Shed Foundation -- Do It Right Or Else

By: Fred Jackson Click author's name for more of his/her articles

When purchasing a shed, the foundation is often the last thing that most people think of. Overlook this step though, and it could cause you problems later. If you don't start with a decent foundation, you're setting yourself up for troubles down the road. Do it once, and do it right the first time, and you'll have a shed that will last for a long time.

Here's how it breaks down:

-Wood-based shed foundation
-Concrete pier foundation
-Concrete slab foundation

Wood Shed foundation

Believe it or not wood foundations can be one of the best. It's fast, not very expensive, and you don't have as many problems with rot as you may initially suspect if you get treated beams.The most important thing with this design is that you want to find ways of allowing moisture to evaporate out of the wood easily. If you ever need to move your shed, wood foundations will make it that much easier to accomplish. Even though it can be a heck of a lot more simple to move around than other foundations you do still need pretty level ground first.

Pier Shed Foundation

Concrete piers are nice when your ground isn't level. Piers are ideal for evening out the uneven surfaces. Concrete will also not rot like a wood foundation can. Over time, it will last quite a bit longer. The one disadvantage is that it sacrifices some freedom in movement, although it certainly isn't considered permanent.

Concrete Shed Foundation

A concrete slab is the best choice if you don't ever anticipate needing to relocate the shed in the future. Consider that foundation stationary, and permanent. A concrete foundation done correctly is hands-down the best choice in this case, but just make sure that it's completely smooth flat and level. You want to be sure you do your homework though. Ideally you want a smooth surface for your shed to lay on. That's the ultimate goal and if your foundation done properly, you'll be well on your way.