent structures, like our modular barns, and are used mainly when your county codes require them.   Your building inspector will require sealed drawings that we provide you after placing your order.

• Concrete slab is usually used with our larger permanent structures, like our modular barns, and are used mainly when your county codes require them.   Your building inspector will require sealed drawings that we provide you after placing your order.  

Site Access:

Most of the structures we sell come delivered fully assembled and ready for same day use.  This means that we will need direct access to the sites location.  Kit forms that either you can build, or we can build for you at a fee of roughly 20-30% of the total invoice price before any taxes and discounts, are available only on select structures.  Cranes are also sometimes used to place your structure into very tight areas.

We ask that the predetermined structure site be entirely prepped and void of all obstacles prior to our delivery.  We need a 1’ clearance on both sides of the shed when going through any sort of gate; assuming that we are going straight back.  Keep in mind the height clearance needed also, and that the widest point of your shed is usually the overhang.   Most structures have some sort of overhang that you will need to anticipate for by adding up to 2 feet in total width at a height of 8-10 feet from the ground .  Any branches that will complicate the delivery should also be cut back or tied to the side prior to our delivery.  We ask that all this be taken into consideration when choosing the safest route and whether or not it’s even possible to get to your sites location safely.

We understand that it is not always possible for the home owner to determine if the site is safely accessible or not.  If this is the case please contact us and be prepared to provide either a simple drawing of your property or pictures of the obstacle in question.  If need be we can usually set-up an inspection date and either help determine the safest possible route, tell you what needs to be moved or done to make it possible, or talk about other available options like having it craned in or built on-site from a kit.

We reserve the right to reschedule deliveries due to inclement weather, periods of excessive rain, or other events beyond our control.  When possible we prefer having the home owner present when we deliver your structure, but you are not required to be there.  We will also not be held reliable for any damage caused to the customer's lawns, pastures, fences, gates, structures, buildings, animals, wires, cables, septic tanks, pipes, or other property whatsoever.  It is up to the customer to verify the safest route to the structures location.