Expanding soil due to freezing temperatures can affect your shed's site.
The most important aspect of building a shed is the planning phase, according to Tim Carter from "Ask the Builder." A shed provides additional storage where chemicals and yard equipment can be safely stored without creating a hazard in the home. Placement of the storage shed requires preparing the ground for proper drainage and support.
Instructions
1. Paint a rough square around the location for the shed, using marking paint. The location should be relatively level and void of any major obstructions, such as stumps or tree roots. Choose an area that remains relatively dry throughout the year, and avoid any locations that have standing water following a rainstorm to avoid a poor drainage situation beneath the shed.
2. Hammer wood stakes into the ground with a rubber mallet at the corners of the site where you plan to put your shed. Measure the location of the stakes carefully to ensure they correspond with the actual dimensions of the shed.
3. Remove the surface grass and a few inches of dirt to create a mostly level ground inside the area for the shed.
4. Mark the location of any vertical support beams that will be installed on the base of the shed with a can of marking paint. Spray the ground with a small "X" to indicate where the vertical support beam will stand on the ground. The "X" indicates the location for cement footings. Small sheds will likely only have supports at each corner. Larger structures will need a few supports in the middle.
5. Dig holes for cement footings at each "X" to a depth below the frost line for your area. The footings will provide solid support that will not flex up and down during colder months. Twenty-four to 36 inches is the average depth for cement footings for much of the U.S., to ensure you get the footings past the frost-line. Consult local contractors or your local government to identify the proper depth for your area. The hole should extend slightly beyond the frost line to prevent seasonal movement of the shed.
6. Mix cement according to the directions on the bag, and fill the holes to be level with the surface of the ground. Smooth the cement over with a trowel, using a level to verify that the surface of the cement footing is level. The footings do not have to be level with each other, as the support beams can be cut to various heights.
7. Smooth out the surface of the dirt so that the ground angles slightly and evenly down. Avoid any low spots that can hold standing water. Cover the dirt with landscape fabric and rock. Smooth the rock over with the rake.
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