Are you budgeting for a new farm shed? It is a good idea to consider all the project costs, including the farm shed pad preparation.
Planning your farm shed pad? Don’t underestimate the importance of a well-prepared shed pad!
Typically, the pad preparation is your responsibility (unless other arrangements have been made).
So, what does a good farm shed pad look like? And how much does it cost?
Consider this article your Ultimate Farm Shed Pad Guide covering all the important topics from initial site selection to sizes, prices and best-practice recommendations.
In this article:
- How To Choose The Best Site For Your Farm Shed
- Why Is A Good Shed Pad Important?
- What Does A Good Farm Shed Pad Look Like? & How To Prepare One
- What Size Farm Shed Pad Do I Need?
- Do I Need To Do Site Prep If I Am Covering Existing Yards?
- How Much Does A Farm Shed Pad Cost?
- The Factors That Influence Farm Shed Pad Costs
- Ways To Save Money On Your Shed Pad
You will also find plenty of inspiration and useful resources for your farm shed project!
First up, we start with selecting your farm shed site.
How To Choose The Best Site For Your Farm Shed
Your farm shed site plays an important role. The location of your farm shed will influence the effectiveness of your shed, the functionality of your setup and the longevity of your earthworks.
So, how do you make sure you are selecting the right site for your shed?
Firstly, there may be an obvious choice for your farm shed pad location.
For example, if you are limited by space, the size of your shed may dictate where it can be built.
Or there may be existing infrastructure you need to work with. For example, placing a yard cover alongside your shearing shed.
Alternatively, there may be site access requirements, such as turning circles, that determine where your shed can or can’t be built.
However, if you are starting with a greenfield site or have multiple site options, the decision of where to build your shed isn’t always so straightforward.
Regardless of your farm shed site options, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind when selecting a site.
We’ve included a handy checklist here.
- Does the site location work with your shed size?
- Is it a greenfield site, or is there existing infrastructure to work with?
- What is the site terrain? Is the site flat or undulating, or rocky? What site preparation will be required? Do you require fall over your site?
- How exposed is the site to the prevailing weather?
- Does the site work with the recommended orientation for your shed? For example, an east-west orientation works best for barns.
- What are the site access requirements during the installation stage and when in use?
- Do you have plans to extend the shed or expand your operations in the future that you need to take into account?
- Are there any industry requirements or regulations for site location for your shed type? For example, a compliant chemical shed needs to be located away from other storage, dwellings and waterways.
- Are there any boundaries, powerlines or council permit conditions that will influence site location? For example, is there room for water tanks if a fire design is required?
These considerations and requirements will differ between different shed types and different operations.
Unsure if there are any industry regulations or council requirements to consider for your project? Weighing up several site options?
Our building consultants are available to provide project-specific site advice and answer any questions you may have. Book a project consultation – call us on 1800 687 888.
Why Is A Good Farm Shed Pad Important?
While the shed pad preparation is one of the most important stages of a project, it is also one of the most overlooked.
And all of your work in selecting the best site for your shed can be undone if the pad isn’t prepared correctly.
So, why does farm shed pad preparation matter?
Firstly, a well-prepared farm shed pad helps avoid delays during the installation stage by providing space for machinery and equipment to access the site and by keeping the site accessible in wet weather.
This also helps to reduce installation costs.
Secondly, a well-prepared site will ensure you can access your shed when you need to.
For example, a fertiliser shed with a good site drainage and a concrete apron allows you to access your fertiliser to take advantage of good growing conditions rather than being held up by a wet and muddy site.
Thirdly, appropriate site preparation is even more important if your project includes a concrete slab. The quality of your concrete slab will only be as good as your pad preparation.
For example, a level site with a stable base and good drainage is essential to prevent cracks in your slab. This can also help reduce the cost of your concrete slab and maintenance costs in the future.
Similarly, site drainage can be used to direct stormwater run-off away from the shed. This is often a consideration for hay sheds and barn projects.
Finally, a well-planned and prepared farm shed site that accommodates future expansion is a great way to future-proof your operation.
Plus, good preparation ensures your shed pad lasts longer, saving you time and money in maintenance and upkeep.
So, what does a good shed pad look like?
That’s exactly what we discuss next!
What Does A Good Farm Shed Pad Look Like? & How To Prepare One
In the video below, Ben outlines the steps to follow to prepare a good farm shed pad.
We have summarised the tips here:
- Firstly (this one might seem obvious), prepare your pad before the shed is built.
- Prepare your pad well in advance to give the material time to settle.
- Start with good base material such as blue metal.
- Compact each layer of fill to create a stable base.
- Ensure your shed pad is level to make access easy, to prevent stormwater pooling on site and if required, ensure the site is ready for your concrete slab.
- Build the site up for drainage (we recommend at least 200mm, however, more may be required depending on your location and annual rainfall)
- Allow adequate room on each side of the site for machinery access (both during installation and throughout the year). We typically recommend at least an additional 6 metres of width and 6 metres of length.
- Allow room for any stormwater tanks to be plumbed to the shed. This can save further earthmoving costs in the future. Similarly, access roads and turning circles for easy access and streamlined logistics.
What Size Farm Shed Pad Do I Need?
Like with a farm shed, when it comes to the farm shed pad, size matters.
So, what size do you need? And how do you work it out?
There are several basic shed pad size formulas you can start with.
Firstly, your shed pad should have at least an additional 3 metres on each side of the shed. So, this works out to be an extra 6 metres length and 6 metres width overall.
For example, a pad for a 48m x 24m shed should be approx. 54m x 30m.
However, it is important to consider your unique requirements.
For example, you may also need to factor in room for stormwater tanks, concrete aprons and driveways.
Conversely, you may not have room for an extra 3 metres on each side.
If this is the case, it can change the way the shed is installed. For example, the shed may be ‘stick built’ or built to the side and then craned into place – rather than using the roof lift method.
The other rule of thumb we work with is to build your pad up by at least 200mm for effective drainage and stormwater run-off.
However, you will likely know whether this needs to be more or less based on the local annual rainfall and the existing site conditions.
Do I Need To Do Any Site Prep When Building Over Existing Yards?
There are several situations where farm shed pad preparation usually isn’t a requirement.
These include when covering existing sheep yards, cattle yards, feed pads and feedlot pens.
In these cases, typically the only site preparation is to make sure the site is kept as clear and tidy as possible – and that there are good access roads leading up to the site, for crane and machinery access.
As we mentioned earlier, sheds are often built a little differently to work in with these site conditions. For example, they will be stick built or built to the side and then craned into place, rather than using the roof-lift method.
So, that’s an overview of the main considerations of farm shed pads.
Now, let’s get into one of the hot topics – price!
How Much Does A Farm Shed Pad Cost?
If you are here, reading this article, you might be wondering – how much does it cost to prepare a farm shed pad?
And it’s a great question! The cost to prepare a shed pad can come as a surprise.
Plus, it is always a good idea to factor all project costs into your budget up front, rather than being caught short.
The average farm shed pad costs approx. $30,000 – $40,000.
However, this average does cover a wide range of shed pad sizes with varying degrees of preparation required.
For example, a 40m x 30m pad (prepared for a 36m x 24m shed) could cost approx. $15,000 – $25,000, while a pad prepared for a large-scale grain storage facility could cost north of $200,000.
As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to allow between $20 – $40 per square metre for a standard farm shed pad and $60 – $90 per square metre for a more involved pad preparation.
Having said that, there are many factors – along with the pad size – that come into play and will ultimately determine how much the earthworks for your shed pad will cost.
Read on for an overview of the main factors that influence shed pad prices.
Factors That Influence Shed Pad Costs
- The shed pad size influences the preparation costs simply because the bigger the area that needs to be prepared, the more labour and materials required. Having said that, don’t skimp on size! It could end up costing you more in the long run.
- Your shed location can impact pad preparation costs, particularly if you need to bring in fill or gravel.
- The cost of the base material needs to be factored in, and this can vary depending on the gravel type.
- Existing site conditions, such as how level the site is, will influence how much prep work needs to be done.
- Any access roads, driveways, or turning circles required will be an additional cost to factor in. Similarly, a pad prepared ready for a concrete slab usually requires more material and labour.
- The earthmoving company that you choose will also determine pricing simply because different companies have different rates. Make sure you are comparing apples with apples and that you are aware of the pricing inclusions and exclusions. Of course, you may choose to DIY – just remember to follow our top tips!
So, there’s no denying that a farm shed pad can add to your project costs.
Particularly if the site requires a lot of prep work to get it ready.
So, how can you save money on your farm shed pad?
Ways To Save Money On Your Shed Pad
Below, we have listed several ideas and ways you could reduce the cost of your farm shed pad – without sacrificing quality or longevity.
1
Select A Clear & Level Site
Where possible, start by selecting a site that doesn’t require extensive preparation such as levelling, building up or clearing trees.
Of course, this isn’t always a practical option. For example, your property may be naturally undulating. Or you may be adding to an existing facility, such as building a loafing barn adjacent to a dairy.
2
Use Local Material
One way to keep your farm shed pad costs to a minimum is to use local materials to reduce transport costs – just make sure it is a quality product.
Ideally, you would make use of the material that you have on-farm.
For example, if you have recently had new dams dug out, this material could be used as fill for your shed site.
3
Think Long Term
Doing your farm shed pad once and doing it right can save you additional costs in the long run.
For example, a well-prepared site reduces the amount of upkeep and maintenance required in the future.
Similarly, factoring in any shed extensions or storm water tanks in the short term can save you having to pay for additional site preparation in the long term
4
D.I.Y
If you have the equipment required, the technical know-how and the time spare, then you could prepare the shed pad yourself to save on earthmoving costs.
This can be a good option when there is limited siteworks required.
However, remember to consider what your time is worth – time is money!
For more complex projects, it is usually a good idea to leave these to the experts, particularly for projects with drainage and concrete slabs. Like we said earlier, doing it once and doing it right is often a cost-saving in the long-run.
So, that’s a wrap on pretty much everything you need to know about farm shed pads!
Below, you will find more handy information and examples.
Useful Resources
- How To Budget For Farm Shed Project
- Can I Build Under A Powerline?
- 5 Smart Concrete Slab Ideas
- Can I Cover Existing Yards?
- What Is The Best Orientation For Farm Sheds?
We trust this article has answered your questions about farm shed pad preparation!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us on 1800 687 888 – we would love to hear from you.
