Buying guide
What base do I need for a shed?
The base matters more than most people expect — get it right and your shed will outlast its warranty; get it wrong and no amount of good timber will save it from damp.
Your three options
Concrete slab
The gold standard for permanence and larger buildings — but it needs time to cure before you build on it.
Paving slabs
Fast to lay and ideal for smaller or pent-roofed sheds on already-level ground.
Timber base frame
Lifts the building clear of the ground, laid in an afternoon on level ground or existing slabs — and you can add ours to your order.
The detail
Why does a shed need a proper base at all?
A shed sitting directly on soil or uneven ground will move, trap moisture against the timber, and rot far faster than one on a firm, level, well-drained base. The base is what actually determines how long the building lasts, more than the shed itself.
What are the main base options?
A concrete slab is the most durable option but needs time to cure before you build on it. Paving slabs are quicker and work well for smaller or pent-roofed sheds. A pressure-treated timber base frame lifts the building off direct ground contact and can be laid in an afternoon on level ground or existing slabs.
How big should the base be?
Slightly larger than the shed's footprint on every side — enough for the building to sit square and for rainwater to run off the edges rather than pooling under the frame.
What about the shed’s own floor bearers?
Whatever base you choose, the building itself stands on floor runners — the bearers under the floor boards — which are pressure-treated timber as standard on every building we make. Composite floor runners are an optional upgrade, on timber and composite buildings alike, that replace them with solid composite bearers that can never rot.
Can I add a base to my order?
Yes — a pressure-treated timber base for an 8x6 building starts from £150, added as a line on your order alongside the shed itself.
The part of the building that meets the base is its floor bearers — composite floor runners make that part rot-proof.
Add a base when you design yours
The Build Studio lets you add a pressure-treated timber base to any size, priced instantly alongside the building.
