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7 Steps to the Best Shed Foundation

Setting up the right foundation for your shed is key to its overall success.

When it comes to building a shed that’s going to stand the test of time, the importance of having the best quality foundation should not be underestimated.

The foundation of a shed is the first – and most important – piece of the puzzle when building your new shed and provides the base from which your structure can grow.

In many ways, the key to your shed’s success starts at the very beginning of the process - before the foundation is even laid!

To ensure the future strength of your shed, make sure you take the time to plan the foundation – trust us, this is not part of the process that you want to rush.

Your first decision to make is the type of foundation you want to build with. There are two main types of foundations to choose from – concrete or gravel.

Once you’ve selected your material of choice, locate a site and ensure that the soil is suitable for digging. Keeping an eye out for rocks, electric wires, waterlines and pipes should be at the forefront of your mind.

An ideal site to build on should have a buffer of approximately three meters around it to provide machinery with enough room to move, as well as allowing water to drain away from the site.

 Tips to pave the way for a concrete foundation
  1. Compact the ground to make sure the soil is level. Once it’s flat, set out the dimensions of your slab using stakes and twine. There’s more advice on this essential step included in your Allied Shed Kit.
  2. Add six inches to each side of the dimensions where the slab will be and dig out four to six inches downward. These metrics are dependent on the softness of the soil – if the soil is very soft, the hole can go deeper.
  3. Compact the ground firmly and make it level by using a mechanical compactor.
  4. Line it using a four-inch thick layer of gravel, or use a substrate.
  5. For the next step, build a mold out of wooden formmold so that you can pour in the concrete slab.
  6. Square off the mold to ensure its level.
  7. Mix and pour the concrete, ensuring that you do so at a time where you can let it set for several days.
Tips to rock a gravel foundation
  1. Start with a compact surface by leveling out the ground.
  2. Create a cushion of two to three meters around the perimeter of the shed dimensions.
  3. Also ensure there is enough buffer around the perimeter to allow for water to drain from the site.
  4. Install an outer frame of pressure treated 2-inch-by-6-inch wood on a vertical edge.
  5. Stake the inside of each of the corners with a 2-inch-by-2-inch stake to secure the frame.
  6. Pack the mould with gravel to start your shed’s foundation.
  7. Your shed should either rest on this foundation on skids, or on a wood frame on concrete spacers set out in the gravel.
Ready to learn more?

Book a specialist meeting with Allied Sheds to find out more about the shed building process, and what you need to consider when it comes to your next shed.

Request A Detailed Custom Shed Plan from Allied Sheds

Request A Detailed Plan from Allied Sheds