Creating a base for a shed.

[Emjay86]

Hey guys,

I have a shed in my garden that is temporarily placed onto a wooden pallet (not the best idea but it was handy for a short term place).

So now its time to think about making a more permanent and less hazardous home for the shed to sit on.

How would you recommend going about creating a base?

Do I need to use concrete or are there other solutions?

Basically anything you can give as advice is great.

Its worth noting im a complete amateur at DIY.

 

[Brozart]

If you want to "branch" off from your wooden pallet, you could have a Wooden Skid Foundation, which is basically two or more treated wood beams or landscaping sleeper set on a bed of gravel. The gravel provides a flat, stable surface that drains well to help keep the timbers dry. Once the skids are set, the floor frame is built on top of them and is nailed to the skids to keep everything in place. Its pretty easy to build a skid foundation mate, simply create the gravel base by removing 4" of soil in an area about 12" wider and longer than the dimensions of the shed, fill with gravel and compact with a hand tamper, then cut, set, and level the timbers.

If you want a concrete foundation, there is a few options such as a Concrete Slab Foundation, Breeze Block Foundation or Pier Foundation.... it really depends on what you're after, I can give you more advice on a concrete foundation if you go down that route

 

[Emjay86]

Thanks for the feedback.

Would a skid foundation be enough to do or are they a less than ideal method?

Thanks again.

 

[WillyNelson]

I've used exactly that skid foundation for my 2 sheds and a playhouse. Works perfectly well. About 50mm of pea shingle with weed proof membrane underneath and treated fence posts as the skids. As long as you take the time to get the bearers level you should have no problems.

 

[Emjay86]

I've used exactly that skid foundation for my 2 sheds and a playhouse. Works perfectly well. About 50mm of pea shingle with weed proof membrane underneath and treated fence posts as the skids. As long as you take the time to get the bearers level you should have no problems.

How long have you had them in place?

Sorry I know im sounding picky, im just trying to balance out the 'best' for the situation. Id rather not go with concrete because while its great while your using it once you want to remove it, it can be a pain.

 

[Crizzy]

Breeze blocks will do it, pretty easy/cheap to do as well.

 

[Brozart]

Thanks for the feedback.

Would a skid foundation be enough to do or are they a less than ideal method?

Thanks again.

It really depends, but if your garden is flat and the shed worked with pallets, then personal I would use skid foundations because its cheap, quick and easy to create and easy to remove if you ever get rid of or upgrade your shed.

 

[Emjay86]

It really depends, but if your garden is flat and the shed worked with pallets, then personal I would use skid foundations because its cheap, quick and easy to create and easy to remove if you ever get rid of or upgrade your shed.

Interestingly its not flat. Im going to have to dig and level the area anyway.

The shed is on the pallet in a corner which happens to be about the flattest part of the garden so its only at a very slight lean. So yea ill need to dig anyway.

 

[Mark A]

I made concrete piers and then built a timber frame to go on top. This was based on advice given in a thread I made on here and seemed to be the cheapest solution. The shed has been up for over a year now and it hasnt moved out of level at all and there are some heavy tools stored in there like a pillar drill and table saw.

Dug the holes about 12" square inc the shuttering. then filled with concrete.

So you end up with these.

Then sit the frame on and level it up. Added a ground sheet and weighed it down with some rubble to stop weeds.

If i ever need to take the shed down it'll be easy to break the concrete piers up and fill the holes. Better than a concrete base.

 

[Emjay86]

I made concrete piers and then built a timber frame to go on top. This was based on advice given in a thread I made on here and seemed to be the cheapest solution. The shed has been up for over a year now and it hasnt moved out of level at all and there are some heavy tools stored in there like a pillar drill and table saw.

Dug the holes about 12" square inc the shuttering. then filled with concrete.

So you end up with these.

Then sit the frame on and level it up. Added a ground sheet and weighed it down with some rubble to stop weeds.

If i ever need to take the shed down it'll be easy to break the concrete piers up and fill the holes. Better than a concrete base.

That actually seems like a very good solution.

I only have a 6ft by 4ft shed so I wont need to do much of that either. Its literally just for essential garden tools really.

 

[WillyNelson]

How long have you had them in place?

Sorry I know im sounding picky, im just trying to balance out the 'best' for the situation. Id rather not go with concrete because while its great while your using it once you want to remove it, it can be a pain.

My allotment shed has been up 7 years and the floor is bone dry. The roof leaks but that's another issue

My shed at home was up 2 years at our old house and again the floor was bone dry when we moved. It's now on timber bearers on the existing (poorly laid) concrete footing.

The playhouse was down 3 years at the old place and has been 2 years at our new house. On gravel & bearers both times. It got a bit damp in the back corner last year because it was in contact with the fence. Also, it's just an OSB floor whereas the sheds are both T&G.

 

[Nightglow]

Sit the shed frame on some dampcourse before sitting it on the concrete piers, will stop the moisture rising.