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Shed Foundations 101: Shed Base Tips, Best Materials, and More
Picture this: you spend thousands of dollars to buy a brand new shed and love how much it improves your backyard. It is the perfect size to hold all your lawn and gardening equipment, and it looks great too.
However, only one year later, you notice that the ground has settled, your shed is starting to lean to one side, the door begins to stick, and part of the floor is warped. The shed you thought would last for years has only made it a matter of months before starting to have problems.
What happened?
You neglected one of the most important parts of your shed: its foundation.
Why Is It Important to Build a Shed Foundation?
Preparing the site of your shed is critical to increase its lifespan. It is crucial that you build a solid shed foundation to support it over the coming years. Regardless of what material or style of foundation you choose, having a strong base will protect your shed from issues like:
- Water Damage – Without a foundation allowing proper drainage, water can pool around or under your shed, causing rot, mold and mildew.
- Unstable Structure – A weak or uneven base can lead to your shed shifting, leaning, cracking, or even collapsing.
- Floor Damage – An improper foundation could cause your shed’s floor to sag or warp, making it hard to use and potentially dangerous.
- High Maintenance Costs – All of the above issues will need to be fixed often, which means high repair costs over the life of your shed. If you neglected your foundation, be prepared to break out the checkbook for costly repairs.
Now that you know why it is so important to build a solid shed foundation, the next question you may have is “How do I build a shed base?” Before building a shed foundation (or having it done for you), you need to decide what type of base you want.
3 Common Types of Shed Foundations
1. Concrete Block Shed Foundation
This type of foundation is the simplest to build and requires little to no excavation unlike the other types. The base of the foundation is concrete blocks placed either on top of the ground or dug slightly into the ground, followed by multiple wooden skids on top of those and finally the shed itself. Before the shed is placed, the concrete blocks and skids must be checked to make sure they are all level and match each other, otherwise the shed could lay crooked or eventually begin to sag.
At Bald Eagle Barns, depending on size and style we use 2-5 pressure-treated 4×4 skids for our concrete block foundations to give your shed maximum support over its lifetime. This type of base is our go-to method because it provides an effective foundation while requiring no additional effort or expense for our customers. Most of our buildings include all concrete blocks needed for leveling. Our highly experienced delivery team will deliver, set-up, and level your new portable building at no additional charge.
2. Concrete Shed Foundation or Concrete Pad
While usually recommended as a base for garages or larger structures, a shed can have a concrete base as well. If you are building a large shed or a structure that will house large, heavy things like a car, you may want to consider a concrete pad as a floor for a stronger base. Additionally, this foundation is totally resistant to pests like termites and mice, as it is completely solid.
However, unless you are building the shed on-site and the concrete foundation will function as the floor (no wooden floor on the shed), this option is usually not chosen as it is more expensive and does not drain as well as the final type of shed foundation.
3. Gravel Shed Foundation or Gravel Pad
A gravel shed foundation is also a great choice as a foundation pad for prefab sheds, combining stability and drainage with a lower cost than a concrete pad. Some recommend it as their top choice for shed foundations.
A gravel pad under your shed acts like a large sponge, allowing water that would usually collect around the bottom of the shed to drain safely into the ground. Additionally, installing a gravel shed foundation is much quicker and easier than pouring a concrete base, so much so that you can do it yourself with less than a day’s work.
How To Install a Shed Foundation
Each type of foundation requires a different amount of work to install. A concrete block or cinder block foundation is much easier to lay than a complete concrete shed base in your backyard. Some of these options are easy to do yourself, while others may require some help. Read on to learn the process for installing each type of shed base.
How To Install a Concrete Block Shed Foundation
First and foremost, make sure the site is prepared and marked with the measurements of your shed. Second, place the concrete blocks or cinder blocks at each corner and around the edge of the foundation, making sure there is no more than 4-6 feet between the blocks (depending on your shed’s size and weight). Use a level to make sure each block is level and adjust as needed.
Once the concrete blocks are placed and leveled, lay your pressure-treated 4×4 or 6×6 wooden skids on top of the blocks. These should go perpendicular to the direction of the shed floor joists. Make sure the skids are evenly spaced and lined up with the cinder blocks. Use your level once again to make sure the skids are level.
At this point, your concrete block base is ready to have the shed put on top of it. Make sure everything is lined up and that the shed sits firmly on top of the foundation.
At Bald Eagle Barns, most of our sheds come with 5 pressure-treated 4×4 skids for concrete block foundations. With our Value Series and Diamond Series sheds we provide the blocks, meaning you can sit back and relax as we build your foundation and install your shed!
How To Install a Concrete Pad Foundation
First, mark out the dimensions of your concrete pad and clear any rocks or debris. Dig down 6-8 inches into the ground, giving enough room for the stone and concrete. Tamp down the earth at the bottom of the excavated area, then add 3-4 inches of gravel or crushed stone and tamp that down as well. At this point, you have made a solid base for the concrete that will also allow for some drainage underneath the concrete pad.
Once the tamped stone is in place, you will need to use 2×4 or 2×6 boards to build the forms to hold the concrete in place. Assemble the forms around the excavated area, making sure they are level and square, and then secure them with stakes or fasten them together to be removed after the concrete is poured.
Next, using concrete you made or had brought in, pour the concrete on top of the stone 4 inches thick, spreading it evenly within the forms. Once the concrete reaches the surface, level it off and smooth it to your liking. After the concrete has cured (typically after 48 hours), carefully remove the forms and finish smoothing any rough edges. It may be best to use a broom finish on the new concrete pad to prevent any slippery spots, but the final finish is up to you.
How To Install a Gravel Shed Base
A gravel base is much simpler and cheaper to build than a concrete pad. To start, clear the area where your shed will go and mark it off using stakes and string. Similar to a concrete foundation, dig 4-6 inches down for smaller sheds and 8 inches for larger sheds. Tamp down the dirt at the bottom of the excavated area.
If your shed is on a slope, you will either have to build up or dig out the backend to make sure you end up with a flat surface of gravel. Use treated 4x6s to build a retaining wall to either keep the stone in or keep dirt from filling up against the shed once it is installed.
Once the excavated area is complete and any retaining walls are built and leveled, pour your gravel into the foundation and tamp it down well to make sure it won’t move once the shed is placed on top. There are different types of gravel or crushed stone you can use for your gravel pad, so you can choose whichever type of gravel you feel is best.
After the gravel has been filled and tamped down well, your gravel base is ready to provide a porous, stable foundation for your new shed for years to come!
Contact Bald Eagle Barns About Your Shed Foundation or Other Outdoor Structure
No matter what size or style of shed you are looking for, Bald Eagle Barns can find you the perfect shed for your property. If you need a high-end shed, our Diamond Series sheds include installation of a concrete block foundation so you do not have to worry about picking between foundation types!
We offer a wide variety of speciality modern sheds to fit all your style and size needs, as well as metal value sheds if you want something more simple. All of our Arkansas sheds are available for viewing on our inventory page or in person on our lot, so you can see what you like before making a decision. If that’s not enough, you can design a shed in our 3D shed builder and get an estimate all in one place!
If you have any other shed foundation questions or are interested in getting a new shed or other outdoor structure for your Arkansas property, give us a call or submit a contact form online today!