How to build a base for a shed without concrete - Easy to build gravel base for Suncast shed

This gravel shed base is easy and cheap to build without the need to pour concrete slab. It's great for a plastic resin shed like the Suncast shed or wood shed. This DIY shed platform will help protect your shed from rotting and give it a stable based that will not crack.

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[daP.A]

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[paulmarcos]

Nice work. As a project construction manager for over 35 yrs, I would like to advise you to never cut in the position you were in while cutting the 4x4. A kick back by the circular saw and you will slice your leg open. I have seen it 7x in my line of work. Always leave a clearance for kick back. Good luck.

[ReinaldoCrespo]

Great video. You’re old man reminds me of my dad. He’s such a handyman do it all. Currently he can’t do much due to his battle with cancer. Jerked a few tires reminding me of my old man.

[brianallen]

Just some quick info and tips. That's not really for a weed barrier, it's to prevent the stone from sinking into the dirt. Secondly, if you have a groundhog problem put down some chainlink fence or chicken wire over the fabric, if prevents them from burrowing. They love to dig under sheds. Also let your pressure treated lumber dry out a bit before you paint them. Otherwise a good build.

[kdpjsp]

Instead of painting the PT wood black, you can char the wood with a propane torch. Darkens the wood and charring protects the wood as well, up to 100 years.

[SpringRubber]

Nice job, sir! In case people think of avoiding the weedblock cuz a shed will be on top, I'll point out that landscape fabric - or poly sheeting with holes poked for drainage - is there to prevent your nice gravel from sinking into muddy dirt. Depends on the type of soil, amount of rain and freeze/thaw cycles in one's particular area, but it's much easier to lay a barrier in the beginning of your stone project instead of a couple years later. Ask me how I know, LOL! Also, field cuts of PT lumber -- especially ground contact ones -- should be coated with preservative that soaks into the wood, such as CopperCoat. In my area Ace sells it but the big box stores don't.

[Mitchumthegreat]

Thanks! I'm putting up a shed for my mom soon and this was a great help for a proper foundation for it.

[wethepeople]

Good job
I like the application of the rebar spikes.
I see you used a small hand tamper but I would recommend using a gas powered plate compactor with smaller material to get a solid cement like base. My local rental place only charged $63.00 per day.

[sanjivoberoi]

Great job thank you. I would have benefitted from some instructions along the way cause I’m a total amateur. But I like silent movies. Hope to attempt this venture in summer.

[BalcomFamily]

Thanks for taking the time to post this as this will help me with my project

[WuWei]

My contractor just had to do this for my shed. The previous owner was a talented self-taught carpenter who built a backyard deck and rebuilt the front porch. They looked very nice but he didn't use the best materials and they did not adhere to any code. He assembled the Suncast shed on a wooden base. Within five years, there were signs of deterioration in the shed base and within eight years, there was water rot damage in the deck. He not only didn't use ground contact lumber for these projects, he didn't even use pressure treated boards. The deck lasted longer because I resealed it every other summer. However, I could not get to the support joints on the deck or the base of the shed. Last year, we had a very bad tornado that moved the shed off its base and destroyed the anchors. I started looking at the cost to build a concrete base and to dismantle and replace the 10 x 8 resin shed. My lowest bid was around $10K for all of the material and labor. For less than $3K more, I could have gotten an entire garage built. I started looking at metal sheds to save money but I didn't want metal, it would be staggering hot during our summers and brutally cold during our winters. Like trailers, metal sheds do not fare well during our tornado season. My contractor was trained as a structural engineer in his Slavik country and is extremely talented. He reinforced the shed shed with pressure treated lumber then raised it of its old base so that he could get rid of the damaged lumber. He dug down around 6-8 inches, put down a layer of gravel, then a layer of paving sand, and finally 20 x 20 pavers. He put the shed on this new foundation then screwed the floor into this new foundation. He put new metal hinges on their doors. This cost less than half of what it would have cost to purchase a new resin shed and pour a concrete slab. Also, the new studs he used to reinforce the shed allowed me to install new shelving and garage organizers to hang all of my landscaping equipment and supplies.

[tomblears]

Very interesting. Glad you gave the old guy, who's about my age, the smaller wheelbarrow 🤓

[diydoc]

Great job and love this approach! If I build one like this, I would add: (1) additional vertical rebar in the center of each 4x4 (I couldn't tell if you did that), and (2) Call Miss Utility to come out and mark any utilities in that area before-hand so the rebar does not hit anything underground.

[toemblem]

I like it. I recently did a similar base. I used pressure treated 2x4s instead of 4x4s and I didn't put down a weed barrier (maybe I should have). I put down a 2+ inch layer of sand and compacted that and then used pea gravel to fill it to the top of the frame. I was told, by my favorite gawkers, that it was over kill but I like a level shed with working doors.

[hollieirish]

Nice idea!! I've been thinking about putting up a more stable shed then the one I have now but didn't want to pay for concrete as it's expensive as hell. Thank you thank you thank you for this idea and I'm gona try once it warms up here in NC. Have a great day! :)

[johnlee]

Good job. Did basically the same thing for a friend last summer. Hope your shed fairs better. She called this fall because the doors were warping. I would have gone with wood personally but bit my tongue. She had her mind made up.

[Kat-yxiv]

Thank you! I have been studying your video closely

[earthangel]

Great idea for my green house. Good job you two. Angel from The Bay

[erikbarry]

Thank you for the video. I really didn't want to use concrete and have lots of gravel to repurpose!

[anthonychase]

I put 5" cedar fence slats at the bottom covering the siding to help with water splash against the bottom. They're cheap and great against rhe elements. Then applied silicone at all the edges where the cedar meets the siding.
Im sure there are better more expensive solutions but for me it fit my budget.