Construct a Base for a Shed

Kimberley

I'm not sure how to go about this? I'm not sure if i can do it myself, so does anyone know of any good people near Bromley who are reasonably priced to do this? :beer:

helen21_2

My son's placehouse is just on 4 long pieces of wood!!Keeps it off the ground!!

helen21

Kimberley

Hiya, yeah but i'm talking about a shed about 8"x6", it needs a base for balance.

helen21_2

His playhouse is as big as a shed, as long as it is on level ground (ie: patio or concrete) the lenghts of wood are to keep the base off the ground so when it is wet on floor the base is not sat on it, stops it rotting!!

helen21

Kimberley

I want the Shed sitting at the back of my garden in the only area that would take the shed. The ground is not level and is mud and grass..So i really do need it concreted evenly to take the shed.

helen21_2

Oh i see, my friends sheds are only on lengths of wood in there garden although they are on grass, it is level. Could you not just put a few patio slabs down?

aliasojo

You can't just use wood beams directly on the ground, the wood that is used to raise the shed off the ground will rot (even if it is presure treated) and dampness will seep up into the shed.

You could use 6 or 8 large breeze blocks as a base and rest the wood beams on these which would help stop the wood from getting too damp or alternatively you could lay some paving slabs and again, rest the wood directly on the slabs.

I've had many sheds over the years and dabbled with different types of bases. Whichever route you go down, you MUST work with a spirit level, you can't just guess or assume it's ok. An uneven base will put strain on the shed and will cause problems further down the line.

It sounds like you have some digging and levelling in front of you.

crossleydd42

I can't think of better advice that alisaojo has given and I've put several sheds up in my time. Make sure that the baulks of wood have preservative on them before you lay them on the blocks.

[My son bought a house with a small shed which had been laid directly on soil. After he moved in, he had to demolish it because of the state it was in. Turned out that it had been up just four years. The floor and much of the lower sides had rotted away!].

Kimberley

I think i'll get somebody to put paving slabs down properly who has done it before..I want them to sand and cement before applying the slabs..I think i'll look in my local paper for a builder then, thanks for your replies..

YorkshireBoy

If you're laying it on turf...

1. Mark out area
2. Dig down 6-8" depending on ground
3. Fill 4-6" (depending on above) with crushed stone (worst case for 8' x 6' shed means 0.68 cubic metres - probably 1/2 a 1 tonne bag from your local builders merchant)
4. Roll crushed stone with garden roller until well compacted and level
5. Lay 3' x 2' (x 2") concrete flags, each on 5 good "dabs" of mortar mix, checking with 4' spirit level as you go.
6. Top of concrete flags should be level with turf
7. Drop shed straight on, resting on it's own skids
8. Do not obstruct air flow under shed
9. Treat shed every 1-2 years with a quality treatment.

Kimberley

Thanks Yorkie boy but i think i'll get a handy man to do it as i want it done properly, unless you can do it for me..