DIY alternative for base to a garden shed

[stuart22]

Looking for alternatives to a concrete slab for a base to a 3m x 3m metal garden shed.

Location makes it difficult to get pre mixed concrete or raw materials to mix concrete delivered to site.

Pre packaged timber  packs for bases seem to come heavily priced.

I am thinking of constructing floor framing out of treated pine (sleeper timbers??) and using a Hardies cement sheet as flooring.

Has anyone got experience in doing this? Would like to here thoughts on pros and cons on building this sort of structure.

Conventional framing: Has anyone got ideas on timber sizes required, required spacing of supports to bearers. etc.

To keep structure as low as possible, I was hoping to have bearers and joists in same plane . 

[Jason]

Hi @stuart22,

Welcome to Workshop. We're pleased to have you join us and trust that you'll receive loads of helpful advice and inspiration for your home improvement projects from our clever and creative members.

I'm sure members will be able to assist with your shed flooring project. You might like to start with these previous posts for inspiration and information:

• Garden shed project by @Brad 

• New shed flooring by @Daves880 

• Cheapshed floorings by @Gezza87 

Hope that helps get you started.

Jason

[TheSaltyreefer]

Formply is a cheap option, pavers are a cheap option with some good bedding sand, or make a base frame and then put some merbau or treated pine down,

[stuart22]

Thanks Salty. Like the formply idea. What did you think about using treated sleepers as a base?

Thought of the pavers idea, but was concerned over laying these level enough to get a whether tight junction with base of the shed.

[TheSaltyreefer]

@stuart22 

I have formply as a base on a donkey stable and my chook coops, with sleepers underneath, bedding sand base laid the sleepers in and formply batton on top of that, been going strong fro 2 years now, works a treat  
so yeah

[gippslandhome]

Hi @stuart22
I'm doing a similar project and may be using hardwood pellets on a flat base and then screwing in yellow young.

I'm making mine 100mm larger than the shed for ease of placement.

The good thing about using hardwood pallets and yellow tongue is that if you should move you can disassemble and take to your new place.

[stuart22]

Thanks for ur comments. 

I chose to use pavers in the end for the following reasons. 

Much cheaper than paying $800 a day labor for 2 guys to lay conc. 

Decided base needs to be level to reduce rain water getting under shed walls. 

Pavers were easier and heavier to anchor shed down too. 

As you say, Can relocate base if need to move shed. 

Good luck with ur project. 

[bkjan]

I am having a shed (3m x 1.5m) installed onto concrete pavers and using anchors to hold it down. Can anyone please recommend the best base to lay the pavers on, such as what type of sand please. I cannot have the shed installed onto a slab as I'm in a rental property and so I have to use concrete pavers. I have a shed company that will install it, but I'm not sure of what sand to use.

Thanks so much for your help.

regards Jan

[JacobZ]

Hi @bkjan,

Thank you for your question about what sand to use as a base for your concrete shed.

The specific products available can vary depending on your region, but a paver bedding sand such as this Easy Mix 20kg Paver Bedding and Screeding Sand or this Brunnings 20kg Landscape Paver Sand would be good for this application.

You'll want to excavate the area slightly so you can have a compacted layer around 50mm thick. This can be done using a tamper such as this Trojan 205mm Tamper.

You might like to have a read through How To Prepare For Paving and How To Prepare And Lay a Base For Pavers for some additional guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions, I'm more than happy to assist.

Jacob