How Big Should my Shed Base Be?

Okay #sheddies, you’re probably getting ready to order your shed and wondering: “How big should my shed base be?”

It might not seem like all that important a question. Surely it can be as big or small as you like (within reason).

And spoiler alert – it can!

However, there is one size of base that is better than them all. And it completely depends on the size of the shed that you have ordered. 

We promise there is a method to our Shed Madness! 

A G&M base story…

A couple of years ago, we noticed something at Gillies and Mackay that completely changed our perspective on bases. At this point, we were building out show area sheds on level slabbed bases that were bigger than the actual sheds. It looked awfy bonnie, and it made sense to us.

We use slabbed bases as they are much sturdier than plastic or hardcore bases. This makes them much better for levelling and means your shed will last longer.

So, on this particular day, the rain was pouring down in typical Scottish style. And as the rain continued, we noticed that it was simply bouncing off of the slabs surrounding our sheds, and splashing straight back onto the shed. 

If you know your #Sheds, you know that timber and moisture isn’t a good mix. Timber is a natural material, so it’s no stranger to water exposure. However, any unnecessary moisture is an extra opportunity for water to penetrate the timber and for rot and fungi to grow.

At the same time, we also noticed that the rain was almost stopped in its tracks by the gravel surrounding our parking spaces.

It was as if the gravel was acting like a rain sponge. 

There was far less splashback when the rain was hitting the ground and that gave us an idea…

“Let’s keep the slabs underneath the sheds, but put chuckies (aka small decorative pebbles) around them.”

The following week, we pulled away from the exposed slabs that were sitting around one of our sheds and filled the area with chuckies instead. 

Much to our delight, the next time there was a monumental Scottish downpour, the chuckies did exactly what we hoped they would. The amount of rainwater splashing back onto the shed weatherboard was significantly reduced.

The big question: How big should your shed base be? 

Firstly, it can’t be too small. If you have a shed base that is non-existent, or much smaller than the building size, it is not going to be able to support the building correctly. This is because the supporting bearers will not be able to sit in their correct positions.

Having a shed base that is much bigger than your shed is okay…but as mentioned, it can lead to unnecessary splashback from rainwater. It increases the chance of water penetrating the lower down weatherboard, which can lead to rotting of the timber.

In an ideal world then, your shed base would be a slabbed area that is 10mm shorter and narrower than the external size of the building going on top of it.

For example, for a 3m x 2.4m shed, you would want a base that is roughly 2990mm x 2390mm.

Surround this with something like chuckies in a colour to suit your garden, and you have the ideal shed base that is going to keep your beautiful new shed sitting proud for years to come. 

Ready to learn more about shed bases?

If you want to take your shed base knowledge to the next level, you can read our article; What kind of base do you need for a Gillies and Mackay Shed? 

That’s all for now #Sheddies! 

All my Shed Love, 

Natty x