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Oct
28
By Ben Uyeda

Blog: DIY Concrete Slab Foundation




Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

I bought a Rubbermaid tool shed from Home Depot and made the mistake of trying to build it directly on uneven ground. It said in the instructions that it could be assembled on "reasonably" flat ground but this wasn't reasonable. I went to Home Depot and got a bunch of Quikrete crack resistant concrete and poured a slab in less than 4 hours of total work time and it didn't cost me more than $120 in materials.


SUPPLIES:


HomeMade ModernQuikrete Crack Resistant Concrete
Available at Home Depot


INSTRUCTIONS:

HomeMade ModernSTEP 1: FAIL!
I learned not to take shortcuts from this project. I spent a few hours trying to force the pieces together but the slope of the ground caused the flexible plastic to bend out.

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

HomeMade ModernSTEP 2: Make a frame.
I screwed together 2x4s and 1x4s to make a perimeter frame for the slab. I added a middle 2x4 so that I could pour the slab in 2 pours. This isn't necessary but we were mixing the concrete by hand and this broke it up into two smaller projects. I drove wooden stakes into the ground and then screwed the frame to the stakes using a level to make sure the frame was leveled.

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

HomeMade ModernSTEP 3: Add gravel.
I spread out 3 inches of Quikrete 3/4" gravel and packed it down with a tamper.

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com HomeMade ModernSTEP 4: Mix and pour the concrete.
We mixed the Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete 1 bag at a time and spread it in the frame.

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

HomeMade ModernSTEP 5: Screed.
I used a straight board to screed the top of the concrete and make the slab nice and level.

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

HomeMade ModernSTEP 6: Pour the second half.
We waited 24 hours and then removed the center 2x4 and mixed and poured the 2nd half and screed the top.

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

HomeMade ModernSTEP 7: Fix the shed.
With a nice flat slab we were able to fix the shed in just a few hours!

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

Ben Uyeda builds a concrete slab foundation for a tool shed. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com

If you like this project, please share it!

If you want to see what we're working on next, follow us on Instagram: @benjaminuyeda and @ijessup. Also check out our book for additional projects, DIY tips and guides.


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