Building a Base for Your Garden Shed
Building a solid foundation is crucial for your garden shed, providing stability and allowing you to anchor it securely. There are two main methods for creating a garden shed base: using timber or laying a concrete slab. Timber bases are generally more affordable and easier to construct. Here's a step-by-step guide to building a timber base:
Materials: Start by selecting your materials. For a typical base, you'll need H4 treated bearers (100mm x 75mm) for support and H3.2 treated fence palings (150mm x 25mm) for the floor. These can be purchased from hardware or timber stores like Bunnings, Mitre 10, or PlaceMakers.
Preparing the Site: Clear the area where the shed will be placed, ensuring the ground is level and free from debris. If the ground isn't level, dig out any dirt until you have a flat surface.
Laying the Frame: After assembling the base frame of your garden shed, measure and cut your timber bearers accordingly to size.
Lay the Bearers: Place the H4 treated bearers on the ground, perpendicular to the direction you want the floorboards to run. Space them evenly, around 300-500mm apart, depending on the shed's size.
Rebated Floor: It's recommended to rebate your floor to the size of the garden shed base frame. This allows the shed to anchor onto the bearers, with the floorboards sitting raised inside the shed, reducing the risk of rainwater ingress. As shown below,
Position the Base Frame: Position the shed base frame on the bearers. Ensure the frame is square before anchoring it to the bearers. Check for squareness by measuring from corner to corner.
Secure the Palings: Measure the insides of the frame from end to end and cut your palings to size. Use galvanised nails or screws to secure the palings to the bearers, ensuring they are level and flat. Double-check the squareness before securing the palings.
Assemble Your Shed: With the base complete, you can now follow the assembly manual to add the walls and complete your garden shed assembly.
Additional Tips:
Constructing a Sturdy Base for Your Greenhouse or Tunnelhouse
A solid foundation is essential for the stability and security of your greenhouse or tunnelhouse. One of the most common and cost-effective methods is to create a timber box section base. Here's a step-by-step guide to building a timber base:
Materials: Begin by selecting your materials. For a standard wooden perimeter base, you'll need treated timber, available at hardware or timber stores such as Bunnings, Mitre 10, or PlaceMakers. The size of your timber will depend on the desired base height, ranging from 75mm x 50mm for a low base up to 300mm x 50mm.
Preparing the Site: Clear the area where the structure will be located, ensuring the ground is level and free from debris. If the ground is uneven, remove dirt until you have a flat surface.
Laying the structure Frame: After assembling the base frame of your greenhouse or tunnelhouse, measure and cut your timber base frame accordingly.
Assembling the timber base Frame: Cut your timber base frame to size based on your structure's dimensions. Use galvanised nails and nail plates for assembling. To secure the frame to the ground, use timber stakes or steel waratahs, which screw directly into the frame.
Positioning the Base Frame: Once your timber base is ready, position your structure on the frame. Ensure both frames are square before anchoring it down by measuring from corner to corner.
Completing the Assembly: With the base in place, follow the assembly manual to add the walls and complete the structure.
Additional Tips:
