Knowledge Builders

do i need a base for my plastic shed

by Jed Abbott Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

The only time you wouldn't need some sort of foundation is if you have a very small 6×6 or 8×8 shed that is made out of rubber or plastic. And even in that case, we still highly recommend a gravel foundation to keep that little plastic shed from sinking into the ground or experience moisture problems as time goes on.

Are Plastic shed bases any good?

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. Most plastic shed bases are made from recycled plastics that can be fully recycled once you are finished with it. These plastics are very eco-friendly and made to last for many years without rotting.

Do you have to excavate for a Plastic shed?

Constructing a plastic shed base When you have determined the size of the base that you need you must make sure that the ground is clear. There is no true excavation required, however you must ensure that the ground upon which you are placing it is firm and level by filling in low points or leveling off high spots.

How do you build a simple shed base?

The only way to actually achieve this is by putting your shed on a good solid foundation such as a plastic shed base. One thing to keep in mind is that even if your base is slightly off kilter, you can always use thin strips of wood between it and your shed walls to adjust things for a perfect fit.

How are plastic sheds made?

Plastic Shed Base Foundation Plastic sheds are manufactured with resin sheets, each sheet requires a plumb alignment with the next panel and their fixing holes to line-up with the holes in the metal framework prior to securing with screws.

What is the best base for a shed?

What is a plastic shed made of?

What to do if your shed does not have a floor?

How to keep rainwater from splashing on bottom of shed?

How to keep a shed watertight?

What happens if you have a metal shed?

How big is a 6x6 shed base?

See 2 more

image

Can you put a plastic shed on the ground?

Plastic bases can be fitted on all types of surfaces including concrete, paving slabs, gravel, lawn and dirt. But you must ensure the surface is level before you start and that can involve quite a lot of preparation.

What do you put under a plastic shed base?

From any good builders merchant, you can buy these materials; Angular gravel or crushed aggregate which is used to create a sub-base. Decorative gravel is used to fill the shed base once it has been laid. Sharp sand is used to level off the sub-base to make sure the base will be stood on level ground.

How do you build a foundation for a plastic shed?

0:103:01How to lay a foundation base for a backyard storage shed - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsed about ten bags of that spread it all out evenly. And that should be about an inch thick inch.MoreUsed about ten bags of that spread it all out evenly. And that should be about an inch thick inch. And a half or.

Does a Keter shed need a base?

Please ensure a flat and level surface on which to build and locate your product. For larger items such as our Sheds, we recommend that you use a wooden or concrete base as a foundation.

Can you put a plastic shed on paving slabs?

One of the most common ways to construct a shed base is to use paving slabs. You can also opt for a plastic grid system shed base, a wooden shed base or a concrete shed base.

Does a Rubbermaid shed need a foundation?

All types of sheds need a level, stable base. The Rubbermaid Roughneck is a line of high-density plastic sheds. They install much like a big puzzle. The key to installing the shed and having the door work properly is to locate the shed on a level surface.

Can I use a plastic base for a plastic shed?

Thankfully, of all the shed base ideas you may have seen, laying a plastic base is an easy job – and much easier than building a concrete shed base, for example.

What should a shed sit on?

A gravel pad (crushed stone) with a lumber perimeter is the best shed foundation option in most cases. We recommend gravel shed foundations because they provide a stable base for your shed to rest on and do a great job of draining water away from the bottom of your shed.

What is the cheapest way to build a shed base?

Hi, The best way would be a concrete slab base and the cheapest way if the ground your putting the shed onto is reasonably level would be to lay pressure treated bearers across the joists of the shed base.

Do Keter sheds come with a floor?

Do all Keter sheds come with a floor? Yes, all Keter outdoor sheds come with a heavy-duty floor panel that is extremely sturdy when built on solid and level ground.

Can you put a shed straight onto concrete?

Concrete is the ideal foundation for a garage or a shed without a pre-built floor.

How long do Keter sheds last?

20 yearsHow Long Do Keter Sheds Last? Like all plastic sheds you would get at least 20 years of use from a Keter branded product. Whilst they don't require maintenance, with great care they could go on to last a lifetime.

Can you put a plastic shed base on grass?

Prepare the ground Even this bit is easier with a plastic pro base than it might be if you went for a concrete slab or any other method. This is because you can lay it directly over an existing lawn if you like, or over soil or gravel.

How much pea gravel do I need for plastic shed base?

The base allows for ventilation and drainage under the shed, helping to keep the shed floor dry. To install the base, simply interlock the square grids together and lay onto a firm, level area of ground. We recommend using 15kg of 10m pea gravel per square (gravel not included).

Can you use plastic shed base on concrete?

A very common question that we asked her at the Shed Base Company: “Can I install my plastic shed base directly on top of my existing concrete flooring?” To answer simply, yes.

What do you put under a shed?

A gravel pad (crushed stone) with a lumber perimeter is the best shed foundation option in most cases. We recommend gravel shed foundations because they provide a stable base for your shed to rest on and do a great job of draining water away from the bottom of your shed.

What is the best base for a shed?

Concrete. Concrete bases are probably best prepared by a professional, but they do offer a solid, level and permanent base for your shed. Make sure your concrete base is completely flat and level for best results.

What is Ecobase base?

Specifically designed to provide a firm, durable and well-drained platform for garden buildings, the Ecobase is the ultimate base for your new shed. Quick and easy to install, the grids are lightweight and reuseable, and can be cut to size easily using a handsaw. If you choose the first option you need only decide which of the above type of garden shed base is suitable for you. Buying a shed base kit is an easy, quick option that gives you a stable, secure foundation for your shed without any hassle.

What is a portabase?

The Portabase is a hassle-free alternative to building a concrete or slab base. It's made from timber and is easy to assemble by just one or two people, but best of all it does not leave a permanent feature in your garden. The Portabase features spikes on each corner, allowing it to be hammered into the ground for a sturdy base. Top tip: Lay plastic beneath your Portabase and fill with pea gravel to aid drainage and stop anything growing through and into your shed.

Can you build a shed on a concrete patio?

Although our wooden sheds have a floor, it is still recommended they are built on a suitable, solid and level base in your garden. This can be a concrete base, patio or a specialist shed base – whichever you prefer.

Can you build a shed base yourself?

There are a number of shed base options you can choose from. We offer a variety of shed base kits or alternatively you can attempt to create one yourself, or employ a workman to construct one by using slabs or concrete.

Can you lay a cement base?

Alternatively you can always choose to lay a Cement Base. This requires more work but it is preferable if you have plans to erect a large shed or garden building. You’ll need to dig out the ground where the base is required and add some hardcore before creating a timber frame to slot into the space.

Can you have a metal shed in your garden?

You may not think this would be a problem if you had a plastic or metal shed but you’d still suffer from not positioning it on a level, solid surface. Bad weather can make the ground sodden and lead to a insecure and even unsafe shed – not the ideal feature to have in your garden. Also all floorless metal and plastic sheds require a solid, level base so that they can be anchored to it.

What is the priority for a plastic shed base foundation?

The #1 priority regarding a plastic shed base foundation is to prepare a solid level substructure for the shed to stand on whilst raised slightly above the grounds floodplain level to avoid the shed being sat in a flood is highly beneficial.

What is plastic shed?

Plastic sheds are manufactured with resin sheets, each sheet requires a plumb alignment with the next panel and their fixing holes to line-up with the holes in the metal framework prior to securing with screws. A perfectly level base escapes frustrations by delivering easy alignment and aids accomplishing a fast efficient assembly procedure.

Why do we need wood decking for a resin shed?

We decided on wooden decking for our resin shed foundations, simply because some friends had a surplus of decking left over after completing their patio, the left-overs fit our dimensions.

Why anchor plastic sheds down?

It’s important to anchor plastic sheds down onto the solid foundations to increase wind resistance levels and stability regarding their overall construction. Anchor screws are not included, their type is dependant on the foundation material laid below.

How many legs does a deck need?

We fit a few spurs of timber across the widths in equal measurements to enable supporting the decking, secured 6 legs to the corners and centres measuring about a foot long and then proceeded with the ground location.

What happens when a foundation is unbalanced?

Unbalanced foundations can generate leaning pressures to one side of the shed. Level foundations eliminate stresses by ensuring the shed stands perpendicular to the base, imperative for the roof weight to apply equal force on all sides of the shed.

What is solid foundation for plastic shed?

Solid level foundations are imperative for any plastic shed construction. This one-step process regarding preparing the correct base eliminates assembly headaches and future issues in one fell swoop by ensuring a superlative shed stance.

What are the benefits of a shed?

There are many other benefits to these bases as well: 1 With the shed being built right upon the grid-work rodents will not be able to easily enter your shed without gnawing through a more obvious spot than the floor. 2 The gravel filled grid reduces the splashing effect of the rain on the bottom part of the shed which means that your shed's lower timbers will not get nearly as wet. 3 The plastic base grids allows the bottom of your shed to get sufficient ventilation which allows the base timbers to stay dry and thus stops decay. 4 Being made of recycled plastics means that the grids themselves will not rot so they will last a very long time. 5 The plastic is normally UV stabilized which means they will not get brittle in the sun o ver time as some plastics have a tendency to do. 6 The plastic cannot hold moisture like a concrete base which means that they will not sweat as an unsealed concrete pad might.

Why gravel grid on shed?

The gravel filled grid reduces the splashing effect of the rain on the bottom part of the shed which means that your shed's lower timbers will not get nearly as wet.

What are squares made of?

The squares are made from a very durable, tough type of plastic that comes from recycled sources (in fact the plastic used is often from recycled wheelie bins!). So rather than recycled plastic filling up landfill sites some is being used to support the worlds sheds!

What does it mean when a grid is made of recycled plastic?

Being made of recycled plastics means that the grids themselves will not rot so they will last a very long time.

How much does a concrete slab weigh?

In contrast a similar sized slab of paving concrete will weigh somewhere in the area of 30kg. This is a major difference especially when you figure for the entire area you will be covering.

Can plastic hold moisture?

The plastic cannot hold moisture like a concrete base which means that they will not sweat as an unsealed concrete pad might. When you are considering what sort of material to use for making your shed base, these benefits should figure into that decision. Choose wisely and you can have a base that can outlast your shed by years.

Can you use plastic pavers for driveways?

I don't believe that a specialised system of this type is available in the US. However plastic 'grass pavers' are available as permeable paving grid for driveways. These work in a similar way and will probably work out cheaper than a specialised system.

What do you put under a shed?

Although there are many possible shed foundations, the main options for under a shed include a gravel shed foundation, a concrete pad, a post-and-beam shed foundation, or a plastic grid shed base (for smaller sheds). Like we said earlier, you will most likely want to install a foundation for all but the smallest sheds. The question is which foundation is best for your shed? Here are the best options for what to put under your shed:

How high should a shed be off the ground?

Generally speaking, you will want the floor of your shed to be 4”-6” inches off the ground. Again, this is to prevent moisture accumulation around the bottom of the structure.

What is considered a permanent foundation for a shed?

Concrete pads are most commonly considered permanent shed foundations. Poured concrete cylinders called “piers”, buried 32”-36” ft deep in the ground would also be considered permanent foundations because they extend below the frost line in most parts of the United States.

What dimensions should a shed foundation be compared to the shed?

If your shed has a built-in floor, you want the gravel foundation to be 2ft longer and 2ft wider than your shed wall dimensions. If your shed does not have a floor, you want the concrete foundation pad to be exactly the same length and width as the walls of your shed.

What is the best pad for a shed?

If your shed comes without a floor (as some sheds do), a concrete pad with the same dimensions as your shed will be best.

What is the best foundation for a shed?

If your shed comes with a floor built in, then a gravel shed foundation will be best for you. The crushed stone that makes up the gravel foundation allows water to drain through the stone and away from your shed foundation. This prevents rain from pooling around or under your shed. When water pools around or under your shed, rot or rust can set in and begin to destroy the foundation and the siding of your shed.

Can you put a foundation on a plastic shed?

For instance, if you have a small plastic shed that is under 8×8, you could potentially get away with not having a foundation. One of the things that gravel and concrete foundations do for sheds is protect them from water damage. Your small plastic shed won’t be affected structurally from a little water around the base. (*Little water* is the key; if your shed is in a location that gets wet, you’ll want to think about putting it on a base that allows drainage and keeps moisture out of the inside of the shed.) PC: Wayfair

What is the best base for a shed?

On top of this, a good concrete, wood, or plastic shed base will help keep your shed up and away from the ground and from the risk of water puddling around the bottom of the walls.

What is a plastic shed made of?

The typical plastic shed features single or double layer walls made of flexible polyethylene resin.

What to do if your shed does not have a floor?

If your shed does not have a built-in floor, this becomes even more of a problem. These sheds require some form of concrete, wood, or plastic shed base that they can be anchored to.

How to keep rainwater from splashing on bottom of shed?

That is unless they gnaw a hole in the floor. If you are using a plastic shed base that forms a grid, the gravel that you place in between the grids will help to keep rainwater from splashing onto the bottom of your shed. This is very important if you have a wood shed as all the water will only serve to accelerate rot.

How to keep a shed watertight?

The only way to actually achieve this is by putting your shed on a good solid foundation such as a plastic shed base.

What happens if you have a metal shed?

If you have a wood or metal shed, the damp from the ground will slowly seep into the wood or onto the metal. This leads to rot and rust that will in time destroy your shed. The more it rains or snows, the more unstable the soil is likely to become, leaving your shed unsafe and insecure.

How big is a 6x6 shed base?

This eight-piece plastic shed base kit can be used to create a base large enough for a 6 x 6 shed. Each square measures approximately 18 x 18 inches.

image

1.The Best Plastic Shed Base for Your New Shed - Zacs …

Url:https://zacsgarden.com/how-to-build-a-shed/popular-shed-foundations-reviewed/best-plastic-shed-base/

16 hours ago  · Can I Use A Plastic Base For A Plastic Shed? Yes, you can use a plastic base for a plastic shed. However, it is important to make sure that the base is level and that there …

2.Plastic Shed Base Foundation - Quality Plastic Sheds

Url:https://qualityplasticsheds.com/plastic-shed-base-foundation

8 hours ago  · Quality plastic sheds are all inclusive of an integrated floor. Their floors vary in thickness and are purposely toughened to cope with the stresses heavy duty storage endures …

3.Do plastic sheds require a foundation? - Home …

Url:https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/2239/do-plastic-sheds-require-a-foundation

32 hours ago  · The only time you wouldn’t need some sort of foundation is if you have a very small 6×6 or 8×8 shed that is made out of rubber or plastic. And even in that case, we still highly …

4.Plastic Shed Base - Quick And Easy To Build - Secrets …

Url:https://www.secrets-of-shed-building.com/plastic-shed-base.html

5 hours ago 7. The assembly instructions state: Recommended surfaces for installation include cement or treated wood deck style surfaces. So it should be installed on a level platform of some kind that …

5.Do You Need A Foundation For A Shed? A Guide For …

Url:https://www.siteprep.com/do-you-need-a-foundation-for-a-shed/

35 hours ago Many local codes in the northern United States require you to install frost-proof shed bases only. This is because cold weather causes many foundations to crack, so they ask you to lay …

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9