What are steps needed to lay a concrete base for my garden shed?

concrete base will be laid on a base of well compacted soil/earth

What are steps needed to lay a concrete base for my garden shed?
Chose the area where you want the shed, leave a little space all the way around so you can get to paint preservative on it in time, make a Wood shuttering up out of 5X1 timber, level and square this on the ground where you want the base, hammer in stakes (on the out side of the frame, this is important) along all sides of the frame, the more the better as when you start filling it with concrete you don't want it to break and come out, again check using a spirit level you are level, it is easier to change it now than when then concrete has been poured, make sure it is squire using the 2,3,4, method, measure 2 foot form one corner along then 3 foot from the same corner up the other part, when you join the two measurements it should be 4 foot, mix your concrete at 5 to 1 or 6 to 1 and smooth off using a piece of timber dragged across the top using the top of the shuttering as a guide, you can throw any old rubble in to the base before mixing so you don't have to mix so much concrete.


don't make the base much bigger then the shed only a couple of inches on each side, this is because when it rains the water will hit the base and splash up causing the wood to root.
Reply:If you live within the city limits you need building permits about $25.00 if you are out of the city limits like me no regulations.


Make a form the correct size according to shed directions You'll need to make it at least 3 '' preferably more to keep rain or snow from seeping thru the bottom .


Then go to Lowe's and ask them what kind of bolts to insert in the concrete unless your shed is prefab/w aluminum rails for attaching to floor/shed. Also ask how thick what type of re bar/mesh and how many bags of ready mix.


Once you have the foundation /floor you are almost home free.


I built a floor for mine so that it wouldn't be so permanently embedded into the ground.


Good Luck! Lowe's is very knowledgeable and helpful.
Reply:I would take the advice of MamsyO cos if you want to move shed any time it will be easier to remove slabs than a concrete base.
Reply:The company who delivered our shed said you don't need concrete. They set it on blocks, and then tied it down through the blocks.


Where we live, you would have to get a Building permit, for the concrete slab and the shed.


:)
Reply:Grannygrunt has the best advice so far, but I would add two things.





1) Lay down a good six-inch base of well-compacted gravel, not just the soil that's already there. And make sure that gravel is level.





2) You don't need to go to Lowes or Home Depot for your building supplies and advice.





We live in a small town of 1,000 and have a great local lumber yard. Small lumber yards are usually run by people with a wealth of experience and are more than happy to teach you what you need to know.





We pay a little more for the lumber we buy in town, but it's higher quality, we support our local business and we don't have to burn any $3.00/gallon gas making a 60 mile round trip to a large box store. Makes it all worth while in the end.





If there's one in your area, I encourage you to support the local stores.
Reply:what we did is just put concrete slabs down. and a shed is on it. it as been on there now for 12 years and still going strong
Reply:No don't just lay concrete on soil.to do it right you need hardcore, and you would need shutters around the sides. no best bet is on good compacted soil. lay 25mm of sand and lay paving slabs down. sit shed on slabs. on the end that you can see the joist ends put a piece of timber to cover this gap so no mice or things can get under.
Reply:Where ever you are, the biggest enemy of wood is damp.


You need to have the shed up in the air away from puddles, surface water and bouncing rain.


Aim at a hight above ground of 12 inches/30cm using bricks or concrete blocks or similar, spread a damp proof sheet under the shed to stop rising damp.