Shopsmith Forums

Hi, have a question about putting in a new shed in the backyard.
Tired of working in the garage with no temp. control . The summer in S.E TX just kills the fun, getting old enough that I just don't want to deal with it anymore.think I will be having a new shed 16x24 built in the backyard on 8x16 blocks and skids. Backyard is clay , drainage is poor and sometimes stays saturated for several days after a heavy rain. blocks will be spaced every 4' down and across. Is there anything else that needs to be done or do you think I will have a leveling problem? anyone have or had to deal with this concern? Thanks.

I am not familiar with TX soil and weather, I was a general, "hands on" contractor, and built many additions to homes, but instead of the blocks, what about the concrete form tubes, set holes at proper distances, dig holes for the tubes, allowing for some height above the grade, level of course, fill with concrete, and put your perimeter joist on them.

rbursek wrote:I am not familiar with TX soil and weather, I was a general, "hands on" contractor, and built many additions to homes, but instead of the blocks, what about the concrete form tubes, set holes at proper distances, dig holes for the tubes, allowing for some height above the grade, level of course, fill with concrete, and put your perimeter joist on them.

This X10.

put large gravel at the bottom of the tube holes to help with drainage. Depending on how deep the clay is, you might think about drilling auger holes deeper than the clay (and away from the structure) and back filling with gravel. You might be able to effectively drain the area. We have gotten rid of alkali fields that way here in NM.

JMHO

I add ++ on using the Sonotubes. We used 2' ones for our raised deck. Easypeasy.
We over built. Poured them @ 4' OC. But the deck NEVER moves!

Thanks for the replies, was hoping that the blocks would be sufficient, digging and filling 24 piers becomes a project itself. When I lived in the country I owned a tractor with attachments including an auger, I sure miss living in the country.

sharka wrote:Hi, have a question about putting in a new shed in the backyard.
Tired of working in the garage with no temp. control . The summer in S.E TX just kills the fun, getting old enough that I just don't want to deal with it anymore.think I will be having a new shed 16x24 built in the backyard on 8x16 blocks and skids. Backyard is clay , drainage is poor and sometimes stays saturated for several days after a heavy rain. blocks will be spaced every 4' down and across. Is there anything else that needs to be done or do you think I will have a leveling problem? anyone have or had to deal with this concern? Thanks.

I blew in 6 inches of insulation above my two car attached garage using a free blower from Lowes, installed insulation panels on the inside of my double garage door and installed a 15,000 BTU ductless A/C and my garage/shop is a cool 72 degrees on a 100 degree outside day. My electric bill went up on average $20 per month and I worked in the shop every evening and all day weekends for a year. It also is very easy to warm with a small space heater in the winter. And I live in the Houston area.

fredsheldon wrote:I blew in 6 inches of insulation above my two car attached garage using a free blower from Lowes, installed insulation panels on the inside of my double garage door and installed a 15,000 BTU ductless A/C and my garage/shop is a cool 72 degrees on a 100 degree outside day. My electric bill went up on average $20 per month and I worked in the shop every evening and all day weekends for a year. It also is very easy to warm with a small space heater in the winter. And I live in the Houston area.

Your AC is it a window unit or something else?

Thanks for the input Fred, I have considered doing something similar but really prefer to give the garage back to the wife, I like for her to park in the garage although I use the driveway myself. However, yard tools will remain in the garage and the fun tools will go to the shed.

You can rent an auger for about $150.00 a day. One that is on wheels that you can roll right up to where you want to dig a hole. I am sure you could get them all dug on less than a day.

Check your local building codes. That wouldn't meet code here and you would get to do it over. A foundation like that becomes a rodent hotel.