This area gives you room to build the shed. Take your time and don't rush the construction of your shed. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. A good shed needs a strong foundation, and following these tips can help you in building a shed foundation that will last for years. Before selecting materials or planning the exciting parts of the shed’s design, you need to choose a location. Having a near-perfect square shed foundation means having each corner close to a 90-degree angle. Likewise, you could use a different measurement, like feet instead of inches, and continue to use 3, 4, and 5. There are plenty of DIY shed tutorials online, but what's often lacking is how to properly construct the foundation to ensure it's square, level, and less prone to rot. Measure between two opposite corners and then measure between the remaining corners. Measure each side. An excellent foundation for any size shed. I was taught to do this check on a daily basis when I worked in construction. Similar to deck blocks, concrete blocks aren’t the best option if you’re planning to store heavy equipment in your shed, due to structural weight-bearing concerns and the possibility of vibrations.

Follow these steps to build your shed foundation. You will add three to the first number, four to the next, and five to the last. The first method uses concrete tube forms on gravel with post base brackets on top. If you need to store heavy items in your shed, installing a concrete slab is always the best way to go. Make any final adjustments. The general rule of thumb behind this method is that if a triangle has three sides, which are three, four, and five feet long, that triangle is a right-angle triangle that includes a 90-degree angle. Larger sheds — 160 square feet and up — need 4 feet of clearance. The bottom plate refers to the 2×4 (or 2×6, depending on your preference) that will be set on the slab. Using deck blocks as a foundation in building your DIY shed is helpful in ensuring you have an evenly spaced out area since it’s a material you can adjust easily. Sticking with the same measurements, but allowing for a larger measurement means that you need to continue this pattern until you have numbers that are easier to work with, so use the original numbers and add to each one. Once you have all your materials, you'll need to dig a hole the size of your shed, level it with a plank and spirit level, and fill it in with the topsoil and pea gravel. Avoid areas too close to trees, since growing roots can quickly displace or grow through a foundation. This even includes building your shed! If you’re a fellow DIY enthusiast, you already know that with a little bit of time, effort, and know-how, you can complete just about anything in and around your home. With a perfectly measured foundation, you only need one measurement for your walls and roof. Since it is quick and easy, it works as a great second option to ensure that you are doing the other method properly. Deck blocks are a great foundation option for several reasons. Dealing with an even bigger surface area? First, you need to stake the boards into the dirt to keep them in place at each corner; this will be where the string will run around to make the triangle. Their top is formed with shape to hold beams or lumber for vertical posts. Visit My Shed Plans for tips on how to make your dream shed. The easy way to check that your base 2x6's are square is to measure corner to corner and adjust until the two measurements match. You’ll also be left with shed walls that end up being more-or-less flush with the base, which tends to look far more aesthetically pleasing. Inch measurements are used for the example but can be turned into whatever measurement you need, like feet or meters. Talk with a local building inspector about the foundation requirements for your area and shed. By Timothy Dale. With a perfectly measured foundation, you only need one measurement for your walls and roof. Quality should always be the focus of any project, and this goes for the shed foundation, too. Using a String Squaring off the whole shed can turn into a bit of a disaster if you don’t make sure that the foundation is done right. A critical part of making your foundation usable is knowing how to square a foundation for a shed. With the purchase of this product, you will gain access to an entire database of  ideas and all future upgrades and additions as they come out. Nail down the short edge, and check the frame for square one more time. Building a shed foundation can take a long time and it can be difficult to make sure that the foundation is level all throughout the project, but a few simple tricks can help.

For some installations — such as the one described here with runners — the shed overhangs the runners several inches. If the base is not square, the chances of the shed being built or remaining square are not good. This means that when you have a triangle that has one side which is one inch long, one which is four inches long, and one which is five inches long, you will have a 90-degree angle. Raising the platform off the ground will protect it from rotting, but it can be difficult to make it level. Pick a spot for your shed that's close to level and doesn't collect water. You can also choose to use this to double-check that you correctly measured the corners using the 3-4-5 method. How to Square a Foundation for a Shed: The Classic Methods. A lumber frame sits on top of these piers, spreading out the weight of the shed. With just a few hours plus the right tools and materials, you can have a place to store all your lawn care and gardening equipment. Eugene has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves being creative while inspiring creativity in others. It is also a cheaper option compared to concrete slabs, but like deck blocks, they are not the best material to cater to your heavyweight shed equipment. Brace each post to keep it in position while the concrete sets. After that, just build a foundation on the level surface using the mason blocks and the 4 by 4-inch posts. Building a Shed: 2 Ways on How to Square a Shed Foundation. A stiff tape measure will lock in place and stay straight while you measure and give you the most accurate measurements. To do this, you will want to set up the boards so that they make out the square where the shed will be. If the triangles created at each corner don’t equal 3, 4, and 5, then you will need to begin adjusting the boards. Foundations categorized as on-grade sit directly on the ground and are the quicker of the two foundation types to construct. Start Digging. The 3-4-5 method has its roots in the Pythagorean Theorem, but thankfully, you don’t need to be a math wizard to understand it. The measurement for each should follow the 3-4-5 rule. Any time you’re working with corners, whether you’re installing carpet, laying flooring, or in this case, creating a shed foundation, you’ll want those corners to be square. This area gives you room to build the shed. Although this method is straightforward and will likely take a lot less time, there is more room for error when you are a beginner. Undoubtedly, a shed is an excellent addition to your backyard, but if you are looking to do other  projects, then My Shed Plans can help you out. Ensuring your corners are as close to 90 degrees as possible will make the rest of the shed-building process go that much more smoothly. If money is no object and you don’t mind spending a bit more time on this project, the concrete pier and lumber method will provide the most solid foundation for any shed. In guessing at the angle you can use a framing square or unfolded newspaper or a sheet 8½" x 11". By this time, you might have found the right location to build your DIY shed, accomplished all the building requirements, and now, you’re ready to get started. Follow us on Twitter here. Select either an on-grade or frost-proof foundation. This way, you wouldn’t need to do any unnecessary adjustments to your existing materials just to make them fit.