Should a shed base have a fall?

Some landscapers may recommend putting a slope on the base for drainage, but the base itself needs to be completely level - the base does not necessarily have to be any larger than floor of the shed.

albanysheds.co.uk - Base Requirements - Albany Shed Co

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Base Requirements

We cannot stress enough the importance of putting your new Albany building onto a solid, flat, level foundation. Get it right and your building will fit together perfectly and last for years. Get it wrong and you could have problems with assembly, the shed will not last nearly as long and the doors may not close properly. Your local retailer may be able to offer a base-laying service or recommend someone who can.

Key Points You need a solid, flat, level base

You need sufficient room around the building for assembly and maintenance

You need to make sure you have suitable access for the panels to get to the base

Consider rainwater run-off

Floor plans are available for all of our standard models, which can sometimes help in constructing the base. Please specify on order if your base requires the direction of the floor joists to adhere to the floor plan as this can be subject to change

Suitable bases

We recommend paving slabs or concrete, especially for larger buildings. Some landscapers may recommend putting a slope on the base for drainage, but the base itself needs to be completely level - the base does not necessarily have to be any larger than floor of the shed. Paving slabs must be laid properly and not just put straight onto soil or grass. Decking is also usually suitable provided it is strong enough. On small to medium sized buildings, bearers / sleepers on a level gravel / shingle area can be suitable - see information on bearers below. A paving slab in each corner is not enough, even if they are level; the floor must be sufficiently supported throughout. Other examples of unsuitable bases include soil, grass, loose bricks, pallets, and any uneven surface.

Positioning of your building

Sizes listed are approximate and do not allow for roof overhang. It is normally best to allow plenty of room around the building - the minimum space required is usually 300mm (1ft) all the way around although 500mm is preferable. This is important and can make assembly easier as well as future re-treating and maintenance. Bear in mind the roofs do overhang the main body of the building so this must be taken into account, for example when a building is going into a more enclosed area. We understand that not everyone is looking to locate their shed in a large open area. With advice from us or your local retailer, usually a suitable solution can be found.

Bearers

We can supply bearers (timber posts) with your building if you wish to further raise the floor off the ground. If the floor of the shed is likely to come into contact with a lot of rainwater then bearers could significantly increase its life. The bearers would run in the opposite direction to the floor joists of the shed - if you are supplying your own bearers or sleepers then please check which way they will run and then specify on order that they must adhere to the stated direction as it can be subject to change. Normally bearers are not essential if you have a solid, flat, level base (other than for the reason previously mentioned), as the floor is on floor joists, which allow air underneath and keep the floorboards off the base. If your base is gravel / shingle then you should sit the shed on bearers / sleepers to give it a solid foundation and support the floor evenly. The gravel / shingle still needs to be level and shouldn't be too loose.

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Do metal buildings need footings?

Due to the weight of the large metal buildings and the engineered webbed trussing, buildings that are 32' wide and up require deeper footings than a standard building. For your footings, we require a minimum of a 24-inch wide by 24-inch-deep footing, compared to the standard 12 inch by 12 inch footings.

mwsteelbuildings.com - Foundation requirements for steel buildings 32' wide +

Foundation requirements for steel buildings 32’ wide +

Short Answer: Since metal buildings that are 32’ wide and up are manufactured differently from the standard sizes (12’ wide to 30’ wide), they also require different foundation specs. Concrete slabs for these steel buildings should have an extra inch all around, be a minimum of 4 inches thick, and have minimum 24” x 24” footings. Foundation requirements for steel buildings 32’ wide and up vary greatly depending on different factors such as your contractors’ recommendations and your township or city’s requirements for your area. For MW Steel Buildings, we have a few requirements and recommendations regarding the slab, the concrete footings, and the concrete apron. Remember to always check in with your local township/county/city to make sure you’re following local code.

Slab

For your concrete slab, we recommend the slab be a minimum of 4” thick and have an extra inch all the way around. So if your slab is for a 40×60 metal workshop, we’d recommend your slab to be 40’2” wide x 60’2” long. Why? Adding an additional 2” to the width and length of the slab offers more reinforcement for the concrete anchors that are installed and expand into the concrete footing. Due to the weight of the steel structure, adding an additional inch to the footing prevents the concrete from cracking and or chipping due to any shift or movement in the structure. This additional concrete also offers the installers the ability to move your structure around on the slab in case there are any errors made in the measurements of the slab.