Do I Need a Shed Base and What’s A Good Choice as a Base?

Shed Ecogrid Ottawa

This is the most common question that we get, so let’s start with determining whether a base is needed. shed base

In some yards, when the area has a minor slope and the soil is very hard or rocky, a base is not needed under the shed. A slope under 6” is more than enough to allow water to drain away from the area and hard ground will minimize shifting and sinking. In this scenario, the shed can be built on patio stones and pressure treated 4x4s to lift the shed off the ground, thereby keeping the floor framing dry.

A base (ground preparation) is required in these scenarios:

  • If there is a slope over 6” – a shed is much more apt to shift when there is a notable slope
  • If the ground is soft or if there is/was a garden where the shed will be built – sheds are heavy, so they will sink and go off-level in soft or loose (garden) soil
  • If water pools in the area during the spring thaw or after a heavy rain – saturated soil becomes soft
  • If a tree was removed from the area – though the stump may have been removed, the tree’s extensive root system was not and these roots will decompose over time creating an unstable base, which will cause the shed to shift over time
  • If the property is seven (7) years old or newer – newer properties were excavated and graded by the home builder and it takes many years of the freeze/thaw cycle for the soil in the yard to become well compacted

Once the base is in place, then the shed can be built on patio stones and pressure treated 4x4s.

What’s a Good Choice as a Shed Base?

While some people will use gravel as a shed base, and installed properly, it is an effective option, its labour intensive and time consuming to install. In Ottawa, with our extreme temperatures, excavation should be 18” deep. Once the soil is removed and taken to the dump, ¾” clear stone gravel should be installed, 3” inches at a time and well-compacted every 3” with an electric tamper than can be rented. After six rounds of 3” gravel installation and tamping, the base will be complete and ready for a shed.

This is a lot of work! Thankfully, geocells have emerged in past few years as a base that is superior to a gravel base and preferable to concrete for many reasons.

What is Eco-grid?

Eco-grid is a geocell. The individual interlocking geocell panels click together, side-by-side, to create a base of any size. It’s proven to be effective in a variety of construction applications including; driveways, parking lots, green roofs, shed bases and much more. The panels, by design, are hollowed out and later filled with gravel.

Key Benefits of Using Eco-grid as a Shed Base

1. An Alternative to Concrete

Eco-grid’s patented design is engineered to support 100 tons per square foot and can withstand extreme temperatures, such as Ottawa’s hot summers and freezing cold winters. This is more than ample to support sheds up to 160 square feet.

It’s significantly less disruptive than concrete, requiring no heavy excavation equipment for installation, so there is no damage to your yard. It’s also less costly and faster to install than concrete. Installing a concrete pad requires a day for excavation, forming and pouring, and a day for drying before construction can begin. Eco-grid can be installed within a couple of hours and building can then begin
immediately.

2. Minimizes Shifting

Minor shifting of sheds is expected, particularly in Ottawa where our soil tends to have high clay content. Clay expands and contracts based on moisture levels, so our ground is always moving. Eco-grid distributes the weight of the shed across the Eco-grid panels, reducing the stress on the soil and therefore reducing the likelihood of problematic shifting where doors don’t operate properly. Hollowed out and filled with ¾” clear stone gravel, Eco-grid offers excellent drainage, as well as stability.

3. Setbacks from Property Lines Are Not Increased

With an Eco-grid base, the standard setback for sheds from property lines, typically two feet, is permitted. With a concrete pad, the required setback from property lines is four feet, as concrete is considered a permanent structure. This additional two feet of setback is deal breaker for many people because they don’t want to waste precious yard space and they don’t like the look of their shed sitting that far away from fences.

4. Cost Effective

Naturally, there is a cost associated with Eco-grid and its installation, however, it’s far less costly than a concrete pad and not that much more expensive than a gravel base, depending on what your time is worth and on how you like to spend your time.

5. Environmentally-friendly

Made from recycled plastic bags, Eco-grid is environmentally-friendly!

The important thing to remember about Eco-grid is that it offers structural stability, without the high cost, time and yard damage that comes with the installation of a concrete pad.