Question about building a shed on a sloped concrete pad

[Bowfisher]

I'm building a 12'X16' shed on a concrete pad. The pad has a 1/4" per 12" slope in the direction that the 16' is going for a total of 4" of slope and about 1" total in the 12' direction. My question is do I cut my studs different lengths so that the top plate is level or all of the same length and just have the top plate slope with the concrete? I'm thinking it's best to get the top plate level but my friend that I go to with my construction questions says he wouldn't bother with dicking with it and make them all the same length. What do you guys think?

 

[94fordguy]

Do you want your shed to look level or look like it was built crooked?

I'd cut them individually and build it level myself....

 

[Bowfisher]

Do you want your shed to look level or look like it was built crooked?

I'd cut them individually and build it level myself....

Good point. The more I think about it the more convinced I am that level is best and I think it'll be easier to sheet if it's built level. But it seams that generally I like to do things the hard way and I wanted to see what others with more experience say.

 

[Mafesto]

Depending on what shed is used for........................
If anything will go in wet, it will all run to the wall. I would pour a new pad.
Storing anything that can roll, I would pour a new pad.

If I were to use existing sloped pad I would pour footings around the perimeter (level of course) & build on that.
My obvious question is why throw good money after bad?

 

[m8braaaap]

agreed.i would pour footings like mafesto said.when finished it will look like the top of a stem wall.be sure to dowel it to the slab.

 

[snow_god]

Agree with the footings. Cutting the studs to lenght to make the top plate level will work no doubt. But when u side it say with vinyl siding u now have to try making up 4 inches on one end because of the wall height differnce. which is tough ti do.


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[Mafesto]

Not to mention that if you would build a shed to fit a crooked slab, options are all gone.
You cannot move the shed.

Another option.... use existing sloped slab as an apron in front of the door & pour a level slab.

 

[Bowfisher]

Depending on what shed is used for........................
If anything will go in wet, it will all run to the wall. I would pour a new pad.
Storing anything that can roll, I would pour a new pad.

If I were to use existing sloped pad I would pour footings around the perimeter (level of course) & build on that.
My obvious question is why throw good money after bad?

Thanks for the input guys. The footings are a good idea that Im considering doing. I poured the pad earlier this year with the intent of putting a shed on it. I intentionally sloped it so water would run out. Maybe I screwed up from the get go. I was planing on using a 4' X 8' vertical hardie board siding so if I just cut the studs at different lengths the issue with trying to make up 4" on the low side won't be hard. I'll just cut the bottom of each panel at the 1" in 48" slope

 

[Bowfisher]

Not to mention that if you would build a shed to fit a crooked slab, options are all gone.
You cannot move the shed.

Another option.... use existing sloped slab as an apron in front of the door & pour a level slab.

I'm not worried about moving the shed. If I sale the house it'll stay.

 

[m8braaaap]

without the stem wall you will need to flash the bottom or it will leak.

 

[Bowfisher]

without the stem wall you will need to flash the bottom or it will leak.

Just a simple 90 degree flashing? I was thinking about putting some base plate gasket under the base plate. Would that help keep the water out?

 

[m8braaaap]

get some bituthene.its a waterproofing membrane.they sell it at home depot in a 12"roll.its sticky on one side so roll that out and then flash it with the thin galvanized flashing that you buy in a 12" roll also.done deal.be sure to run it down the side of the slab and then backfill to top of slab

 

[snow_god]

get some bituthene.its a waterproofing membrane.they sell it at home depot in a 12"roll.its sticky on one side so roll that out and then flash it with the thin galvanized flashing that you buy in a 12" roll also.done deal.be sure to run it down the side of the slab and then backfill to top of slab

This is one step I wish I wont of forgot when I did mine. Poured it on a floating slab and got in a hurry with building it. Realized I forgot this step the first time we got a heavy rain. Flashing it after its sided is a pain in the ***.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

why didn't you build your original pad slighty sloped towards center with a floor drain and keep the building level..

 

[Bowfisher]

why didn't you build your original pad slighty sloped towards center with a floor drain and keep the building level..

Where were you 4 months ago? Honestly I didn't think drainage would be an issue. I figured as long as I made it sloped and got the water out I wouldn't have an issue.

 

[m8braaaap]

its fine! I did residential excavation for 10 years and 90 % of garages slope 2% towards the door.when I built my shop I sloped to the center with a drain but it is 40x50.what you are doing will work fine.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

Where were you 4 months ago? Honestly I didn't think drainage would be an issue. I figured as long as I made it sloped and got the water out I wouldn't have an issue.

I have been thinking about this, why don't you pour concrete high sides all the way around and then you have a swimming pool with a deep end..???

 

[xc6rider]

I think you'll end up just fine! It's a shed, not a church.

 

[Bowfisher]

I have been thinking about this, why don't you pour concrete high sides all the way around and then you have a swimming pool with a deep end..???

I'm sure that my kids would love this.

I think you'll end up just fine! It's a shed, not a church.

I agree. I'm not to concerned about the water it's not like I'm going to be thawing sleds with 80 lbs of ice on them in here. That's what my brothers garage is for. I do appreciate the input though. I always like seeing what other people see that I missed.

 

[the fix-it guy]

Build the building square, not level. Many livestock buildings are intentionally built sloped.