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When planning your SheShed cabin, one of the most important decisions happens before the walls are even built - choosing the right foundation. Every property is different, so the best foundation option, (also called the subfloor), will depend on your site conditions, cabin size, and how you plan to use the space.
An uneven or unstable base can cause doors to jam, walls to shift, and floors to sag over time. Preparing a level and stable surface is the most important step when installing your cabin. Every great cabin begins with a strong foundation. Before building, it’s always a good idea to consult a local builder and have them assess your site. Their experience can help ensure your cabin is built on a foundation that suits your land and will stand the test of time!
Before choosing your foundation, consider:
These factors will help determine the best foundation for your project, and because every great SheShed starts from the ground up, we provide a timber pile subfloor design for each of our cabins, which is one of the most common and versatile foundation options across New Zealand.
The most popular subfloor choice across New Zealand is a timber frame, and with the right ground connections it works well on uneven or sloped sites and also lifts the cabin off the ground allowing airflow underneath.
A timber subfloor is not included in your cabin kitset. You or your builder will need to purchase materials for and build the appropriate subfloor for your cabin. To make this easier, SheShed can provide you a typical design plan for whichever cabin you purchase.
Other options to installing your timber subfloor on piles includes using alternative solutions like ground screws or specialised moulded blocks. Smaller SheSheds (under 10m2), can also have their timber subfloor built onto treated bearers or blocks on a stable surface like a compacted gravel pad.
Concrete slabs provide a strong, permanent foundation that supports heavy loads and harsh weather. While they generally cost more upfront, they offer excellent durability and long-term stability. Make sure you add a moisture barrier like plastic sheeting or a DPC material between the timber and concrete.
If your concrete slab is perfectly flat and exactly the same size as the Floor Frame, then you can secure the kitset floor frame directly to the concrete slab using concrete anchor bolts. Make sure you still add a moisture barrier between the timber and concrete.
If your concrete slab is larger than the kitset floor frame, or the slab is not perfectly flat, than you'll need to lift the floor frame off the concrete using treated timber bearers, (or a timber frame similar to the standard subfloor option). This allows for airflow to keep the cabin dry underneath, and to add spacers under the bearers to correct any low spots.
Taking time to understand your site and discuss options with your builder will help ensure your foundation is level, secure, and built to last.
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