A garden building sitting on a failing base

Sinking Shed Base and Rotting Shed Floors

A shed is only as square as the base beneath it. Once a corner settles, the frame racks, the door stops closing and water starts finding its way in.

Most failing bases were built straight onto soft ground or laid without falls and drainage.

Landscape Structures work by Gardenscape in Essex

Why bases fail

Slabs laid on unconsolidated soil, timber bearers in direct ground contact, and bases that hold water against the shed floor are the three recurring causes.

A base that is too small also lets rain run off the roof straight onto the timber sides.

What a good base looks like

A compacted stone sub-base, level and slightly larger than the building footprint, with either paving slabs bedded on it, a concrete slab, or a plastic grid system filled with stone. Airflow under the floor is essential.

Setting the building on bearers above the base keeps the floor dry.

Correcting an existing shed

A sound shed can usually be jacked, the base rebuilt beneath it and the building reset square. That is far cheaper than replacing the building.

Where the floor has already rotted, replacing the floor at the same time is the sensible order of work.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need concrete for a shed base?

No — a compacted stone base with slabs or a grid system works well and drains better.

Can a shed be moved to fix the base?

Small buildings can often be jacked or slid clear, rebuilt beneath and reset.

Should the base be bigger than the shed?

Level with or slightly larger, with the ground around it falling away.

Shed door won't shut?

We build proper bases and reset garden buildings level.

Ask about a shed base Call 07535 661664