Build a Shed, Day 1: Foundation, Gravel, and Joists
We’re back with our next contractor-follow where we show you how professional contractors would tackle home improvement projects. Today we’re sharing how to build a shed with Steve Wartman, owner of Wartman Home Improvements. For more details and how to contact Steve, check out our Meet the Pros page.
Building a Backyard Shed
Most homeowners that want a shed will have one built off-site and delivered to their home. That’s exactly what Fred & Kim did, and you can see how pleased they are with the results. Unfortunately, this is not an option for all homeowners, and a common barrier is inadequate access. That’s why Steve and his crew are here today, and I’ll let him introduce the project.
The Plan for Building a Shed
If you missed it in the video, the plan is to level out the site and put down a perimeter of 4×6′s. Next, they’ll add a bed of gravel around solid, concrete block foundations. The block will allow the shed to sit up off the ground. This 10×12′ shed will also feature double band-board construction, 2X4 framing, a hip roof, and architectural shingles.
Step 1: Site Preparation
After determining a location for the shed, it’s important to give it a solid, level foundation that will properly handle rain and moisture. Steve’s team accomplished this by digging out an area with about 8″ of clearance on all sides. They lined the perimeter with pressure-treated 4×6′s, sometimes going as many as 3 rows deep. They used 20″ rebar to secure it to the ground, and 10″ Timberlok heavy-duty, wood screws to pull all the boards tight.
They were able to use some of the dirt to fill in low areas, being careful to tamp everything to eliminate voids. Steve’s crew made 10 concrete block foundations by stacking blocks on undisturbed ground. This is important because undisturbed ground will not shift as even tamped dirt can. Each foundation has 3, 4″ blocks, glued to each other with construction adhesive. Using a line level, they ensured that all the foundations were the same height, level and equally spaced. They used 2-4″ of crushed rock to fill around the concrete blocks, and this provides a path for water so that moisture doesn’t build up underneath the shed.
Step 2: Build the Outer Band Board
This shed will feature pressure-treated, double band-boards which means that there is an extra 2×6 around the perimeter. A double band board is helpful because it adds to the structural integrity and provides a wider nailing surface. It’s important to measure the diagonals (corner to opposite corner), and if they measure the same, the structure is square.
Step 3: The Inner Band Board and Floor Joists
The inner band board will have joists spanning the width and secured with hanger ties and/ nails. The joists are 2×6′s placed 16″ on center (o.c.). Again, it’s important to check for square and shift the frame if necessary.
This inner structure fits snuggly inside the outer band board frame.
The double band boards are nailed together, but not before verifying that everything is still square.
Stick with us as next time we’ll share more about installing the subfloor, framing and beginning to build the hip roof.
January 20th, 2012 9:31 am
This would make a great foundation for a play house too!
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January 20th, 2012 9:33 am
Isnt it a band board? as in a band of board around the house.
I figured you were off on some building project (it had been quiet in the comments
). The 4×6 frame around the crushed stone is interesting, it looks like it made a nice sturdy base for the shed, and brought it to about ground level without putting dirt right on the shed.
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Fred Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Joe, it definitely is! I updated the post. Funny thing is, I’ve written about band boards before and I read this post before it published and didn’t catch it. Must’ve been tired. (We all try to cross-edit posts to make sure we catch everything. I just read it has “band board” the entire time.
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jeff_williams Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Not to nitpick too much but I’ve always heard that called a rim joist when it’s structural and band board when it’s cosmetic. I’m sure they are probably interchangeable and it’s just the convention of the contractors and engineers I know. Granted the context always has a basement foundation “rim” that it’s sitting on as well.
Love this new series. I’m building a shed myself in the spring. Hopefully insulated slab on grade. I might heat it if the wife will let me.
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Ethan Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Yeah. Keeping up with this shed, and helping out with Lucy’s 1yr birthday party has kept me busy (obviously).
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January 20th, 2012 10:22 am
Can’t wait for the rest of these, I plan to build a shed sometime this summer so hopefully I can get some good ideas to help me out.
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January 22nd, 2012 2:52 am
Look forward to seeing the other parts I remember your post on your premade Shed and this looks really interesting.
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January 22nd, 2012 9:34 pm
I’ll be really interested to see this series of posts – I’m going to build my shed in the spring and had just started to plan things out.
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January 24th, 2012 12:25 pm
Why was this type of foundation chosen over slab?
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Ethan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Pouring a slab is a viable alternative. You’d have to modify the construction of the shed (probably put it on a skid) to account for moisture. In the end, this foundation meets the need and is less expensive.
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William Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Makes sense. Here in the south, we put trailers on blocks and nearly everything else on a slab. We don’t have to worry about the deep foundations and frozen ground heaving a slab and cracking it.
As far as moisture, what would be different with this shed than typical slab home construction where the bottom plate of the framing is PT? Is it only a problem because of the wood floor?
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Ethan Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Good questions…
If they had poured a slab, they would have put the shed on a skid of PT 4×4′s that would allow rain and moisture to escape. Nothing else about the build would have changed.