When you purchase a shed, it’s important to make sure the foundation is strong and sturdy to give the structure as long a lifespan as possible. As many of our gardens aren’t actually flat, you’ll likely need to build an uneven ground shed base.
Building a shed on a slope without a base presents a few risks to your structure, including mould and poor drainage, splitting, and even a potential collapse. In this article, we’ll explain step-by-step how to build a shed base on uneven ground so that you can enjoy your shed for longer, worry-free.
Which tools will I need when preparing the ground for a shed?
You will need to ensure you have the following tools available for this process:
- Your chosen base material
- Weed membranes
- Wooden blocks
- Tape measure, pegs, and string
- Rubber mallet or hammer
- Spade
- Spirit level
What is the best shed base for uneven ground?
When it comes to selecting the materials to use to build your uneven ground shed base, you can expect to find a few options to suit your budget and preference. These include:
Crushed stone
A crushed stone shed base is a simple way to level uneven ground that looks great once complete. You can also expect great drainage. For this base to be most effective, your slope will need to be quite close to level. If it is more than a few inches high, you’ll need to add a retaining wall as a border below the foundation.
Concrete Slabs
Concrete slabs work similarly to crushed stone when used as a shed base on uneven ground. However, they are much better used in structures that will include heavy weights or equipment, such as a home bar or gym.
Concrete Blocks
As one of the most frequently used shed base options, concrete blacks are simple and economical yet effective. When using a concrete block as an uneven ground shed base, the ground can remain off-level whilst the foundation stays completely – saving you from having to do extra preparation work.
Pier Systems
If the surface you’ve chosen to build your shed base on is particularly steep, it’s worth looking at using a pier system. Pier systems are most useful when used on shed sites that are over three feet out of level and, like using concrete blocks, can be adjusted to support the weight of the shed exactly.
How to build a shed base on uneven ground
Building a shed base on uneven ground may seem quite challenging. However, our step-by-step guide below should make the process as straightforward as possible.
Step 1: Decide on a location for your shed
First, you’ll need to decide where the best place will be to put your shed. This should be chosen wisely, especially as building a shed base on uneven ground is much more time-consuming than a flat surface.
Consider what you’ll be using your shed for and how far it’ll be from your house. You should also check the digging conditions, avoiding anywhere with hard, rocky soil or tree roots.
Step 2: Clean all vegetation from the area
You will then need to ensure that you’ve cleared all vegetation, including grass, weeds, trees, and bushes from your chosen area. Cleaning the area of clutter will help reduce the build-up of moisture.
Step 3: Mark out the area
Once you know the correct dimensions needed to build your shed, you will need to mark out the area using a tape measure, pegs, and string. You should aim to go slightly bigger than the shed itself.
Step 4: Level off the ground
You should then dig the top layer of the ground to level it out as much as you can. Once you’re happy with this, you should then add wooden boards across the ground to highlight any uneven patches of soil. From here, you can redistribute excess soil to emptier areas. If there isn’t enough, then we recommend using pea gravel to fill in any gaps. You should then use your spirit level to test how flat the surface is.
Step 5: Add weed membranes
It’s important to install the weed membranes to your uneven ground shed base as these will prevent weeds from growing through and around the shed. For maximum protection, we recommend using two membranes lying in opposite directions.
Step 6: Construct your base
Now the area is prepared, you can start adding your chosen base material in preparation for the full shed installation. You should aim to build your base so it’s as firm and level as possible before the shed arrives.
Choose shed bases for uneven ground from Powersheds
Building an uneven ground shed base may seem like a strenuous task but the benefits make it completely worth it. At PowerSheds, we offer a shed base kit that comes with everything you need to lay the foundation for your new shed.
If you’re looking for extra information or advice on your sheds, contact us today, and one of our friendly experts will be in touch.