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Site Preparation Advice

Are you wondering what you need to do to prepare for your new structure? You have come to the right place! The Carriage Shed will make this as easy as possible.

What you need in order to properly prepare your site depends on what type of building you are planning for. Below we have listed the preparation necessary for each type of building and some common questions we have come across.

Site Preparation

WE SUGGEST:

For small buildings (Sheds, Greenhouses, etc.)

  • 3”-5” of hardpack on top of road fabric. Compact it good make sure it is 100% level and 1’ bigger on each of the 4 sides than the building being placed on it.

For bigger buildings (Garages, Barns, etc.)

  • A frost wall with a 4” to 5” concrete pad inside or on top of it is best. A floating slab 18” thick around the sides with a 6” slab is also common and will work with proper drainage.
  • We know there are many different options for a foundation for these bigger structures. These can be discussed with our owner Robert, who has a background in concrete.

Where is the cutoff for it changing from small to big?

  • When the building comes in one piece – it is okay to use a hardpack pad as mentioned above. When it switches to multiple pieces is when it is safe to say you will need more than that. That being said – as with all the parts of these processes – it is very situational. Please reach out to us with your specific situation and we can instruct you on what is best. This is just a general guideline to help with your site preparation and planning. 😊

Why do we suggest road fabric?

  • To keep the hardpack from mixing with the dirt and prevent weeds from growing. Also, to stabilize the area for better support.

Why do we suggest hardpack instead of crushed stone or cement blocks?

  • We do not use crushed stone because it tends to not stay level and compacted. One of the most important things for your site is that it is LEVEL.
  • We do not use blocks because our buildings are not made to span between blocking. The skids at the base of the building take the place of blocking. Cement blocks also hold moisture and it can rot the building faster.

What if I am getting a Run-In Shed with no floor to put out in a field?

  • Our Run-In Sheds are built on pressure treated 6×6’s. If you have level ground with good drainage in your field, no site preparation is necessary. We still suggest a level pad of hardpack to prevent your building from settling into the ground and mucking up while potentially rotting faster than with a pad, but it is not 100% necessary. Please chat with us to discuss your specific site needs.

How to figure out the dimensions needed for my site?

  • For small buildings, you want the pad to be 1 foot bigger on each side of the building. So, if you have a 10’ x 12’ building, you want your level pad of hardpack to be 12’ x 14’.
  • On Bigger modular and prefab buildings, it is good to have 20’ on all sides of the buildings cleared and so we have room to move the material and the lift. If this is not possible, please let us know and we can do a site check – discuss your specific situation and make necessary adjustments needed. Don’t be afraid to check!

What about preparation getting TO my site?

  • The Carriage Shed handles the delivery and set-up of your shed, barn, or any other structure you may be purchasing from us. It is imperative that we are able to get to your prepared site with our truck and trailer. We have the most advanced truck and trailer shed delivery system on the market today. This allows for your shed or building to be moved in a variety of different directions.
  • We can place your building in the most challenging of areas. If you are worried that we cannot, let us show you that we can! Please call us to discuss your specific situation and see how we can make your new addition to your property nothing but enjoyable!

Our number one priority at The Carriage Shed is customer satisfaction. Please call us if you have any questions or reservations about a new addition to your property!

Building Delivery Videos

Check out some footage of a shed delivery below:

We have a specially-designed trailer that helps us to position the building perfectly. The wheels of the trailer can independently move the trailer side-to-side.

Our certified delivery driver can carefully position your shed or building.

The result is the perfect and gentle placement of your building!