subject: Shed & Gazebo Foundation Basic [print this page] Like a house,a shed or gazebo needs a foundation to provide a sturdy base to build upon and to protect the structure from thedamaging effects of moisture and soil.In some cases the foundationties the building to the earth(an important requirement forumbrella-like gazebos) or keeps the building from shifting duringseasonal freeze-thaw cycles.
You can build a shed with a variety of foundations;the mostcommonly used types are the wooden skid and the concrete slab.Inaddition to being far easier and cheaper to construct,a skidfoundation allows you to move the shed if you need to.It alsoensuresin most areasthat the building is classified as atemporary structure.A concrete slab,by contrast,gives you a nice,hardwearing floor as well as an extremely durable foundation.But aconcrete foundation means the building is considered "permanent," which could affect the tax assessment of your property;you'll alsomost likely need a permit for the project.
Gazebos must be securely anchored to the ground,as mentioned,and are typically built on concrete pier or slab foundations.For verysmall projects you probably won't need a foundationjust makesure the base or posts that sit on the ground are made of rotresistantlumber.
A skid foundation is the simplest:two or more treated woodbeams or landscape timbers(typically 44,46,or 66) set ona bed of gravel.The gravel provides a flat,stable surface that drain well to help keep the timbers dry.Once the skids are set,the floorframe is built on top of them and is nailed to the skids to keepeverything in place.
