Foundations for a garden shed.
Discussion
I've got two wooden sheds at the end of the garden. One is currently used as a 'potting shed' full of plant pots and bags of compost and the other is a more traditional type of shed, full of spiders, lawnmowers and bikes. Both sheds are in the part of the garden that gets the most sun, I want to move them so that area can become a seating area. I plan to move them closer to the house, to a part that has a concrete patio already laid, (not slabs, just a continuous area of concrete). I hope to recycle the old sheds and use bits of them to make a new, single one. Now, all the advice on shed building I've seen suggests that the foundations need to be anchored into the ground, but most are built from scratch on grass/earth foundations, so digging a hole and securing an upright into it is easy. If I've already got a concrete base, how do I anchor the structure to this? Do I just lay the shed on top and hope it doesn't blow away, or do I need to drill holes and use big bolts? Never done this before, so I would welcome any advice.
Foundations anchored into the ground for a shed ? I'm no expert, but that sounds like b*****s. Happy to be corrected. I've built 2 sheds in my time...both sat on concrete bases freely. I just built some batons below to raise them off the floor by a couple of inches to save rot creeping in from underneath...and plaster the underneath with your choice of wood preservative.
V8RX7 said:
I've built a few sheds - just put them on top of 3x2 timber on the dirt - 10+ yrs later they are still fine.
I tried a variant of this using spare gravel boards. It didn't work; one or more corners settled and no matter what I try I can't stop the shed door from binding.I also learned that reinforced concrete is not very strong... I laid a gravel board out and tested it for strength by standing on the middle. At which point there was a loud crack...
Simpo Two said:
V8RX7 said:
I've built a few sheds - just put them on top of 3x2 timber on the dirt - 10+ yrs later they are still fine.
I tried a variant of this using spare gravel boards. It didn't work; one or more corners settled and no matter what I try I can't stop the shed door from binding.I also learned that reinforced concrete is not very strong... I laid a gravel board out and tested it for strength by standing on the middle. At which point there was a loud crack...
I originally followed the "rule" and put my shed on 3x2s as suggested. It was a mistake and I spent ages taking rotten wood out (they made the shed frame rot too) and have now got it on strips of paving flag (coping stone could be used if you can't cut the flag) and have had no more trouble - the modifications have lasted as long as the original timber and the shed hasn't deteriorated any further.
As for securing it to the ground - I suspect that depends on where you live and where the shed is in the garden. If it's not in a windy area or position, it won't move. A friend put a shed up in an exposed part of his garden and, a month or two later, put his dog kennel beside it, with the dog's chain fixed to the shed. He looked out of his window one morning and saw a confused dog at the other end of the garden with an upturned shed beside it! That was in the days where a "farm dog" didn't require a license, but had to be either kept in a shed or chained up outside with a kennel.
As for securing it to the ground - I suspect that depends on where you live and where the shed is in the garden. If it's not in a windy area or position, it won't move. A friend put a shed up in an exposed part of his garden and, a month or two later, put his dog kennel beside it, with the dog's chain fixed to the shed. He looked out of his window one morning and saw a confused dog at the other end of the garden with an upturned shed beside it! That was in the days where a "farm dog" didn't require a license, but had to be either kept in a shed or chained up outside with a kennel.
mybrainhurts said:
V8RX7 said:
skip_1 said:
I was considering one of those plastic sheds, wonder if that will be heavy enough to free-stand? 
My daughter's had one for 15+yrs it's fine.Worked really well
henrytadpal said:
Being an hardcore gardener, I would suggest you to construct a top shed with single support beam from ground. I have always followed this procedure.
Can you explain what you mean a bit more please? I too will be putting a new shed in soon, so researching base options. Thanks.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff