Concrete Shed Base - Paint it?

gord · 9 Aug 2018 at 22:17

Hi all,

I've had a concrete shed base laid, and well.. it's a concrete slab in the corner of the garden that I'd like to look a bit nicer before I build the shed on top of it.

Does anyone have any advice for the type of paint I should use? I've seen plenty of recommendations from primers to sealers to masonry paint. This now has me confused, so I come to you DIY experts of OcUK. The shed base is outdoors, so the paint has to cope with rain and weathering from the British seasons.

Maybe something like this? https://www.regalfloorpaint.co.uk/p...MI6avPr_Dg3AIV65ztCh2u1Af8EAQYASABEgL7jfD_BwE

Thanks

chroniclard · 9 Aug 2018 at 22:29

Will you even see it once the shed is on it?

gord · 9 Aug 2018 at 22:44

chroniclard said:
Will you even see it once the shed is on it?

A little. I've had the base slightly oversized so I can get behind the shed to do any fence maintenance, I may also sit the shed back on it a bit rather than to the edges. It also stands a little proud off the lawn. My plan was a darker green paint that blends it with the ground.

Abyss · 10 Aug 2018 at 00:30

gord said:
A little. I've had the base slightly oversized so I can get behind the shed to do any fence maintenance, I may also sit the shed back on it a bit rather than to the edges. It also stands a little proud off the lawn. My plan was a darker green paint that blends it with the ground.

I'd highly recommend sitting the shed on the edge. A concrete base should always be the exact size of the shed base else water will collect on it and rot the shed base.

Given the base is already done your best bet now is probably to sit the shed base on something to lift it off the concrete (maybe slate or some slabs) or fit a DPM between the base and the concrete.

Personally I'd just let the concrete age naturally. Paint it and it'll always eventually flake off and look horrible.

Maccapacca · 10 Aug 2018 at 06:47

Garage floor paint would be best if you really want to paint it. And lift it up a bit with some 2x2 tanalised bearers running opposite to the shed bearers to allow some air underneath. DPM won't do anything but trap moisture one way or another.

kinobestew123 · 10 Aug 2018 at 07:43

I don't think painted concrete slab is ever going to look all that good. How much extra do you think you'll have? Enough to put some small pavers on it like a little path?

DXP55 · 10 Aug 2018 at 08:54

What Macca said - If the bearers rot just jack shed up and pull old ones out and push new ones in - concrete and wet don't go well with wood.

Skiddley · 10 Aug 2018 at 08:57

I wouldn't even entertain it personally, unless you like repainting the edge every 3-5 years.

Martynt74 · 10 Aug 2018 at 09:20

Maybe stick some lengths of decking around the perimeter to finish it off?

gord · 10 Aug 2018 at 11:40

Cheers guys, looks like I'll be buying some bearers to sit the shed on then. These are the sheds I'm looking at: https://www.sheds.co.uk/garden-sheds/wooden-sheds/double-door-sheds.html?rounded_size=66

Considering the base isn't massive I think I'll give painting it a go, and the bearers to match, which should be nicer.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 10 Aug 2018 at 12:23

If your trying to make it look nice as opposed to waterproof it, most of the fence stains will stain concrete in a semi permanent way

So if you have fence panels near by you could match it in, roughly

Mike1983 · 11 Aug 2018 at 17:51

Industrial bitumen paint maybe (black)

gord · 12 Aug 2018 at 17:46

New plan, if I use extra bearers under the shed, they'll still be sat in water and deteriorate over time. So I'm going to put 6 paving slabs down as follows to allow air underneath and so the shed's included floor bearers are all supported. Now just to find somewhere willing to sell me 6 smooth 600mm slabs.

Iron-man · 12 Aug 2018 at 17:57

finish the edges that will be facing into the garden with some decking

gord · 12 Aug 2018 at 18:28

Iron-man said:
finish the edges that will be facing into the garden with some decking

There's not really enough showing to be worth hiding with decking.

And I've changed my mind again, now going to go for some little rubber feet spacers and just place them along the bearers that the shed floor has built in. Like these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolfcraft-...UTF8&qid=1534094549&sr=1-2&keywords=shed+feet

chaparral · 12 Aug 2018 at 18:35

Abyss said:
I'd highly recommend sitting the shed on the edge. A concrete base should always be the exact size of the shed base else water will collect on it and rot the shed base.

I made this big mistake when I built my own wooden shed...
I made the concrete base about 4 inches wider then the base of the shed and now all the bottom wood of the shed is rotten plus water would go in the shed and make everything inside rusty and damp..

gord · 12 Aug 2018 at 18:43

chaparral said:
I made this big mistake when I built my own wooden shed...
I made the concrete base about 4 inches wider then the base of the shed and now all the bottom wood of the shed is rotten plus water would go in the shed and make everything inside rusty and damp..

That's what I'm aiming to avoid and I think using paving slabs as spacers is going to be overkill. I did consider using the bitumen paint on the underside of the shed floor, but not sure whether that would be waterproof enough so the little rubber spacers seem like a good idea.

Abyss · 13 Aug 2018 at 16:16

Maccapacca said:
DPM won't do anything but trap moisture one way or another.

You're probably right. I was thinking maybe wrapping the whole base of the underside of the shed based before fitting the sides but probably not the easiest solution!

gord said:
There's not really enough showing to be worth hiding with decking.

And I've changed my mind again, now going to go for some little rubber feet spacers and just place them along the bearers that the shed floor has built in. Like these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolfcraft-...UTF8&qid=1534094549&sr=1-2&keywords=shed+feet

Those spacers look very thin at only 10mm. I'd be worried the base will flex over time and make contact with the slab or crud will build up very quickly spanning the 10mm gap. The idea is to ensure air can flow under as much of the shed as possible. What's the reason for avoiding slabs?

gord · 14 Aug 2018 at 11:02

Abyss said:
Those spacers look very thin at only 10mm. I'd be worried the base will flex over time and make contact with the slab or crud will build up very quickly spanning the 10mm gap. The idea is to ensure air can flow under as much of the shed as possible. What's the reason for avoiding slabs?

There's 4 supporting bearers built into the shed floor already so I'm going to paint those contact points with bitumen, and then put it all on the spacers. There'll be more breathing room with this solution than slabs and I don't want to use slabs because of expense and thickness. I don't think any crud should get under there either really, our garden is quite sheltered and I will be able to sweep it out if necessary.

Downsy · 14 Aug 2018 at 23:26

Have a look at plastic timber. Currently building a shed and plan to sit it on plastic planks. Nice and rot proof.

Concrete Shed Base - Paint it?

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