Shed Foundations – Build Your Shed On Solid Foundations

There is often more to a woodworking project than just the woodwork. You need to expand your skills in other directions to make sure of a satisfactory end result. One such project is building a shed. Knowing what is required for your shed foundations is vital to building something that will give years of good service.

There are several different types of shed foundations and we will take a look at a couple of them here. What you should go for depends on the style of shed you are building and the condition of the site.

For a pole barn, it is simple. Just a dirt floor will do. A shed with framing of the walls is a different matter. The surface has to remain stable and level, and it will also need to be dry. If your site has no drainage issues, just a 6 inch bed of gravel will do the trick, though to be sure, use blocks under the floor supports to keep it off the ground.

A concrete base makes a really solid foundation, but it can be costly. The amount of concrete required may mean that it is not a job that you want to tackle on your own. Don’t forget that concrete absorbs water so that wood that will be in contact with it should be pressure treated.

An alternative to a complete concrete base, is concrete piers supporting beams that the shed will rest on. This will keep it off the ground and provide a solid foundation, but the supporting frame work must be absolutely level.

That applies whatever type of base you go with. A foundation that is not level and even will cause problems when it comes to fitting doors and windows. If they don’t operate properly, it really detracts from the satisfaction you get from using your shed.

Depending on your site and situation, you might have to take steps to divert rainwater away from your foundation. If you’ve taken the trouble to get it level to begin with, you want to make sure it stays that way. If it settles on one side, it will cause the structure to lean and put stress on the joints.

If you work from a good set of plans, issues like this should be covered, with advice on what is suitable for different conditions. Also remember local building codes. Do you need to have your foundations inspected before you go ahead and build the shed? You don’t want to have to take it down again later.

If you don’t want to take any chances, visit this website for comprehensive advice covering every aspect of building your shed, from the foundations up.