How To Build A Level DIY Shed Foundation 

I stapled 3 feet wide heavy duty wire mesh around the perimeter of the shed, once the floor was on, and buried the remaining wire mesh in the ground. About a foot deep and angled out from the shed. Keeps homeless animals from finding a home. When I put the sheathing on, I had the shearing just go over the wire mesh by 1/2 inch. I used galvanized wire mesh and 17 years later, still animal free. Thank you for the video.

I just used specialty treated pallets that they use to ship new motorcycles on. Got 6 of them for free from a local dealer. Fit the 8x12 shed perfectly.

This is very useful Scott, I am fixing to build one in the back yard of my rental. I'll stay tuned in.....

This video couldn’t have come out at a better time! Trying to get my shed up here soon and your video is a big help! Thanks for posting!

Nice work. I bought that same shed from Home Depot, just before supply chain issues hit, for just $1250. Glad I bought it when I did. The only thing I regret is the door is not 80 inches tall. I have hit my head on the door frame several times now.

Nice progress! If this is your current winter weather, I'm envious!

Wishing my soil was soft and easy to dig like yours

huh I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who finds chunks of concrete like that in my yard.

Not a level ground typically, especially in smaller yards with drainage slope. I typically dig a hole, put gravel base, compact it, then use concrete deck blocks, 4x4 in the center of the block, cut them about 2 feet high, then level/square out the joists and temporarily tack them in, then mark the 4x4, then take them out, cut them down and notch them at the correct height. Makes a perfectly level base that won't ever move, unless the earth caves in.

If the shed is heavy enough, the gravel will force out sideways and the shed will sink. I used 16" square trailer house blocks to get huge bearing area and scraped away the turf and scraped only enough soil to get each block level with itself, otherwise no digging so they sat on firm undisturbed soil. I didn't worry about getting the blocks level with each other (WAY too much trouble), levelling can be taken care of with layers of blocks, treated wood pieces, etc. to get the underbeams level with each other, much easier. The soil doesn't freeze where I live. The underside of my floor is about 15" above the soil so I can battle armadillos if necessary, and I covered the beams with a sheet of plastic before putting the floor down so it's not exposed to ground moisture.

Awesome. I will follow to the end. The price is not bad. I built one about 8?years ago and used 2x8 treated wood and 3/4” treated plywood. All cost be about $1400 back then. I wrapped top to bottom with galvanized steel and a couple leaks though. Thank you for sharing

Oh nice, I am curious how good a quality ready to build shed kits are. Looking forward to this series.

I measure diagonals for squareness. I find it easier, faster, and just as accurate.

Good, thanks. I’m usually pretty good at DIY but totally botched a gravel and 4x4 shed base. When the pro came in to build the shed, he had to do a lot of extra work in some areas. Also, the rented tamper weighed 200 pounds, which was murder to get I and out of the car. Take extra care, even if you generally know what you’re doing.

Up here in Canuckistan I went 18" down for stonedust just to make sure I was good for any upheaval in winter. I used the square deck blocks and 4x4s cut to raise it off the ground 15 years it hasn't moved an inch

Good Job. Solid 👍👍

Thanks for sharing.

Nice. Like the line up with the building. I have done this differently. I dig out the ground more. Put in a vapor barrier and put in stone so its above grade. If its a wet area I dug deeper and put in more stone. I use the blocks similar to what you did. When we have done like you have, unless its dry and there are no animals around well...we get unwelcomed guests and premature rot. You can't fix a floor/foundation. You end up scrapping the building. I think the stone is cheaper than cement but it is more than what you are doing. I have two sheds this way that have lasted well over 30 years. I will be interested to see what kind of wood home depot gives you to build this shed.

Most excellent how too !

For the 3 skids I would cut the ends at an angle so if you ever need to move it you could slide it. Would be nice to see the building of the shed kit and mods you made. Good work. Mine in Qc Canada is about 12x20, on a concrete slab with spray foam insulation on floor and walls, way way overkill. The old woman who lived there before was using half the shed to store her summer clothes in winter there 😂😂😂 there is a 20ft span closet pole inside.😂😂 😂😂

What are your thoughts on concrete blocks vs the tuff blocks?

Bro pulled out an 1800s concrete grave marker

Wish there was a part 2 to this.

If you’re going to build your own…..build it on skids….you will move it someday, trust me

Hi, What's the timber size you used?

Is there a way to keep wasps from building a nest under the frame? That's kind of my biggest concern right now cause i was planning on doing the same thing as you did.

Any experience in burning wood to preserve it instead of paint or stain? I’ve heard it makes it water and bug resistant

I have poured concrete that is sloped for drainage and I would like to build a 8'x4'x8' shed. What is the best way to level the foundation?

You need to use a level or a lazer to get the correct elevation. Your mrasurement from two different points on the ground are likely not the same elevation.

Do we have to nail floor (osb) with skids? Anyone please , doing over this weekend...thanks

Shallow foundation and low floor is easier, faster, less expensive , but forces the owner to manage wildlife , that will want to live under this very nice protection , and risk destroying it. Inversly , deep foundation and raised floor may invites some nice fauna ( human occupied lands tend to become ecological deserts . Fauna is nice when you plan for it ).

But what would the hurricane strap do? The blocks aren't attached to anything..... Thanks for doing this video! Been figuring on new shed for a few months and tryung to get it all together.

How does this hold up in winter weather with freezing and shifting? Im in canada and planning a shed project that this will be really helpful for

Чтобы блоки после зимы не смещались, под них ложат экструдированный пенопласт. Он препятствует неравномерному оттаиванию земли и пучению грунта.

Dude will have world most level shed for 1 winter

What ties the skids to the ground? Wind is a huge concern for me.

i’ve never understood how you can use foundation above the frost line. won’t the framing potentially buckle from freeze and thaw?

Could this be the same for a simple, flat "deck"?

I find it amazing that you can simply tap in wooden stakes into the ground. That’s not happening in my area.

Thanks for this video, though admittedly, I watched it because I'm trying to figure out how to create a cabin foundation. As it stands, I'm completely clueless when it comes to what I can and can't do when creating a foundation; to say nothing of building codes and more. God, I wish I had someone to instruct me on this stuff, but everyone in my life couldn't give to blips about this. Anyways, might be a stupid question: how do you know the foundation won't sink into the ground over time? How far down should I pound my foundation's posts into the ground? I've heard about pounding the posts past the freezing layer until you reach hard ground or something. I've mainly been watching Bushradical for now and other RU-vidrs that build things. It also seems like there are endless ways to build a foundation so I can't decide on anything. I guess it doesn't help that I am desperate to buy some land, assemble a home base and get away from a toxic / junky living situation. I just can't seem to commit to anything or plan out a build because this is all so terrifying to me. Nothing feels right, and I am obviously not someone with any knowledge of construction. Lots of other issues besides this, but mainly, I understand the process of setting up a foundation for my home the least. Next would be roofing, but I feel this is more important. Can you help with any recommendations or directions? Sometimes I just feel like a fool for not getting this. Thanks

Unfortunately where I live, something like that would only take 3 years of frost heave to get the doors of the shed out of alignment and become inoperable.

Surely you would need to put some membrane down to stop the weeds from growing through the shed?

Simple triangle rule: 3^2+4^2=5^2. Thats all you need to know about location and measurement and right angles. Also, laser level 😂

Love your videos and great tutorial, but after the first winter of freeze/thaw that is going to be so out of level that all that effort will be for nothing.

I’m not a carpenter but I have built shed platforms very similar to yours and never had to do all that leveling not taking anything away from you i actually love many of your videos but somehow this just got so overkill. 👍👍

Why is the flooring overhung past the outside skids?

Must be nice to live in a climate with little wind, I like the idea but would blow away were I am even with stuff in it.

Good video buddy

I'm just curious because trust me I know nothing about these things, but, doesn't gravel/rock shift throughout time? Especially each time you enter the shed, walk around, stack things inside etc. I know you're using hurricane clips but still, if winds are strong enough won't the winds just swoop up under the shed and send it flying? Please remember I don't know about these things, just my thoughts as I watched.

What's the difference between this type of foundation and a stone foundation

I suppose I could use some of these concepts to make a platform for my bed. Box springs wear out and eventually sag. Maybe??

Where are you located?

Damn. All that measuring and configuring is just Wayyyyy too much for my simple little Mind to wrap around. Think I’ll stick to pouring a simple concrete slab. Least I won’t have to worry about little critters nesting beneath it!😁

You could have also burnt the top of all the wood you used to stop termites from going after it.

Why didn’t he use pressure treated wood for the base ?? Or coat them with something ?

That gravel will sink over time.

I could not do this in my municipality. They make any building put in a concrete pad and 24 inch rat wall.

Why don’t you build the off your garage and you will only have to build 3 walls ?

MUCHO JALE MEJOR PAGO INSTALACIÓN 😅

What type of engineering degree do you have? Extremely anal about everything. Not saying it's bad necessarily. Just a whole lot of extra work when oak shims are available.

It only cost you $150 for everything, the wood, ,stakes, concrete pads, nails, straps and gravel? Probably cost $300 in my area.

$2000 without the floor, $2,700 with.

Ain’t $150 now!😂

I'll check back after a major wind storm.

You lost me at hypotenuse 🤣 nevertheless by continued watching

Nice work but this will cost well over 150 Dollars

woah .. algebra.

Looks like it went from $150 to $215 for those supplies. That shed is expensive!!

No way you bought all the wood for 150

at the cost of $ 100-50 ???

First!

Definitely not for beginners!

I love all these non construction people making "informative" videos

This is exactly how NOT to do it folks. There is much more legitimate information on this type of thing available, not from some random RU-vid guy.