Skip to content

Site Preparation Guide

Correct site preparation is important to making sure your barn not only looks good, but is ready to stand up against the elements. Here are some suggested site preparation methods. 

Gravel/Limestone Pad 

Spread 4 inches #57 or #8 gravel or limestone in a level pad 12 inches wider than the width and length of your building. Also, you may want to use 4x4s as an edge as shown in the example above. 

Concrete Pad 

A concrete pad can be poured for the floor. The pad needs to be the exact dimensions of the building you’ve purchased. We then remove the wood floor from the order and attach a treated plate to the wall that will sit on the concrete. Then we drill and place anchors through the plate in the concrete, removing the need for the contractor to place anchors in the concrete when poured. 

Post Foundation 

Dig 4×6 post holes 42 inches deep, place post pad or concrete in the bottom of the hole. Insert 4x6s, fasten 2×10 joists with bolts to 4×6 posts as shown, making sure the entire structure is square. 

Patio Block Foundation 

Place 8x16x2 cement blocks underneath the skids, spacing them four feet apart. example: a 10×12 barn has 5 4×4 treated skids, if you take 12 divided by four, you get three, so for a 10×12 barn, you’ll need 15 blocks. 

As you prepare to add a shed to your property, it’s essential that you know what to expect. Whether you’re considering a Gable, Newbury Cottage, or Manchester Mini-barn, site prep is critical. Whichever method of site preparation you decide on, the finished product should be as level as possible to ensure the longevity and integrity of your building.

Why Do Site Prep?

The full 2×8 tongue-and-groove flooring standard in Weaver Barns is made from pressure-treated Wolmanized pine to ensure a strong, sturdy floor with long-term dependability. In fact, it’s the heaviest floor in the industry! The key to protecting this foundation is to get the shed up off the ground. Your floor can get wet, of course, but you don’t want it to be sitting in water. By elevating the structure, you will prevent the growth of rot and mold that can wreak havoc on your shed over the years

Delivery Options

In addition to how you will level and prep the location for your new structure, you’ll need to decide how you want your shed to be delivered – pre-built or to be constructed on site. This decision will rely heavily upon your access. Do you have the space to receive a building that is already fully constructed? If not, no worries—we have you covered!

Pre-Built

In a Pre-Built, our delivery experts carefully place your structure onto your prepared site. At Amish Yard, we have the unique ability to set wheels under your pre-built shed for better maneuverability. Our state-of-the-art “mule” prevents damage to grass and property and can move about easily in tight spaces. After leveling the doors and adding any optional features you’ve requested, our pros make a final inspection to ensure your new structure is level, sturdy, and ready for use.

Assemble-On-Site

For a customized structure built precisely how and where you want it, our On-Site delivery option is an excellent choice. In most cases, the cost for assemble-on-site is just slightly more than our pre-built option, making it an affordable alternative for those with limited access. After performing an inspection of your prepared site, our team of professional Amish installers from Sugarcreek, Ohio, will build your structure quickly and efficiently, paying particular attention to detail – and to your satisfaction. We build all year round, and most on-site builds are complete in one day (often in as little as 3-4 hours).

Delivery Day

If possible, plan to be available to direct the crew when they arrive, and try to be available by phone in case there’s a delay.

Site-Prep Options

The method you use to prepare your site will depend largely upon the terrain and how you want to use your shed. No matter what, make sure there’s no standing water at the site, and that utility lines don’t pass beneath it. If your site is relatively level (less than 6” variation) and you have good access, we recommend a limestone pad. If you have poor access to the area or are looking for the most economical method of site preparation, patio block foundation is sufficient for areas up to 8” off-level. If your site is greater than 8” off-level, you’ll likely need a Post Foundation. Don’t forget to check with your borough office for requirements in your area. You may need a permit! 

Limestone Pad – For sites up to 1’ off level

The method you use to prepare your site will depend largely upon the terrain and how you want to use your shed. No matter what, make sure there’s no standing water at the site, and that utility lines don’t pass beneath it. If your site is relatively level (less than 6” variation) and you have good access, we recommend a limestone pad. If you have poor access to the area or are looking for the most economical method of site preparation, patio block foundation is sufficient for areas up to 8” off-level. If your site is greater than 8” off-level, you’ll likely need a Post Foundation. Don’t forget to check with your borough office for requirements in your area. You may need a permit! 

We currently do not offer any gravel site-prep options directly through our company. However, over the years we have gathered some trusted companies we can refer for this work. If you’re interested, just ask and we can provide you with the number for a trusted professional in your area.

Patio Block – For sites 8” or less off level

Patio Block is the easiest and typically the most affordable way to build a shed foundation. A block foundation requires the shed to have pressure-treated 4×4 skids underneath the floor. It’s built by placing 8” x 16” x 2” cement blocks underneath the skids. Each skid requires a block at the front and back, and then additional blocks need to be placed in the middle, spaced no more than 4’ apart. Thanks to its affordability, Patio Block is a popular solution for smaller sheds under 10’ x 20’ situated on ground that’s not wildly sloped. This method of site preparation does not perform as well as the gravel prep over the long haul. However, it is affordable and often a great alternative where gravel pads just aren’t feasible.

If you think the patio block method might be for you, ask about our service. Our professional team from Weaver Barns can install it for you. The investment is very reasonable, and you can be sure we will do it right!

Post Foundation – For sites more than 1’ off level

A Post Foundation, or post-and-beam structure, is the go-to for leveling extremely sloped sites. In this type of site prep, pressure-treated lumber poles are buried in the ground on top of concrete footer pads, and beams span between the posts. The shed is then set atop the beams. This type of foundation should only be built by an experienced team, and the finished product needs to be level.

Post Foundations are particularly popular in Western Pennsylvania because of our hilly terrain. One added benefit of this type of install is that you are generally using an area in your yard that is otherwise unusable because of the slope.

Therefore, you end up increasing the usable size of your yard! We install many post foundations each year and have set pricing depending upon the height of your slope.

We typically price from 1’-3’ off level, 3’-6’ off level, and 6’-9’ off level. If you have a slope taller than this, don’t worry — we’ve done it before. We just need to schedule a time to visit your site and measure so that we can give you an accurate quote.

Concrete Pad – Degree of leveling varies

A Concrete Pad at least 4” thick works on a variety of off-level sites as a more permanent foundation. It’s similar to a limestone pad in that it provides excellent support and full-load contact. Concrete pads are the most popular options for Garages, however they can be used for any size shed. Typically, the shed floor is omitted and the walls are fastened directly to the concrete. This makes for a really nice transition into the building, and the overall durability is unbeatable.

The biggest drawback for this type of prep is the cost. For most shed applications, a gravel pad is a much more affordable and suitable method of preparation. If you decide to prep your site with a concrete pad, you should again be considering drainage, making sure to construct it to the exact size of your building so the siding will overlap. If the pad extends too far, it will catch runoff, which will puddle on the slab. This leaves the building sitting in water, which promotes rotting.

We don’t offer concrete work directly through our company, however over the years we have gathered some trusted companies we can refer for this work. If you’re interested, just ask and we can provide you with the number for a trusted professional in your area.

To DIY or hire out?

Once you’ve chosen your site-prep method, you’ll need to decide who will do the work. Limestone and concrete pads are often prepared by site owners, though they can be labor intensive. Since patio block foundations should be laid once the shed is on the premises, they are best prepared by a professional team, as are post foundations. Amish Yard offers patio block and post foundation site preps.

Trusted

We recommend getting bids from at least three contractors if you’re going to outsource your site preparation. Need a few recommendations? We regularly work with General Contractors and would be happy to share the names of some who have earned our trust. If you’re short on leads, give us a call. And keep in mind that Amish Yard offers patio block and post foundations in-house.

Haven’t purchased your shed yet? You’ve come to the right place.

Amish Yard is the best source for Weaver Barns sheds for a few reasons. The first is our determination to give you a customer service experience that blows away your expectations. We’re happy to help with unique customizations and to accommodate special requests. The second is our commitment to using only the highest quality materials, which we go to long lengths to source. Should you hire us for your site prep, you can rest assured the prep materials will not only match the quality of the construction materials, but also preserve them. Our warranty covers our sheds and any work that we do from top to bottom. Everything we do for you will stand the test of time — guaranteed.