Shed Base, Why Is It So Important?
While you could just go ahead and just plop your shed on the bare ground, if you want it to be a long-lasting structure, you will want to construct a proper shed base.
This may be intuitive to some people, but it is not always something that is considered in the full time and cost of the project of building a shed.
Moisture: One of the greatest enemies of both wood and metal is moisture.
The shed must be kept off of the bare earth in order to create a barrier between the bottom of the shed and moisture.
Sources can be from water inherent in the soil itself, as well as pooling rainwater or melting snow.
Without preventing the accumulation of moisture under the shed, the wood can rot and soften.
Pests: A major concern with moisture-laden wood is termites.
The bane of every homeowner, termites have a much easier go at destruction when the wood is already soft and moist.
A metal barrier can be put between the bottom of the shed and the base in order to help prevent termite damage.
Another reason to build a base is to keep other pests, such as rodents, from having easier access to your shed and the contents inside.
Maintenance of Level: If you were to just drop your shed on the bare earth, especially if it had just been excavated, it will almost certainly go out of level due to the natural settling of the dirt over time.
A way to counteract this is to level the ground and then construct a stable and strong base upon which the shed itself can rest.
Even after the ground has initially settled, with the change in seasons, especially freezing and thawing, the ground can further shift, making it even more important to have a shed base in climates with distinct seasons.
Happy Building! -Thom
This may be intuitive to some people, but it is not always something that is considered in the full time and cost of the project of building a shed.
Moisture: One of the greatest enemies of both wood and metal is moisture.
The shed must be kept off of the bare earth in order to create a barrier between the bottom of the shed and moisture.
Sources can be from water inherent in the soil itself, as well as pooling rainwater or melting snow.
Without preventing the accumulation of moisture under the shed, the wood can rot and soften.
Pests: A major concern with moisture-laden wood is termites.
The bane of every homeowner, termites have a much easier go at destruction when the wood is already soft and moist.
A metal barrier can be put between the bottom of the shed and the base in order to help prevent termite damage.
Another reason to build a base is to keep other pests, such as rodents, from having easier access to your shed and the contents inside.
Maintenance of Level: If you were to just drop your shed on the bare earth, especially if it had just been excavated, it will almost certainly go out of level due to the natural settling of the dirt over time.
A way to counteract this is to level the ground and then construct a stable and strong base upon which the shed itself can rest.
Even after the ground has initially settled, with the change in seasons, especially freezing and thawing, the ground can further shift, making it even more important to have a shed base in climates with distinct seasons.
Happy Building! -Thom
