Can You Put a Garden Shed on Paving Slabs: 5 Brilliant Alternatives

Can you put a garden shed on paving slabs?

Yes of course, but you need to make sure that there’s a strong foundation for the shed before assembling it. If your garden is on slabs of paving, then this won’t be an issue.

If you want to protect your shed and make it last for the long haul then a quality base is an absolute must. You can’t just put down that new shed right on top of the grass, as this can cause rot and structural instability- especially in this rainy climate we live in! A good concrete foundation will keep water from getting into any parts of the building while leaving plenty of space around all sides so air can circulate freely.

Laying your shed on paving slabs

Paving slabs needs to be laid on a level surface. 

• The first thing you will want to do is clear any vegetation from the area that your shed will reside by removing rocks, stones, roots and plants as they can cause uplift for paving slabs.
• Measure out an outline of where your building should go using string with 20cm extra, then start shovelling dirt away until it’s 2in deep (6 cm). You’ll now have enough depth in order to create a flat surface ready for paving slabs!
• Place your paving slabs starting from one corner and use a rubber mallet to hammer down the slab. Using the spirit level, you can work out and get each slab perfectly flat by adding more sand if needed underneath until it’s perfect.
• Once you have placed all of them in their appropriate position on top of the ground layer, brush off any excess mix that was used during the installation process; this will leave surfaces clean for future projects like building or replacement of your shed.

Alternative shed base options – Plastic shed bases

If you’re looking for an alternative to paving slabs, there are a few things that we recommend. Plastic Shed bases are one of the most popular solutions and also one of the cheapest, as they can be found on Amazon or at your local DIY store in small packs.

The benefits of using plastic shed base instead of concrete slabs include protection from water damage due to ground moisture content and hazardous materials like oil or gas leaking through soil onto them. They’re also easier to maintain during summertime!

Wooden shed bases

Wooden shed bases are another fantastic alternative because they’re much easier to install and maintain. You’ll need to glue or nail them in place rather than build the base up from scratch like with paving slabs.

Wooden shed bases also come in an assortment of shapes and sizes so that you can find one which fits your garden space perfectly!

The downside is that wooden sheds are slightly more expensive but this is offset by how easy it will be to swap out if there’s ever any damage done as well as their longevity – most last for at least 40 years.

We recommend using treated timber (or even better T&G) when installing these and ensure the foundation boards are level before anchoring down screws for extra support.

Concrete shed bases

Concrete shed bases are often the cheapest option and one of the most practical. They can be installed on pretty much any surface and they’re really easy to maintain.

The downside is that concrete sheds don’t last as long – about 20 years before you’ll need a new base – but if you have an area with no paving slabs then this could be great for providing a solid, waterproof foundation instead!

One thing which may help protect your concrete roof from rainwater (and therefore keep it in better condition) is using gravel or stones underneath the base rather than just soil so it’s important to do some research beforehand.

You should also consider adding drainage channels around the outside edge too to stop water pooling up over time.

Putting your shed on stilts

Stilts are another way to give your shed extra support.

These are great if you have a steep slope beneath your shed and they’re also the perfect solution for preserving space as you don’t need to excavate too much ground.

The downside is that it can be more expensive than other options, but this will depend on how high up in the air your stilts reach!

If there’s one thing we’ve learned today is that all sheds look better from a distance – so do some research before making any decisions. You might find out something about concrete bases which really surprises you!

How much does it cost to build a solid garden shed foundation?

It’s hard to say since the answer is highly dependent on what you want. If your budget can’t stretch too far and you’re looking for something that will last – we recommend using concrete with some form of insulation in between. This has proved more effective than other methods in preserving energy costs over time.

If you want an affordable option that won’t look out of place next door, why not install paving slabs? The great thing about these is they never need any maintenance as long as there isn’t anything growing up through them! It also means if they get wet all day every day then at least the water drains away instead of pooling.

Safety First

Care should always be taken when undertaking any type of DIY task. Laying a concrete base or cutting timber to size can be dangerous work. Always remember to wear safety glasses and gloves when handling sharp or heavy materials, which should always be cut with a handsaw rather than power tools.

Speak to a professional if you are not sure which base is right for you

If you are not at all sure about what type of base to use or need advice on whether the ground is suitable for a shed foundation then it’s worth contacting an expert. If your timber needs to be treated before building, you can find information on that too.