Shed building help!?

Question

I have a concrete slab in my backyard and I'm planning to build a shed on it. Can I just bolt the wall frame on the slab or do I have to make new foundations?

Answer 1

Certainly you can. Actually what may have been better was in your plan you might have included anchored bolts in the slab.

With all due respect it is a SHED afterall, and can be considered in that it need not be exactly as secure as a house, to its foundation,,,unless perhaps you like in Tornado Alley,,, but then I guess I wouldn't worry about that either.

There are a few ways you can go about this. You can buy anchor type bolts, even 3/8 diameter, drill your holes in both the slab and base frame, then washer and NUT them down. OR an easier, less labor intensive method would be TAP CONS. In either case you can drill PILOT holes in the base frame to the slab for marking purposes, then drill the appropriate holes depending on the anchor system you choose. With tapcons then you can add a fender washer with a small hole but large surface area and a Driver bit to secure the tap con.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

I would use heavy duty liquid nail only. The reasoning is that the wood frame is going to be at ground level and the water running off the sides will tend to run into the shed. The liquid nail in a wide band (as wide as the 2x4) would form a water seal and hold the shed down in high winds. Done this way, there is no need to drill and use Tap cons. Besides, it has been my experience that old concrete is very, very hard and difficult to drill.

Just be sure to use treated lumber.

In checking with your town, you may not have to pay additional taxes if the structure is considered as temporary. By not "bolting it down" it can be considered a temporary structure.

Answer 3

You can, you could either drill into the slab and bolt your sole plate to that, or I would recomend using a power nailer, you should be able to rent one at home depot. Do you have any experience building?

Answer 4

If worst came to worst, you could drill 1/4"holes and drive two 16 penny nails in to them. Tapcons are better, though. Just drill through the bottom plate and into the concrete and drive the tapcons in. Simple as pie. (you do know how to bake a pie, don't you?)

Answer 5

You don't need to bolt it down at all unless there is potential for tornadoes, hurricanes, or VERY strong winds.

Otherwise, any of the above ideas. Used treated lumber where it contacts the concrete

Answer 6

Bolt it up,. Most of the time when a shed is built it is slab first bolt later.

Answer 7

Before you bolt it down, caulk it with liquid nails. This will add strength and help to prevent water and moisture from rotting the new walls. You are going to use pressure treated lumber for the bottom plate....right?

Answer 8

Bolt 'er up! If you have a powder actuated nailer, I'd just shoot it down. Saves drilling and setting bolts.

Answer 9

12,000 Shed Plans & Woodworking Designs : http://www.ShedPlansHappy.com/Recommend

Answer 10

get you a masonary bit and attatch your wall right to the slab but use treated wood for your bottom plate.