Planning to fix a new garden shed? A concrete slab is a brilliant idea to set up as a foundation for anchoring the wood to anchor your shed. It provides a durable, sturdy floor for your shed that can withstand strong winds.

Steps to fixing a garden shed on a concrete slab

The slab perimeter should be up to 8″ to be able to hold up the weight of the roof and walls.

Before the concrete cures, position galvanized anchor bolts into the concrete perimeter, making sure that most of the bolt is above the concrete for the nut and washer. When the concrete completely cures, the anchors are sealed permanently.

Layout the Sill Plate to Mark Positions for Drilling Bolt Holes.

To protect direct contact of wood and concrete, you can use a sill gasket, plastic, rubber, polyurethane caulking, or pressure-treated lumber or all the listed combined. This reduces the possibility of water damage or rot of the wood.

Fix Nuts and Washers. Ensure you Secure the Nuts Using a Socket Wrench.

After building the stud walls, ensure the sheathing overlaps the concrete by 2 inches. Also, make sure the clearance is 3 inches above the ground. The ground should be slant from the foundation to deter the chances of water damage or decay.

Other Improved Possibilities Include;

In case you reside in areas that face high winds or have occasional storms or neither of the listed but want to stay safe from the unexpected, then it’s essential to consider adding more anchors for stronger support.

Often, sheds are constructed using screws and nails to connect the bottom studs to the already anchored sill or the base plate.

The attached sheathing provides lateral anchoring. However, consistent strong winds are capable of weakening those connections.

Large lag screws can be used to attach them to the stud. They can hold the plate in position providing extra security against any possible lift forces like hurricanes.

An elevated foundation provides ventilation, keeps wood far away from possible ground moisture, provides a path for plumbing, and allows easy leveling of ground.

Securing Shed on an Existing Concrete Slab

Make marks on the concrete where the anchors will be placed.

Using a hammer, drill on the concrete, making holes that are the same size in diameter as the anchors. The holes should have the same depth of the anchor shaft but less the anchored material thickness, plus washer and nut.

After drilling the holes using compressed air, hole brush, or vacuum clean the messes in the pits.

At the top of the anchor thread, put the nut, then tap it using a hammer into the hole until it reaches the bottom.

Use a sill gasket, plastic or rubber on the wood to prevent it from laying directly on the concrete, protecting it from water damage.

On the plate drill, space matching holes then erect the wall to the anchors. Tighten the washer and nut using a wrench to hold the plate. This causes the bottom of the bolt inside the concrete to expand hence holding the shed securely.

Read More:
Why You Need a Garden Shed
5 Benefits Of Having A Garden Shed