When you invest in a garden shed, it needs a firm foundation or base. Water needs to drain freely away, other the base of a wooden shed will rot. It also helps with insulation and keeping rodents and pest from finding their way into the shed. But what are the options?
#1 Wooden frame, pedestal base
If the ground is uneven or hard and rocky, many people opt for a wooden frame pedestal base.
One benefit is that the shed will have a level base as it can be adjusted to cancel out any contours in the ground beneath.
On the downside, it can take time to prepare and this wood can also rot over time too.
#2 Concrete plinth
A common garden shed base is a concrete plinth. In most cases, the plinth is marked out the match the dimensions of the shed base completely as this helps to seal the base of the shed from rain and moisture.
It can be laid at ground level which many people opt for so that access to the shed is easy and there is no need for steps or a ramp.
As a DIY project, it takes time and energy to lay a concrete plinth and unless you have the right tools, it can be costly if you hire equipment as well as the buy the materials.
We offer a concrete slab base laying service as part of supplying and building garden buildings in Scotland. We can include damp proofing to further protect the shed or garden pavilion too.
#3 Strip foundations
These are rare but can work for some garden sheds and buildings although it does depend on their use and location.
These strips are light train tracks as they run parallel to each other but there is a gap between each of a few feet, depending on the size of the shed.
Concrete is poured into long wooden moulds, the sides of which are removed when the concrete has cured.
A damp proof membrane is then laid between the strips and gravel added to prevent moisture and plant life from coming through. The building is then erected on top.
#4 Paving slabs
Another common shed base is paving slabs. They can create a decorative platform which is useful if you intend on hard landscaping around the edges of the shed.
As a DIY project, if you have the time and the tools, this can be an effective shed base. However, it needs to be laid completely level otherwise the shed will move as you use it.
It can create a really aesthetically pleasing finish although it can be costly, more so if you opt for professional installation.
There are other potential bases for sheds too, including ground pins and concrete pillars. But most people opt for the study finish of a concrete plinth. Robust and strong, it will last a lifetime.
