Macs Frost

How About a Wooden Skid Foundation?

Your new workshop shed is going to need a foundation to sit on just like your house does. If you built the shed directly on top of the ground you would experience damage from the effects of moisture and soil. The shed also needs to be anchored which the skid foundation allows and also protects the shed from shifting during seasonal snow-thaw cycles.

Other than a wooden skid foundation there is also the cement slab foundation. In this short dissertation let's just consider the wooden skid foundation.

For overall ease of construction the wooden skid is the way to go. Starting with a flat bed of gravel that will provide a stable surface lay down wood beams or landscape timbres. It will be necessary to cut, set and level the timbres. At least two of either the wood beams or landscape timbres are necessary. The bed of gravel will also drain well to keep the timbres dry. The shed floor is then built on top of these skids (timbres) and nailed to keep the skids in place. Because the wooden beams will be in contact with the ground they must be treated to avoid decay and angled cuts are generally made at the ends of the skids. Should you wish to move the shed at some future date the angled cuts on the ends of the skids will make the move easier to accomplish and the cuts also add a decorative touch.

Due to cold weather and because the skid foundation sits on the ground it is prone to frost and shifting. What happens during a spring thaw is the shed will rise out of level and will at times settle back and correct itself. If the shed does not correct itself than the shed can be lifted up with jacks on the low side and gravel can be shovelled in below the skid to bring the shed back to level.

To build a skid foundation the following materials and tools are needed:

Shovel
Rake
4 ft. level
Straight 8 ft. 2X4 board
Hand tamper
Circular saw
Square
Treated wood timbres
Compaction gravel
Wood Sealer Preservative.

About the Author

Robert "Mac" McCormack is a cabinetry and furniture hardware expert who is an avid woodworker. Mac particularly enjoys helping others get started in their own home workshop. For more information about a wooden skid foundation visit Fast Easy Shed Plans.