Shed Foundations
When it comes to building a backyard shed, the foundation is the most important consideration you have. There are a number of options available to you when building a shed foundation. Cost, functionality, and type of shed structure all factor into your decision.
Let’s assume you have decided upon the functionality of your shed and also the type of structure you want it to be. Now, let’s take a look at the foundation.
You have a number of options. Probably the least costly shed foundation you can build is one made of treated lumber lying directly on the ground. This type of option is known as a shed skid foundation. This method involves using treated lumber of the appropriate size laid out in a rectangle with cross girders as appropriate for the size of the structure. Of course the land underneath the structure will need to be dug appropriately so that the skid foundation is level. But for the most part, this foundation just rests on top of the ground. The benefit of this type of shed foundation is that with the proper equipment, the shed could be dragged to another location in your yard. The downside is that you can only build a structure the size of the timbers you have. Also, the land underneath a skid foundation needs to be pretty level already.
A second, cost-effective option is the use of concrete blocks. These can be either pre-cast piers meant especially for shed or deck foundations, or just normal concrete blocks used in landscaping or building projects. If the building site is uneven, this is a good option to minimize the amount of digging of ground in order to level the site.
With concrete blocks, you can just stack blocks to get to the level you need for your site. If you have a severely sloping corner, the precast pier blocks may be a better choice as they allow you to insert a 4×4 post into the center of the block, thus allowing you to raise that corner higher than you would be able to do with just the block. This certainly makes leveling the foundation easier as no digging is required.
With either method, you can choose to have the ground be your floor. If, for example, you are building a potting shed, it could be a good idea to fill the area within the foundation with gravel. In that way, you can let water drain directly through the gravel whenever you water your plants. Gravel floors are also good choices when the building site has less than perfect drainage. Extend the gravel outside the perimeter of the shed a foot or so and you can also catch the runoff from the roof.
Certainly the most durable and long-lasting choice for a shed foundation is concrete. You have a couple of choices as to how to use a concrete foundation. You can either first dig a footer below the frost line and fill with concrete. When that has become solid, you can then set concrete blocks in mortar and form a permanent foundation. Using this method, you could choose to fill the internal space with gravel to form your floor or you could pour the interior with concrete.
You could also just pour a concrete pad that would serve as your floor as well. When doing this, you would need to embed anchor bolts in the wet concrete at the appropriate locations along the perimeter in order to secure your walls.
Using poured concrete is the most expensive option, but if you’re planning to use your shed for storing heavy equipment or want your shed to be impervious to the weather, then concrete is the way to go.
Take your time considering your needs for a storage shed foundation. It will pay off handsomely over time if you do.
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