Preparing a base for your shed - Part One

Preparing a base for your shed – Part One

There are various bases which you can build your shed on. Whatever base you decide to use for your shed, you must ensure that the base for the shed is level and firm.

If the base for the shed is not level you will eventually have problems opening and closing the shed doors and windows. The shed walls may start to bow and all in all your shed will start to look unsightly in your garden.

One of the least expensive ways of building a base for your shed is a slab base. As the shed will be covering the base the slabs don’t have to be good to look at and can be old reclaimed slabs which will keep the cost down.

A good tip if you wish to have new slabs under the shed is to use reclaimed slabs in the middle of trhe base where they cant be seen and then on the outsides use newer smarter slabs which will be seen.

Try and make the base pretty much the same size as the shed base. If the slab base is much larger, when it rains the ran tends to bounce off the slabs and soak the corners of the shed. In the longer term this may lead the shed to rot before its time.

Building a shed on slabs will ensure a good, strong base and reduce damp under the shed.

Below is a guide on how to create a slab base for your shed.

Step 1: Ensure there are no cables or pipes in the area (seek expert
advice if necessary). Mark out a level area for the base.

Step 2: Excavate to a 70mm depth. Then, use 1 part cement and 8 parts
course sand to make a dry mix. Make enough for a depth of 45mm and
spread evenly using a rake until level.

Step 3: Lay the slabs using a rubber mallet to tap down the slabs and but
them together.

Once complete you are ready to build your shed. Part Two on building a base will cover a shingle base for your shed.