How to Prepare for a Shed

Plan the size and location of the shed. Drive stakes at the planned corners of the shed. Check the survey to make sure the shed is on your property or, if local zoning regulations include offsets, far enough away from the property boundary to be legal. Acquire any necessary building permits, if applicable.

Remove any debris or plants from the building site. Remove as much of the roots as possible along with the plants. Remove the sod from the site if the shed will include a concrete floor.

Check the slope of the land. To avoid water from collecting under and around the shed, it should sit on the highest point of ground for an area at least 10 feet around the building. Use dirt or gravel to add to the ground at the shed site. Drive a stake into the ground at the center of the planned shed location. Tie a carpenter's string to the stake 6 inches above the ground. Stretch the string away from the stake while a string level hangs from it. Hold the string level and measure the distance between the string and the ground level. The distance between the string and ground should increase by a rate of at least 1/8 inch per foot as you move away from the center stake.

Create a foundation for the shed using patio stones. Patio stones are 2 inches thick by 9 inches wide and 18 inches long and are commonly used to create a patio floor. Place a line of stones about 1 foot inside each side of the long dimension of the shed.

Excavate a place large enough for a patio stone every 3 feet along the line. Remove the sod and roots from the excavation area and fill with gravel.

Place a patio stone on each gravel pad. Check the level of a straight board placed on the patio stones with a 4-foot carpenter's level. Remove or add gravel beneath the patio stones to create a level foundation.

Place a treated 4- by 4-inch timber on the leveled patio stones as the foundation. Attach the shed floor to the timbers.