Building a shed base

elliewild

Hello, i am looking to build a large shed along my concrete driveway - its flat but not level and has cracks in etc. i have looked into companies who do free installation but they all say that i need to have a level base before they can build it.

I have looked everywhere for some advice (most people are building sheds on turf/soil) which is not much use. even if i pour a load of concrete over my drive i dont have a clue how i would make it level! i was looking into making a wooden base (which terrifies me because i have no idea what im doing!) then i thought of using breezeblocks? any advice or suggestions would be great

The shed i want to build is big so im concerned about the weight on a wooden base (shed to be 23 x 8) please help!

xyz123

If u r these concerned about weight and more importantly how to do the base please spend some money getting someone to do the base for you. A competent handyman can do this and will not be as costly as a builder...

stator

You can use patio slabs or breeze blocks to create a level base. Get yourself a piece of plywood that is the same size as the shed and a couple of spirit levels and then lay down the blocks or slabs with the plywood on top and adjust until it is level. A shed can be heavy so use some new strong, treated wood to adjust the heights.

Ebe_Scrooge

There are a number of ways of doing this. Simplest is to construct a framework from wood ( shuttering, as the professionals call it ), make sure the top edges are level, then get a delivery of concrete poured into it, tamp it down and level it off. You could mix your own concrete ( and hire a mixer if you like ), but for a large area it's bloomin' heavy work - a delivery is far easier.


Lots of advice here : http://www.pavingexpert.com/concrete.htm

getmore4less

how not level is it, what the biggest drop?

since you want the shed floor off the ground some custom bearers on pads might do.

for example only
http://www.tuin.co.uk/Timber-Frame-Base-Pads.html

27col

All you need do is to build a simple frame the size of the shed using 75x50mm or 100x 50mm. You set it up level with spacers of some sort. Then you screw little legs in many different places to reach down to the sloping drive. The legs will all be different lengths. You can put in as many as you think you need. I have down this several times on sheds that I have built.
In fact I am just about to do it again with a new large shed that we are just about to install at my bowls club.
The shed just sits on the frame and is screwed to it. In our case, we are having then shed manufactured to exactly fit the frame I have made.
For this latest shed I have built two frames 6ft x 6ft and will bolt them together for a 12ft x6ft shed. It really is not difficult.

rustyboy21

If you speak to the shed manufacturer, and explain the situation, then they can sort it for you.

I had paving laid for my shed, but it ran at an angle, to let rian run off into a drain, which was underneath.

The installation team told me it wouldn't be level and they could build a base for it for £40.. They had pre cut framework, which they then cut the legs to run as the slope did. The shed is level straight, away from any water collection and tough as nails. Well worth the £40 spent and done in 10 minutes.

elliewild

rustyboy21 wrote: »

If you speak to the shed manufacturer, and explain the situation, then they can sort it for you.

wow you are lucky - all the shed builders i have had quotes for say that to do free installation they would need a level base but do not offer this service themselves.

elliewild

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

then get a delivery of concrete poured into it, tamp it down and level it off. You could mix your own concrete ( and hire a mixer if you like ), but for a large area it's bloomin' heavy work - a delivery is far easier.


Lots of advice here : http://www.pavingexpert.com/concrete.htm

i get what you mean here but its a lot of concrete for 23 foot shed! would it cost a lot?

elliewild

i think the framework would be less daunting if i was building a 8x8 shed but my worry is that because its so big 23x8 i have no idea what wood to use, what widths the wood should be etc