Building A Wood Storage Shed? Learn About Getting Properly Grounded

Many times the floor for a storage shed is neglected, but it should be the most important part. Learn the different types so you won't make the mistake of taking a shed's foundation lightly.

What's the most important part of a storage shed? Is it the roof, true the roof is important, but not the most important. Is it the framing, no not that either. The most important part of a storage shed is the foundation. You can build the nicest shed in the world, but if you don't have a solid foundation it isn't going to work very well. Most people overlook the foundation, or try to cut back costs on the floor, but I'm telling you that you shouldn't. If anything you should throw more money into the floor if you want the shed to last.

The first thing that you should consider is how big the storage shed is going to be because this will determine what type of foundation should be used. There are two types of foundations and they are on-ground/floating foundations and permanent/"frost-proof" foundations.

On-Ground ? This is the easier type of foundation to build out of the two. It is used for smaller sheds, usually recommended for 200 sq ft or less. These can be made using solid concrete blocks laid out evenly in rows or with parallel rows of pressure treated timber (aka skids). In both cases they all get leveled out so that the floor can sit or "float" on top. Also they should sit on 2-4 inches of gravel to help prevent rotting and erosion.

Permanent ? This is for larger sheds, like over 200 sq ft. These foundations are dug down into the ground past the frost point and then either a concrete slab is poured or wooden posts are used. This is to ensure that the shed will not move due to the seasonal freezes/thaws.

Also be sure to use "pressure treated timber" rated for ground contact in the skids and frame. This will stop erosion and rotting from happening. Also you can use "pressure treated plywood" for the floor just to make sure.

So when you want to build a storage shed, you just need to figure out how big it is going to be to figure out what type of foundation to lay. Just remember that the floor is the most important part, and usually the most neglected, so don't make that mistake and go the extra mile.

I hope that you thought this information was valuable, but if you would like to learn more check out some of my other articles that I have written for this site or check out my website Wood Storage Shed Plans. Packed with over 12,000 different storage sheds and woodworking plans, and hundreds of pages of woodworking tips and tricks, this is a valuable resource for any enthusiast. Also check out my wood storage shed blog.