How to Build a Shed Base

Now that the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming, there’s no better time to invest in your outdoor space. But with garden maintenance comes all the tools and equipment needed to get the job done right. And then you have the problem of where to store these items.

A garden shed is an excellent solution for storing your gardening equipment; they’re weather-resistant, spacious and affordable. With that in mind, if you’re planning on installing a shed in your garden this year, you’ll need to build a base for it to stand on. A base offers stability and is often made from wood or concrete to optimise longevity.

This guide will outline how to create a solid and stable base for your shed, allowing you to store your items for years to come.

Useful links

A garden shed base ensures your shed has extra stability, and it helps the floor last longer.
Concrete shed bases are ideal for larger garden buildings as they provide the most stability.
You should build a shed base for classic wooden sheds, a larger metal shed and a hardwearing plastic option.

First, position your garden shed base

It’s important to make sure your base is positioned right in your garden space, especially if you have a lot of obstacles close by. For instance, you’ll need to account for the overhang of the roof, so avoid placing it too close to fences or walls. You’ll also want to avoid placing it near trees or bushes as their branches can cause damage to your shed as they grow.

Building a concrete garden shed base

We always recommend building a concrete garden shed base for larger garden buildings as it provides the most stability.

Using pegs and string, measure and mark out a rectangle that’s slightly larger than the base of your shed. To make sure it’s not slanted, measure the diagonal angles between each corner. Both measurements should be the same.

Dig around 150mm into the ground, and then fill it up to 75mm with sub base, and level this out with compacted sand to act as a foundation. You can now remove the pegs and string. Then place timber shuttering along the four sides, ready to pour in your concrete.

Mix up your concrete with small amounts of water, adding it gradually until you’ve got the perfect consistency. Avoid making the mixture too wet as this will affect the strength of the concrete. Next, pour approximately 75mm of concrete into your excavated area, spreading it evenly into all corners. For reference, it should sit flush with your wooden framework. Lastly, cover it with sheets and allow it to dry.

Building a wooden base for garden sheds

Start by measuring and marking out the area with pegs and string.

For a wooden base, you’ll need to dig around 50mm into the ground, creating a square or rectangular shape to match your shed. After that, lay down 40mm of gravel or soil within the hole and level it out with a rake.

If you’ve got a shed base kit, now is the time to assemble it as per the instructions provided. Most kits come with wooden stakes that can be hammered into the ground to provide a solid base.

If you don’t have a kit, you’ll need some pressure treated timber bearers. Lay these across the soil at equal 400-600mm intervals, using a spirit level to make sure they’re straight.

Time to build your shed

Building a garden shed base is required for classic wooden sheds, a larger metal shed, or a hardwearing plastic option as it gives them extra stability and helps the flooring last a lot longer. Now that you’ve got a base sorted, you can begin installing or building your shed. If you’re on the market for a storage solution to suit your needs, we’ve got hundreds of sheds in all shapes and sizes available.

FAQs

Yes, garden sheds require a base as it improves stability, prevents damp and overall extends the shed’s longevity as it remains level and off the ground.