How long before you can put a shed on concrete?

After pouring, wait four or five days to build or deliver a shed. Concrete needs time to dry. load contact. “If it's a big building with footings, it's a better idea to put it on a concrete pad,” says Jake Lantz of Firm Foundations LLC, a foundation installation company.

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It’s difficult to build anything without a proper foundation. While most sheds stand just fine on blocks, in some cases regulations or customer needs demand that the foundation be concrete. With blocks or even a gravel pad, the biggest consideration may be ensuring that the foundation is level. But with concrete, whether you lay it yourself or bring in a contractor, it pays to know a bit more about the pour.

When to Lay a Concrete Pad

Concrete is typically necessary for larger buildings—think two-story garages—or buildings where heavy equipment will be stored and the customer needs the benefit of full

load contact.

“If it’s a big building with footings, it’s a better idea to put it on a concrete pad,” says Jake Lantz of Firm Foundations LLC, a foundation installation company. As Lantz points out, “You get what you pay for,” but this more expensive, and more permanent solution, can extend the life of the overall structure. Concrete can add other advantages. According to information on the website for metal and wood storage building manufacturer Tuff Sheds, “When your shed is to be located in an area that is below the grade of the rest of your yard, a concrete pad should be considered for extra height and drainage.” In other cases, a concrete pad may be required by the code. “Some buildings require concrete pads,” Lantz says. “It depends on the township” (see the Know Your Code sidebar).

Making the Grade

Assuming regulations mandate the use of concrete, the code doesn’t delve into what product to use—and that can

be a problem.

“Not everyone uses the same grade of concrete,” points out Cindy Carosella, a project consultant with 4-Outdoor in Frederick, Maryland. In her region, Carosella explains, “It’s got to be at least 3,500 psi, and it has to be rebar-reinforced.” Concrete professionals can lend extra insight into concrete products that add to the overall quality of the end product. “The number-one innovation that is not likely known to the shed builder—and would be a good point of conversation with a concrete contractor—would be reinforcement,” recommends James Baty II, executive director of the Concrete Foundations Association.

Baty notes that there are many random reinforcement products available today.

“Some of these are fibers that really only increase the durability of the concrete,” he says. “However, there is an increasing number that have the capacity to provide crack control and may streamline the process for the contractor, as well as increase the quality of the concrete slab.”

Experienced concrete professionals also understand the importance of ensuring proper cure time.

“I try to say [wait] at least four to five days to build,” Lantz says. “Concrete needs some time to dry.” To ensure proper site preparation, Baty advises reviewing the slab-on-ground chapter of the American Concrete Institute’s standard 332 – Requirements for Residential Concrete. Per the standard, Baty advises considering the following: • Prepare the grade by stripping away grass, leaves, and other organic matter. Slabs can be cast directly on undisturbed soil but are better on a compacted

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granular fill.

• Use enough slab thickness on top of the granular base to handle the anticipated loads, for a minimum of 3.5 inches of slab. • Consider reinforcement. It must be in the upper two-thirds of the slab to be effective and cannot be floated in place. • Saw-cut any slabs as soon as possible after finishing into aspect ratio sections not greater than 1.5:1, with distances not exceeding a chart provided by the code based on slab thickness and maximum aggregate size. These are generally 8- to 15-foot maximum dimensions. “It is not necessary for these slabs-on-ground to have frost footings, as they are generally designed to be floating,” Baty adds.

Know What the Customer is Getting

Many shed builders opt to subcontract out infrequent concrete work to an expert in this area. It’s important, however, to be sure that the pour will reflect the quality of your outdoor structure. Building a relationship with a concrete contractor is one way to ensure quality. Lantz built his niche in part through a relationship with a local shed builder. “I’ve been friends with [the owners of Sheds Unlimited] for years, and now I do work for other shed builders as well,” he says. However, 4-Outdoor cautions that some concrete contractors may lack the necessary expertise to serve this niche. On its website, the company notes that many concrete contractors aren’t experienced in getting the right fit from the specially formed concrete foundations needed for two-story and modular garages. “If you’re working with one company to do your prep and your building, it makes a difference,” Carosella says. “If you have one person do your prep and another do your building and there’s a problem with the prep, then the person doing the building is not responsible for that at all.” In today’s market, warranties are a big selling point, but may be difficult to enforce in this instance. Carosella offers an example. “If it’s not level, for example, the door is not going to work properly,” she says. “If we do the prep and the building and you have a problem, say your door is sticking or rubbing, we’ll come back out. It could be that the gravel shifted some or it settled, so we’ll fix that at no additional cost. But if we deliver a building to somebody else’s prep, we have no control over that. We can’t guarantee somebody else did a level pad.” For shed builders that are looking to partner with a subcontractor to meet local requirements, Baty recommends asking questions that ensure the contractor’s knowledge of those minimum requirements. Ask about the contractor’s experience and their recommendations, he suggests. “All too often, slabs-on-ground fail because of poor mix designs and poor construction practices. A shed with a cracked concrete floor is not a failure, but it will likely bring concern from the owner,” Baty says.

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Know Your Code

Requirements for concrete pads vary by the locality. But why?

“There is some variance, but only as much as what each jurisdiction adopts as a code,” explains James Baty II, executive director of the Concrete Foundations Association. “In general, residential codes in all parts of the U.S. are based on the adoption of the International Residential Code (IRC). This standard is updated every three years.” Each state has the option of adopting the new code, with whatever amendments they may want to add, or of sticking with an older version already being enforced. Counties and cities likewise can pick and choose what to adopt. “By and large, whatever the state does, the cities and counties align with that. However, each state lags independently in the adoption of a code,” Baty says. “Some today are still referencing the IRC 2006 while some are already considering the IRC 2015. It is a messy process. Fortunately, there isn’t much that has changed over the years [on this topic].” That’s because, to date, the IRC exempts most sheds from code provisions. “They are considered temporary structures unless there is a city ordinance that requires them to be built to or supported by code provisions,” Baty explains. R105.2 of the IRC 2015 states: Exemption from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following: • One-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet.

• Swings and other playground equipment.

• Decks not exceeding 200 square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.4. “The reason is largely that because the structures are not considered a habitable space and therefore do not have to be protected for life safety minimum requirements,” Baty notes. “Therefore, as long as a structure is less than 201 square feet, it would not require any type of a concrete foundation.”

For more information, consider the following resources:

2015 International Residential Code® For One- and Two-Family Dwellings published by the International Code Council Inc. www.iccsafe.org Residential Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 332-14) and Commentary published by the American Concrete Institute. www.concrete.org

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