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What do I use for my She Shed Foundation?

How to Choose the Best Foundation for Your Shed. 

Wondering what is the best foundation for your shed?  We can help with a few options on how you could best prepare the spot for the ground. The most important thing is that the ground needs to be level. Why? An uneven surface or moving ground could cause the doors to jam and not open/shut with ease, and it could cause part of the shed to drop or boards to become loose.

You have several options, and these depend on things like:

  • How flat the surface is that you wish to place your shed on?
  • Do you wish to move your shed in the future?
  • Do you want to add a small deck?
  • How much weight do you want to place on the floor of your shed?

Bearers on the Ground

The easiest and quickest option for those with a very flat surface is to place your treated bearers straight on the ground. This can be on grass if you have a nice hard, flat site and this makes it relatively easy to move it later.

This is also very similar to placing your shed on skids.

bedroom set up in a timber cabin

Bearers on Skids

If you are wanting to move your shed around your property make sure your skids are strong and can take the weight and movement of the shed. Generally, the larger the shed the larger and stronger the skids need to be. Notching into your floor joists or bearers will help with strength.

how to build a cabin foundation on skids

Bearers on a Gravel Pad

  • Step 1. Dig out the soil to a depth of approx. 15 cm and check your surface is level.
  • Step 2. Create a frame around your square with some 6” x 1” timber (this will help to stop the dirt falling back in and create a solid surface).
  • Step 3. Optionally, lay a membrane over the exposed earth to help stop moisture.
  • Step 4. Add your gravel keeping it slightly lower than the top of your timber.

Your treated bearers will now have a good solid base to sit on.

gravel pad for a base on a shed
bearers for a foundation on a kitset cabin

Concrete Pad

You could opt to place your bearers on a concrete pad. This is a more expensive option but will create a very solid base for your She Shed.

  • Step 1. Mark and measure the area.
  • Step 2. Create the frame with timber
  • Step 3. Dig out the area, removing roots of trees. Level and compact the soil.
  • Step 4. A small garden shed will not need reinforcing mesh but you can add this is you wish. Pour your concrete filling the whole area.
  • Step 5. Screed off making the concrete level. Tamp down well in the corners. As the concrete begins to set smooth off with a trowel.
  • Step 6. Let the concrete cure. (If the weather is hot and dry, water down the concrete with a hose to stop it drying out too fast.) Give it at least a week to cure correctly (you can cover it with plastic or a tarpaulin to help slow the drying process).
concrete shed foundation for a kitset cabin

Piles

Another option that works well for both a flat or contoured site, is to sit your wooden shed on blocks or piles. These can be either floating (sitting on top of the ground for a flat site) or you could choose to concrete them in place if your site is not level (a more permanent option). This lifts your shed up off the ground and gives you the opportunity to create a level base with the bonus of being able to add a small deck or steps.

Make sure you have enough blocks/piles for the size of your shed as you want to make sure your timber bearers are not put under excessive strain.

If you choose to put in piles this will also provide a good solid anchorage point for those sheds that are in high wind zones.

raised foundation for a man cave
tiny house being built

Steel Frame

A steel frame is a good option if you wish to move the shed to a different location in the future, as transportation is easier with the steel frame attached to the shed.

The frame can then be bolted to steel or wooden piles, which can then either be concreted into the ground or bolted to another solid surface.

steel foundations for a small building
Foundation options for small buildings and sheds
Foundations and start of the build of a log cabin

Concrete Foundation Blocks

This Ranch has been built on DEKO concrete foundation blocks with treated pine bearers.

foundations for a portable office
building a backyard pod for a sleepout

Whatever you think may work well for you and your site, remember it is always a good idea to put a little bit of research into what works best for your area. Always make sure your shed foundations are level and take into consideration the size of your shed, your site, what purpose you have for your kitset shed and weigh this up with the cost to make your project a positive experience.

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