Best Shed Bases

With summer just around the corner, now might just be the perfect time for you to get your toolbox out and start building your dream shed that you always say you’re going to create, but never seem to have the time to. Building a shed sounds reasonably simple and quick to carry out, right?

Nail some planks of wood together to create a sheltered space that can house all your tools and gardening equipment that you don’t want cluttering up your house, and you’re done!

However, what happens when you wake up in the morning, go to admire your shiny new shed out the kitchen window, and find it lopsided thanks to one side of the shed having sunk into the ground thanks to the uneven terrain?

This is going to take much more of your time to rectify and may compromise the shed by exposing the wood to damp soil.

Luckily, there is such a thing as a shed base which keeps this nightmare from occurring. All you have to do is place your shed onto the base to give it a stable surface that keeps the wood away from potential rotting conditions such as pooling water.

Moreover, these are all rather inexpensive thanks to the wide availability, so let’s dive right into the five best options on the market, shall we?

If you’ve set your mind on designing and building your shed but just found out that you need to purchase a shed base before you can get stuck in, you might not have enough time to read through this whole article in order to find your new purchase.

If this is the case, we’re here to fast track the situation and tell you that our favourite available shed base is the Eco Deck Garden Shed Base Grid.

We’ve come to this decision due to the 25-year guarantee offered by the manufacturer and the fact that it is made from environmentally friendly materials that have all been recycled.

This is also ideal for a medium-sized shed, so we think it will suit a lot of raring-to-go shed builders.

This kit comes with enough plastic tiles to use with an 8×6 foot shed, and you’ll also receive a membrane sheet to prevent weeds from growing and disrupting the base.

The plastic used to create this base is made completely out of recycled materials found in the UK, so not only are you protecting your shed from premature aging, but you’re also protecting the environment.

Each slab measures in at 85x61x3.5cm, making it slightly thinner than the rest of the options on our list. Having said that, this won’t compromise your shed flooring as you should still be able to fit a reasonable amount of gravel below the base to prevent this happening.

What’s more is that Eco Deck’s 25-year guarantee will give you peace of mind for years to come.

• Made of recyclable materials.
• Enough to fit a medium-sized shed.
• 25-year guarantee.

• Sits your shed slightly lower than the market average.
• Supplied clips aren’t very durable.

With this kit, you get 20 plastic tiles, all measuring in at 50x50x4cm. Placing four grids together will make one square metre of the base, so all together you’ll receive enough tiles to make a 5 square metre shed base.

The unique grid will keep the gravel in place and won’t cause it to shift, preventing you from finding any displaced tiles or a tilted shed. These heavy-duty grids slot together and give you a lot of freedom to create your desired shed base, with regards to both size and shape.

Due to the fact that you get 20 tiles with this pack, this is the best option to choose if you want to create a large shed or would like some spares for another project. You could even make a pathway to the shed!

Overall, this is an ideal purchase for people looking to cover a lot of space without breaking the bank.

• Both strong and flexible.
• Designed to keep gravel in place without having it shift.
• You get a lot of tiles in one pack.

• You may need to level the ground before using these.
• One customer did not receive their full order.

This shed base consists of a number of smaller plastic grids, each sized at 50x50x4cm, that can be connected together to make the correct size of shed base for your individual plans. It will best suit sheds sized 6×4 to 7×5, however, you can certainly cut them down if you need a different shape.

You’ll also receive a membrane sheet so you don’t need to make another purchase to use this model.

The plastic is actually made of recycled UK materials, so this shed base is very environmentally friendly as well as sturdy and durable.

These grids are super quick and easy to install and prevent damp conditions from reaching the wooden floor of your shed.

• Easy to install thanks to the lockable mechanism.
• The size can be adjusted to fit your plans.
• Made of environmentally friendly materials.

• A flat surface is required so you may need to conduct a little preparation work before laying them.
• The included membrane sheet is a little flimsy.

True EcoDeck’s Shed Base Kit comes with 24 plastic tiles and a weed protector sheet to lay underneath them. Each grid’s dimensions are 200 x 125 x 4 centimetres, which means you can connect nine together to cover one square metre of your garden.

With this knowledge, you’d probably want to choose this kit if you were planning on designing a shed sized 6×4 foot.

Each grid is made of environmentally friendly materials, with them being created from recycled materials that had been taken rightfully out of the landfill.

Too much recyclable material ends up in landfills every year, so purchasing this pack will help to take some of this and repurpose it so that it does not harm the environment.

• Very easy to install.
• Comes with material to prevent the growth of weeds.
• Enough room so you can use almost any type of stone.

• Not suitable for larger sheds.
• You may need to spend some time compacting the ground before using the tiles.

These attachable plastic slabs are a great alternative to expensive concrete, brick, or timber. Not only will you receive the plastic grid to attach together, but you will also receive a plastic membrane to prevent weeds and from growing, and pegs to secure it down.

This kit comes with everything you need to get your shed off the ground (literally)! The innovative pattern ensures constant airflow and easy draining to prevent mould or rot forming.

You get six tiles with this kit, measuring in at 60x40x28cm, allowing you to use underneath a shed sized 6×4 foot. Each slab is lightweight and easy to attach so that you can spend less time sorting out the base and more time creating your new shed.

• Very easy to assemble.
• It comes with everything you need to create your shed base.
• Self-ventilating.

• Locking them into each other can be a little tricky. Only for 6×4 foot sheds which may be on the small side for some people.

Size

The size of your shed base is going to depend on how large you want your shed to be. Although you can cut plastic shed bases down to size, you’re probably going to want to know the exact dimensions of your desired shed beforehand to avoid having to carry out this extra step.

Having said this, it is not always possible to find the exact size of shed base on the market, so you should look for a model that is as close as possible to the correct dimensions and also made out of a grid so you can resize it accurately and easily.

Material

There are many different materials in which you can create shed bases out of, as you can get rather creative with your shed. Below we’ll have a look at some of the different materials that you can use to create your own shed base.

Plastic

A plastic grid is considered the most popular type of shed base because they are very easy to use and you can buy them already constructed. They are very lightweight compared to other alternatives, and they require zero work on your part. Simply unpackage your plastic shed base, select a place where you want your it to go, and position your shed upon it. It’s that simple!

You can often cut plastic shed bases easily with a typical saw that you have in your tool collection so that there is no overspill to be seen once you’ve finished building it. The gaps between the grid enable constant airflow to reach the bottom of your shed, ensuring that the wood never comes into contact with damp which may cause the wood to rot.

The grid is tight enough so that you won’t feel any gaps underfoot. The only drawback of plastic shed bases is that they are only suitable for sheds with a structured floor attached. Not only will the wooden walls not be able to sit sturdily on the grid without threatening to sway over, but it will also be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous to walk over.

Due to the fact that plastic grid shed bases are the most readily available and hold the most benefits, we have only included this type of shed base on our top five list above. However, there are a few other materials that you can create a base out of yourselves, which are mentioned below.

Wood

If you have any wood leftover from creating your shed, you could also use this to design its base. Although lying a load of wood planks on the ground is not considered an ideal shed base, it is better than nothing and will certainly do in a pinch. Again, this is not advised.

Alternatively, you can purchase some pressure-treated timber and create a lined base by yourself. This is simply a rectangle shape of however big your shed wants to be, with planks of wood attached in between this in parallel lines. The frame features wooden spokes that sink into the ground to create a level base for your shed.

Moreover, you could also opt to use decking as your shed base. Just make sure it is strong enough to hold the whole weight of your shed, and you’ll need a reasonable amount of room around the decking to carry out maintenance every now and again. Bear in mind that decking is often taller than other shed bases, so you may want to consider creating a way of easy access as it won’t be ideal to keep lifting heavy objects, like lawnmowers, up and over the decking every time you use them.

While using wood for shed bases is inexpensive and you can potentially use materials that you already have laying around your house, they are also rather risky and you have to ensure that you treat them thoroughly before putting the shed on top of it. You may have to be prepared for rotting and shorter lifespans than other materials, which is why we wouldn’t consider wood the most efficient material to use.

Paving Slabs

Paving slabs have been used for typical shed bases for years, as they are solid, sturdy, and don’t require any maintenance. You can purchase paving slabs from a number of sources and they’re not too expensive, either. Moreover, you can place almost any material on top of them and they won’t break or falter under the pressure.

Having said that, paving slabs require a lot of preparation before you can lay them in your garden. You’ll need to level the ground to make sure you get a completely flat surface, and you’ll need to remove all grass and debris before securing them down. They are also heavy so it’ll be a big job to finish, and there is always the possibility of your slabs settling which may compromise the levelness of your shed in the long run.

Concrete

Similar to paving slabs, concrete is very strong and can be used under sheds made from all materials. There is no maintenance required and once it’s laid, you can forget all about it and never have to worry about it.

However, you’ll need a lot of time on your hands with this method. Concrete is expensive as it is, and if you need to hire the necessary tools as well, you may find that the bill skyrockets before you even notice. Moreover, it’s not eco friendly and it is easy to mess up, so you’ll need to be sure in your capabilities before you begin laying concrete.

Brick

If you happen to have some bricks lying around, you can certainly lay them down and place your shed on top of them. They’re relatively sturdy and will keep your shed from damp conditions, which is why it’s an ideal material to make a makeshift shed base from. You can choose whether you want to reinforce them or not, however, you may want to do this to avoid them shifting over time.

The main drawback of brick shed bases is that they are often not even and may cause your shed to reside on a tilt, which may not be desired if you want a well-rounded and nice-looking garden.

Installation

How easy your shed base is to install is another factor to consider before deciding on one model. Some are simpler than others, and some take much more time than they need to. Building a shed is already a strenuous task, so we believe that choosing an easily installed base is the right way to go.

The easiest shed base to install is probably a plastic grid model, as all you have to do is resize them properly, lay them on a stable surface, and reinforce them to keep them steady. On the other hand, the most difficult shed base to install would most likely be concrete, as you need to be a certain skill level to carry this out.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you put a shed base down?

For a plastic shed base, make sure you level and compact the ground where you’re going to place it to prevent the shed sinking. Then peg your protective mat down securely where you want the shed base to go, before setting your pre-attached base on top of this. And voila! Your shed base is ready to hold your new shed.

How high should a shed be off the ground?

Ideally, your shed base should allow at least four inches of space between the bottom of the shed and the ground to allow enough air to comfortably reach the wood.