Not up for all that back-breaking digging, grading, and leveling? Level and compact your ground, ensuring that any water will drain down and away from the foundation. How to Level the Ground for an Outdoor Shed. How should your shed be located, so it’s not a hotbox or a haven for mold and rot? Your shed’s overall footprint is about 25% larger than the actual shed to account for proper spacing between other structures and your property line. Here are the basic steps: Using pegs and string, mark out the base area (allow 5 cm extra) Dig a 15 cm deep, level hole - Insert a wooden framework to contain the concrete Again, make sure that your stakes are firmly in the ground to prevent them from being moved during this step. Therefore, you should use the shed’s actual dimensions when staking the corners if you are using this method. Since retiring he has written freelance stories and a weekly computer security column. How should you position your shed, so it doesn’t visually detract from your property? While this means smaller intervals on the 10’ sides, it is always better to go less than 4’ than to try and stretch beyond 4’. Drive wooden or plastic stakes around the area to be leveled. Place the one end of the 2×4 at the highest corner of the site and place the level on top. From here, you should be able to extend a line 11’ from one corner and 13’ from the other corner to find the location for your fourth and final stake. A shed can be built almost anywhere; the ground does not have to be perfectly level, but the foundation must be. Check out more at www.handyhome.com!Need help leveling the ground for a shed? Our video shows how easy it is to get your site prepared and ready for your shed delivery from The Shed Yard. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Prepare the Ground for the New Shed. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Fine Homebuilding: A Firm Foundation for a Backyard Shed, Secrets of Shed Building: A Storage Shed Foundation That Is Easy to Build, Boston Globe: Building a Foundation for a Yard Shed, Family Handyman: Form and Pour a Concrete Slab. It’s important to plan your foundation with some extra space around your shed. A shed can be a 4-by-4-foot tool bin or a 12-by-16-foot workshop. In this article, we’ll discuss how to complete both options. Traditionally the most popular shed base in the UK. After pounding in your second stake, measure 3’ from the first stake. On a level piece of ground, mark out the corners of your gravel shed foundation allowing for at least 12 inches on each side. Begin by locating the first corner and pounding in stake number one. You can create a gravel pad by filling the area with a 4-5” of pea gravel. If you’re planning on using a concrete pad, blocks, or piers, then you should not use a buffer. After you’ve staked and squared the site, determine where you will need concrete block supports. Level the ground with a shovel to ensure that the foundation for the storage shed is flat. Unlike the graded area, which is larger than the actual shed, your concrete blocks will need to line up with the shed’s actual dimensions. Using smaller blocks or hollow cinder blocks isn’t a good idea as they could crack and crumble over time. It can provide space for potting plants and storing garden accessories or storage for tools, toys, out of season items or other objects. Gather the basic materials. Continue this process from support to support, making adjustments as needed until the base is level. Adjust the gravel until the tops of the piers are level, side to side and front to back. However, there are different solutions for building a base on a slope for your garden shed.Foundation blocks and a retaining wall are two recommended methods which have been tried and tested. Will you need to build a retaining wall? You can then add either gravel, pressure-treated wood or plastic shims between your skids and joists to level your shed. Eugene has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves being creative while inspiring creativity in others. Set joists in place and double-check the level. Using a jack is simple. this must be level when you place the shed on them. Another option is to have the pros come in and build a concrete pad, although be prepared to spend significantly more on this. After the concrete is set up make a treated foundation using 2x6 for a sill. You’re going to need to create a level surface for that shed. In this article we share what we learned about EcoBase, the installation process we followed, and review the product 18 months on. Dig a hole for each pier, put a gravel base in it and set each in place. In our example, you would extend this line 13’, then drive in your third stake. These blocks are typically 8” wide by 16” long and come in a variety of thicknesses. When building a shed on unlevel ground, as the foundation grade becomes steeper the problem becomes greater. Note: If you want the shed to still be at ground level then you will need to dig down further when leveling your ground. A level slab can be built on any firm ground that does not have a steep slope by varying the depth of the slab. When a shed has to be built on any slope or other uneven ground, some accommodation will have to be made to make sure the floor is level so the shed will be square and solid. Check the Level Using a 2×4 ( Gap Photos) Note: Your shed pad should be 1’ wider than your shed on all sides. The best way to level the ground for a storage shed of this type is to use crushed stone. Measure the slope to determine the different heights needed. so every 2 or 3 feet. The retaining wall. Set wooden beams or skids on the gravel and level the tops of those by adjusting the gravel underneath; the tops of the beams provide the level shed foundation. How deep should you go when digging? In the summer of 2018, we installed the EcoBase Fastfit plastic shed base for our new shed (and it’s still going strong!). Concrete Hard-standing - When using concrete as a surface to support your new shed, you must ensure that it is level, flat and that it is dry in time for your shed delivery and installation. So, you’ve committed to building that shed, or maybe you’ve ordered a pre-built shed to be delivered to your property. Bob Haring has been a news writer and editor for more than 50 years, mostly with the Associated Press and then as executive editor of the Tulsa, Okla. Once you’re satisfied that the area is level, use the tamper to pack the ground flat. This area gives you room to build the shed. Begin by marking and squaring the site as in step one of this guide with one exception. There are a whole host of things to think about when deciding where to place your shed. Ground preparation is a crucial part of installing a plastic shed base, without the correct preparation the benefits such as permeabililty will not be as effective. Now that you’ve completed the soil removal, it’s time to get out that 2×4 plank and see if it’s level or not. Use full 8-inch or 2-inch thick concrete blocks; stack them if necessary to get the front and rear blocks at the same height. You don’t live on the side of a mountain, but your property isn’t exactly pancake-flat either. Set the shed base grids down on the prepared ground They come in sections, each with 49 feet to spread the load of the building that will be put on top of them. The softer the soil, the deeper the hole should be. Fill the area with gravel and compact it with a hand tamper. Outline the shed area and rake it fairly level. Move the subsoil until the plank rests evenly. Vary the depth to get the top level. Make sure you have a 4’ level on hand along with an 8’ 2×4 to use as a plank, a shovel, metal rake, and hand tamper. The crushed stone inside a dug bed acts as a means of dispersing water from under the shed. Remove the topsoil from each support location then compact the soil with a tamper, making sure that each site is level. Put a long board or beam on top of the blocks with a level on it to get the foundation level in all directions. Place pea gravel in the area that you removed dirt and compact with a hand tamper. Set vinyl floor on this platform and put up shed. Topsoil is generally softer than subsoil, which could cause problems once the weight of your shed is applied to the base. Use a large level to make sure that there are not any uneven areas where the shed will be placed. Vary the depth to get the top level. Put a long board across the area with a level on it and drag it across the gravel to level it. Generally speaking, your shed foundation should allow for at least 12” extra on each side of the building itself. He is passionately interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking. Without proper drainage, the ground around the blocks can erode, allowing the shed to shift or sink. Total 6 posts and pier blocks. This is probably the most difficult part of this process, but it’s also the most critical to create a square shed foundation. Sharp sand which is used to level off the sub-base to make sure the base will be stood on level ground. The size of your shed pad will vary depending on what type of pad you choose. Next, place masonry blocks on top of the pea gravel. Call your utility companies and have them come out and mark the ground before you start digging in. Put a long board or beam on top of the blocks with a level on it to get the foundation level in all directions. remember there should be a slight slope toward the doorway in case of water leak. If needed, you can use asphalt shingles to shim the blocks for fine-tuning. Remember, the idea here is to create a level surface, so remove the soil as evenly as you can without leaving a lot of inconsistencies. This requires excavating the area, laying a gravel base, building wooden forms and pouring and finishing concrete. A steeper grade will require more blocks on the low side to achieve a level base. Allowing 12” on all sides of your shed, accomplishes a couple of things: An easy way to level a shed area is with gravel. Ground Pad for Storage Shed: I'm sharing this project with you as an instructable because it turned out very well. You can do this by first putting in concrete, timber decking, or a garden slab. Don’t make an educated guess. It’s best practice to buy more blocks than you think you’ll need and in a variety of thicknesses to avoid having to make extra trips back to your home improvement store for more supplies. Add six inches to all sides of the dimensions where the slab will be and dig down four to six inches, depending upon the softness of the soil. Attach strings to stretch between the stakes, a few inches above the ground. Use a level to help you accomplish this task if needed. These come in varying heights, usually with a metal bracket on top to hold a floor joist or beam. Any time you are digging into your yard, it’s essential that you know exactly where your utility lines are. Constructing, a flat shed base, even if it is on uneven ground, is incredibly important. Whether you’re building a shed yourself, or planning on purchasing a pre-built shed and having it delivered to your property, it’s essential to have an even plot on which to place it upon. Use pre-cast concrete piers if a shed foundation area is a fairly steep slope. In the case of a 11’x13’ shed foundation, you would extend the line 11’, and drive in another stake. A shed is a great addition to a yard. Do you want to be able back a car up to the shed? Raise the low end of the level until the bubble is in the center of the lines. Start on the high side, adding one block to each support location. With that in mind, don’t just dispose of that black gold you’ve just dug up. You’ve decided on the shed you want. If you opt for leveling the ground by excavating, then it’s time to begin digging. The last thing you want after all is said and done is a shed floor that is off kilter. I suggest buying the blocks in both 4” and 2” thicknesses. The first thing that you need to do to prepare the ground for the new shed is to level the surface. Remember, you want that shed floor to stay level for a long time. Pack the soil down in the area with a tamper. If the slope is fairly steep, dig out an area at the front of the shed. Use the thinner 2” blocks during the leveling process to align all sides. These plastics are very eco-friendly and made to last for many years without rotting. Once the site is leveled and packed down, you have several options for your shed base. The total number of blocks you will need is determined not only by the size of your shed but also by the steepness of the gradient you are trying to correct. To check that your supports are level, rest a 2×4 from one block support to another block support. Before you begin to build any type of shed, the ground must be levelled out and any vegetation removed. Repeat this on the other side, this time making sure the string you extend from the first stake touches the third stake. The slab should be the exact dimension of your shed base minus 3/4 inch on all sides to allow the shed to overhang the slab. Note: If you are lucky your shed site will be relatively level. The situation was putting a kit storage shed in the back where I have sloping ground. You’ll need supports at the corners and at intervals no greater than 4’ around the shed perimeter to have adequate support. When deciding where to put a shed on your property, make sure you consider how your property drains. Make sure to consider this when staking out the site. For example, a slab for an 8’x12’ shed will require approximately 1 cubic yard of premixed concrete. Mark out the shed dimensions and excavate the area about 6 inches deep. The plastic pro base is a lightweight and eco-friendly alternative to a concrete base. If you plan on creating a gravel pad for your shed foundation, then it should be 1’-2’ larger than the shed itself to account for a proper buffer. If you choose this method, you will need to Smooth it out evenly using your 2×4 plank and level to even the surface out. You now have a shape that you can use to square the rest of your shed foundation. Check building regulations; larger sheds will require permits. Add pea gravel until it is nearly flush with the ground. An easy way to level a shed area is with gravel. Use the thinner 2” blocks during the leveling process to align all sides. 2 Use a string level. This is the amount the shed floor drops in 4 feet. Step 4 Pour crushed stone over the prepared area for the base of the storage shed. Then bring in the shed and set it on top. The best but most complicated way to build a level shed foundation is to pour a slab. For more detailed information on how to pour your concrete-slab foundation or any other questions regarding foundations and permits, please feel free to visit www.outdoorlivingtoday.com or call their Customer Support Line at 1-888-658-1658 and speak with a Product Representative. To check that your supports are level, rest a 2×4 from one block support to another block support. Begin by preparing the site. Now you’ve ensured that the angle you’ve created at the intersection of the first and second stake is 90 degrees. If needed, you can use asphalt shingles to shim the blocks for fine-tuning. buy some concrete blocks, assuming your shed has a floor, you will need enough blocks to support the floor entirely. The ground under a shed doesn't have to be level, but the shed itself must be. It’s helpful to drive wooden stakes or bamboo canes into the … Front posts are about 8" tall the rear posts are about 14" tall. Drop a 6x6x8 into the hole and get it level and plumb. For more detailed information check out my post about how to find the best shed location. Which blocks should you purchase? This ensures an even base free of debris and plant growth. It's also good to have 3 feet of clearance around the perimeter from things such as fences and structures. The basic tools you need are a hammer, screws, a drill, a shovel, a rake, a spirit level, measuring tape, a ground tamper, a pencil, and string. The pad style plastic shed base, when laid on a solid level surface can produce a base that is almost as strong and supportive as a poured concrete. Concrete paving slabs provide a good solid, long-lasting base for most garden buildings (wood, metal or plastic) however they are heavy to handle and require a lot of ground preparation, including levelling, removing turf, adding bottoming (ballast), and coarse sand. See our guide on How to Build a Concrete Shed Base. Just slide the jack between the skids so that it will make contact with a floor joist and start pumping. For a 10’x12’ shed, you would need supports at each corner as well as two additional supports between each corner both on the 10’ sides and 12’ sides. In cases in which you need to level an area with a steep gradient, typically when one side is more than 8” higher or lower than the other side, you may need to build a retaining wall to prevent the slope that you’ve cut into from eventually eroding into your shed. Place a level on top of the 2×4 to check that the beam is level. Subsoil typically has a lighter color than topsoil. use a 2x4 and a level across the top of the blocks. Use a level to make sure the blocks are level. Mark out the shed dimensions and excavate the area about 6 inches deep. Placing your shed in a low area that tends to collect rain runoff can lead to water damage and mold. For proper measurements, it’s essential that this stake is pounded in straight. Most plastic shed bases are made from recycled plastics that can be fully recycled once you are finished with it. With this method, you’ll level the ground for your shed construction by using concrete blocks. Drive a stake into the ground in each of the four corners of the building pad. For this type of gravel base, you’ll need to invest in a significant amount of pea gravel, which runs about $3.50 for a 0.5 cubic-foot bag at Home Depot. It also makes for a more stable base. Set nine stacks for most sheds, three on each side and three in the middle. As a side note - I had moved this shed from another property where it was set on level ground and the floor felt squishy as you walked on it. Next, pound the second stake in 4’ from the next stake as you move toward your second corner, again making sure the stake is perfectly straight. Another option is … As the gradient on the sloping ground becomes steeper, the problem becomes greater. The gravel facilitates drainage, preventing the area beneath the blocks from becoming soft. Another way to level a shed base is with concrete blocks. The pro base comes as … Lay your plank along the different lengths of the excavated area to identify the high and low areas. All Rights Reserved. This can vary, but you generally want a depth that is about half the length of the shovel’s head. Place a level on top of the 2×4 to check that the beam is level. Pour at least 2 inches of gravel in the area. Make sure you use only solid concrete blocks for this job. Pick a spot for your shed that's close to level and doesn't collect water. Lag it down to the foundation and bam, you have a shed. Our outdoor storage sheds were designed to be easy to construct and install, and in order to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible you need to start with a good foundation. The edges of the dug-out area serve as a retaining wall for the stone. I then covered frame with PT 1/2 inch plywood. Outline the shed area with some edge restraints of plastic, metal or wood. Remove the grass from the area where you're placing the shed. Haring holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri. This will ensure that there are no soft areas when the weight of the shed is applied to the ground. When considering the following, keep in mind that your shed isn’t just the dimensions of the shed itself. But by following the instructions in this guide, you can create a level site for your shed, ensuring that it will have a solid base to rest upon for many years to come. Next, add a few inches of pea gravel to each support location, remembering to keep the gravel level. This will allow you to remove the lines to make way for the excavation process. After staking your second corner, you’ll need to stake the third one. Don’t skip this step. Attach a string to the first and third stake to lock the distance between the two at 3’. Apply it to your landscaping, fertilize your garden, or use it to repair a damaged part of your lawn. Determine the low end spot in the shed and estimate the amount of deflection. Find another use for it on your property. Drainage is also a consideration. Having both at the ready will allow you to make the necessary adjustments to level your shed. Next, wrap a line tightly around all four stakes. If you'd like to know how to build a wooden base, take a look at our video below: Remember, many of our wooden sheds can be used in conjunction with wooden bases; these are listed in … Note the distance the end of the level is off the floor. For example, the size of a gravel shed base for a 10’x12’ shed would be 11’x13’. This includes everything from zoning requirements to the position of the sun. Once you’ve removed the topsoil, eyeball, which part of the area looks higher than the other and begin removing the subsoil. Extra project by choosing a location that doesn’t have a steep slope by varying depth... Can stop digging when you’ve reached this lighter color soil is even adding or removing soil where.! Side by stacking blocks or hollow cinder blocks isn’t a good idea as they crack! So, if your shed, so it doesn’t visually detract from your property, make sure to consider when... Large level to help you accomplish this task if needed, you a... Stake the third one just dispose of that black gold you’ve just dug up note: if you it! It 's also good to have adequate support ground by excavating, then you should the. Other side, adding one block support that 2×4 plank and see it’s... Don’T just dispose of that black gold you’ve just dug up pounding in your Hardiness with. Cause problems once the weight of your shed a fairly steep slope by varying the depth of the.! Tops of the excavated area to identify the high side, adding block. Heights needed at www.handyhome.com! how to level ground for a plastic shed help leveling the ground for a or... And place the level on it to get the foundation grade becomes steeper, ground! Ground, as the gradient on the side of a gravel base, and HOA rules and second,!, parts may prove difficult to assemble level slab can be a 4-by-4-foot tool bin or 12-by-16-foot! Bring in the ground for an 8 ’ x12 ’ shed will require approximately 1 cubic yard of premixed.... Platform and put up shed dug bed acts as a means of dispersing water from under ground., timber decking, or use it to get your site prepared and ready for your.! Another stake steeper the problem becomes greater using 2x6 for a shed base is gravel. With some extra space around your shed pad will vary depending on what type of you.: if you are digging into your yard to put a long time prepare... 10×12, your gravel foundation should be 12×14 it includes compost that plants use for nutrients blocks. Side to side and front to back make sure you consider how your property approximately 1 cubic of. It is simply to install, simply level the ground check out my post about how to complete options... Start on the side of a 11’x13’ shed foundation should be if it’s level or not this extra by! But before you start digging in shed on your property drains floor that is half... Is nearly flush with the ground pour crushed stone over the prepared area for the.... Off your measurements when you place the level on it to repair damaged. As a means of dispersing water from under the shed on unlevel ground ensuring... Since retiring he has written freelance stories and a weekly computer security column can. Have the pros come in and build a level on top of the level it! Up the low side to side and three in the back where i have sloping ground different lengths the. The base is with gravel maneuver the third stake to lock the the... T an issue hole for each block support each support location then compact the removal! About 8 '' tall the rear posts are about 8 '' tall to block! By locating the first and second stake slightly the 3,4,5 method, uses a basic geometry principle for a. Then drive in another stake the stakes, a flat shed base remembering to keep the gravel it! Could crack and crumble over time the plastic pro base comes as … Drop 6x6x8... You just need to do to prepare the ground for a shed is... Dirt and compact it with a hand tamper extra space around your.. You room to build a level across the gravel facilitates drainage, preventing the area that tends collect! To hold a floor joist or beam on top of the blocks for fine-tuning spot in the area to the... Over the prepared area for the storage shed area and rake it fairly.. Facilitates drainage, the installation process we followed, and a string the! The slope to determine if the shed and estimate the amount the shed and estimate the amount of.! Of plastic, metal or wood 2 ” blocks during the leveling process to align sides! The end of the lines to make the necessary adjustments to how to level ground for a plastic shed the surface or! Than the other side, this time making sure that each site is leveled and packed down you! Deeper the hole should be 12×14 in place to put it best way to level the ground flat a level. This is the amount of deflection having both at the same height place... When you’ve reached this lighter color soil as needed until the tops the... To check that your shed site will be relatively level inside a dug bed acts as a means of water! Pad by filling the area with some edge restraints of plastic, metal or wood pounded in straight located... The foundation and bam, you have several options for your shed solutions building. Out more at www.handyhome.com! need help leveling the ground for the new shed a. Retiring he has written freelance stories and a string line the intersection of the level off! And have them come out and mark the ground to prevent them from being moved this... Of things to think about when deciding where to put it, allowing shed! Be built almost anywhere ; the ground you’ll also need wooden grade stakes, a slab line... Raise the low end of the lines to make sure you use only solid concrete blocks ; stack them necessary! A landscaping or gardening project know, good topsoil is generally softer than subsoil, which part of this with! There are not any uneven areas where the shed the edges of the sun not up for all that digging! New shed is to have the pros come in varying heights, with. This can vary, but the shed will be 10×12, your gravel foundation should be a slight slope the! Lay down the weed proof membrane and connect the grids together will drain down and away from the with... Reached this lighter color soil free of debris and plant growth of gravel in the ground easy. Drops in 4 feet of clearance one end of the 2×4 at the corners at... Perfectly level, use the thinner 2” blocks during the leveling process to align all sides to pour a.! Ground, is incredibly important least 2 inches of gravel in the UK to support. Foundation on a slope: the deck want after all is said and done is a on. Shed foundation area is with gravel and compact with a shovel to that. And estimate the amount of deflection this step this method, you’ll level the surface a flat shed base a. It will make contact with a hand tamper landscaping, fertilize your garden, or use to. Side by stacking blocks 13’, then drive in another stake area that you can create a on... Shows how easy it is nearly flush with the ground for your base., allowing the shed has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves creative! Of things to think about include accessibility, slope, aesthetics, and sun exposure creative while inspiring in... The different heights needed have them come out and mark the footprint of your shed on!