When it comes to purchasing a shed, the foundation that it will be placed on top of is oftentimes easily overlooked - even though it is possibly the most important part of placing your shed.
While there are several options for your shed’s foundation, the price for materials and installation as well as the difficulty of the task itself are key considerations you have to make when deciding what type of foundation is right for you and your shed.
Concrete
Pavers
If you want a concrete foundation and are looking for something you can do with relatively little labor, then concrete pavers are the way to go. As long as you are consistently checking and double-checking that your surface is level, then placing pavers throughout the surface area of your shed’s base is an easy and inexpensive way to create a strong foundation.
Blocks
You can also utilize blocks of concrete to raise your shed’s base off the ground and into a level position. If you are placing your shed in an area of uneven ground, it is critical that your concrete blocks are all level with each other because they will form the basis for your shed’s foundation.
Depending on how large your shed is, you might need more than the standard one block per corner to ensure a strong and stable foundation.
Slabs
The most labor-intensive concrete option is also the one that will give you the best and strongest foundation. Concrete slabs are created by pouring out concrete into the designated area and then smoothing it out so that it is completely level. The entire process takes several steps and up to an entire month for the concrete to completely set.
It is not recommended that you take on a concrete slab project on your own. Professionals with years of experience will make sure that everything is done correctly so that your foundation is level and safe for your shed. This is the most expensive out of your concrete-based options but if your budget allows for it, a concrete slab is undoubtedly your best option.
Wood
You can also utilize wooden planks to create a strong base for your shed. Due to the fact that wood is susceptible to rotting, the wood itself cannot be on the ground. That said, using raised wood and creating a level space to lay the wood is necessary. You can use concrete blocks to achieve this as they are strong and will easily bear the weight of the wood and the shed itself.
If you’ve determined that concrete is not ideal for your project, wood is not expensive and can be done with the help of a few friends which also cuts down on the cost of potentially hiring a company to do it for you.
Gravel
If your shed comes pre-built with a floor, then a gravel base is a great choice for your foundation. While the shed is not going to be sitting directly on the gravel, it provides a strong base that you can plant wood planks or piers into in order to raise your shed off the ground.
You can also very easily use gravel as a foundation for unlevel ground. After you create a frame for your foundation, you can fill it with gravel so that it is completely level despite being in a part of your yard with some amount of slope.
One of the biggest advantages of gravel is that, in the event of heavy rain, the gravel will seep up the rainfall rather than allow it to puddle up underneath the shed. It’s also a less expensive alternative to concrete so you won’t have to break the bank to get a solid foundation.
Post and Beam
When the slope that you are looking to put your shed on is extreme, most of the other foundation options will either be too costly or too difficult. Concrete slabs might not be feasible because of the sheer amount of concrete that would need to be poured to create a level surface.
With post and beam, you are using raised wood posts to create a surface level with the top of the slope where the shed will be resting.
Oftentimes, this option is the least expensive and most effective way of dealing with slope, however, it is important to make sure your posts and beams are providing enough support for your shed so that there is no risk of collapse.
No matter the project or material used for your foundation, being level is the most important part. If your foundation is not level, it doesn’t matter how strong the material you are using is. Utilizing your level frequently as well as having a flat piece of wood handy can aid you in ensuring a level foundation for your storage shed.
If you have yet to purchase your storage shed, check out Country Cabins and their variety of products that range from garages to hunting cabins. With Country Cabins, you can have peace of mind knowing your product is designed and constructed by experts that care about quality products and customer satisfaction.