I have an old shed in my backyard. The house is approx. 60 years old and I’m guessing the shed is about that same age. I’ve learned from the town I live in two out buildings are no longer allowed and my original plan was to take down and build a new one.
I know I could hire someone to lift the shed and repair it but being only a shed & a DIY guy, I’m having trouble justifying the expense. The problem with the shed is the floor’s middle support is laying on the ground. This makes for a very bouncy floor (t&g 1×4’s) and my goal is to be able to drive a lawn tractor in and store it. Once everything is secure and level, I’ll be installing a small garage door.
I’m attaching pictures to show the condition. The shed measures 16′ x 24′. You can see in the pictures the middle support is laying on the ground.
Open for suggestions to lifting to repair or cutting the floor boards out to repair from the inside.
C. Tofik
Replies
Those concrete corners are unique. It looks to me like they were added to support the place when the original posts or whatever failed. The shed has fairly straight lines though and since it is grandfathered, it is well worth saving from what I can see.
It wouldn't take that much for a carpenter or qualified handyman to take loose some flooring and place a pad in under the center beam for you to stabilize it.
Which one of these is your floor joists most similar to ?
Quittin' Time
The middle drawing represents this shed. The T&G floor surprisingly, is in very good condition and holding up well. This may be the reason the previous owner never bothered to repair it.
Tofik
Had a similar situation with a grand-fathered garage. Although the floor was cement. We repoured the floor and built a building within the old structure. This allowed for "character" of the old with the straight walls and insulation required to heat it in the winter, and not fall afoul of the city by-lawys.
Is there a possibility to level and pour a slab?
Yes, there is. Right now the shed is not taxed and my thoughts of pouring a new slab floor would turn it into a taxable structure. One of my original plans was to somehow lift and move the shed up, out of the way. Build a strong deck fountaion and set it back down.
The only problem to this feat, I've never done this sort of thing before, nor do I know anyone that could walk me through it.
Then Piffin's idea might be the way to go if the floor joists are sound enough. Would this keep you away from the tax man?