Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 12:07am | #1

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   BOCA requires a foundation under any structure over 100 sqft. Unfortunately, many code officials don't know that they need to use common sense too.

   I'd ask if a concrete slab is acceptable. It won't meet the requirements of a foundation but I've had this approach approved anyway.

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   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 12:23am | #2

   *Since you asked the town, they are obliged to give you the correct response even if they couldn't care less. I would consider installing it without a foundation and hope nobody cares to notice (assuming it's in the back yard). Also, I would contact the manufacturer and dealer to see if they can help you. It is fairly unethical not to have warned you of this common code requirement when you purchased it- like selling a car without the engine.

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   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 12:42am | #3

   *Sometimes you can put little buildings on p.t. skids and get away with saying that its not a permanent structure.JonC

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   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 01:50am | #4

   *What would we do without governments to protect ourselves from ourselves.Put railway ties around the perimeter, over a bed of crushed stone and call it a wooden foundation.Gabe

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   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 01:57am | #5

   *2 more cents...If you are concerned about your light-weight shed blowing away in a stiff breeze screw four mobile home anchors into the ground at each corner and strap it down.

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   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 06:45am | #6

   *Ralph,I'm glad that you suggested that---after watching news in Oklahoma and Texas, I bought tons of stock in mobile home anchor companies! It has gone sky high! Seriously, if your inspectors have nothing better to do than look at storage structure foundations, look out! Something big is about to fall down.

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 08:39am | #7

   *Built a nice 12 by 16 storage shed a few years back for a neighbor. Permit required so i had to excavate a crawl space under neath the hybrid post and beam and joist floor structure. Dug by hand of course.We got the last laugh on the worthless red tape wrappers by converting the shed to a freestanding private office complete with carpet ,trim, rock, heat, power phones, etc. All this post final inspection. Needless to say the bureaucratic wasteoids would not have permitted that bulding for that use in that place.

2. 
   Lowell_Achziger | Apr 25, 2000 09:07pm | #8

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   Can you suggest a source for mobile home anchors?

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   Guest_ | Apr 26, 2000 12:00am | #9

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   ANCHORS, ETC.

   This link will get you everything you need but you could also trot on down to your local manufactured home dealership.

4. 
   Scott_Chadbourne | May 01, 2000 05:02am | #10

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   The local government may want the building on a foundation so that it can be assessed for real estate taxes. If the structure was left on the 4x4 runners it would have to be considered "portable" i.e. here today and possibly gone the next. The larger the "portable" building the more likely the structure will be permanent.

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   Calhoun_v.l._Howard | May 02, 2000 03:21am | #11

   *Joe, It might be worth remembering that towns have a funny way of sending people from the assessors office by from time to time. I've seen people get burned before. Cal

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   Guest_ | May 03, 2000 06:35am | #12

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   Take it back & buy 2 smaller. Piss on the tape parade. Joe H

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   Guest_ | May 08, 2000 06:40am | #14

   *I'm with Joe; buy two smaller units and tell the city to "go to hell." But if you don't do that, then I'm with Ralph; buy tie-downs to prevent wind uplift from knocking over your shed. See. I'm flexible ..Huh!?Davo.

6. 
   Lowel | May 08, 2000 06:40am | #13

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   We bought a prefab garden shed 12' I 16'. The dealer recommended a crushed stone base to set it on. I asked the town if there were any requirements for the shed, and they said I must put in a foundation if it is over 100 square feet. This seems a little over kill to me. Any advice on how to proceed? The shed has 5 - 4"x4"s as skidsIunder a 2"x4" floor.