Receiving Helpdesk

how far apart should concrete piers be for a shed

by Allan Okuneva I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

There is no hard-and-fast answer, but a good rule of thumb (if using concrete foundation piers) is one shed footing every 8-10 feet.Dec 17, 2021

Full Answer

How far apart should shed piers be?

Common spacing distance is about eight to ten feet apart. An 8 x 12 ft. shed typically has six piers, one on each corner and another in the middle of the long sides. You also need to also take into consideration what you plan to put in your shed.

Can you build a shed on concrete piers?

Of course, if your shed is going to be built on a slope, concrete piers are the answer to enable you to build a level base for your shed. This is not the only reason to use this method, however. Concrete piers provide a lot of stability for a shed without the extra work and cost of a full concrete slab foundation.

How far apart should concrete foundation piers be?

These concrete foundation piers are generally installed about 8 to 10 feet apart, however, they can be closer together or further apart based on factors such as: Whether the structure has a wooden frame or is made of brick How many stories tall the structure is How tall the foundation itself is

What size concrete do I need to pour for a shed?

The concrete needs to be poured to at least the dimensions of your shed floor – 7’3” x 7’3”. The manufacturer would have specifics in their instruction for foundation size.

How far apart should pier blocks be for a shed?

3-5 feet apartCement blocks are built in piers (think mini-towers–but they don't lean) 3-5 feet apart. If the sheds are built like they should be, the structure of the shed easily spans the piers–unless you're parking the car in it, in which case you'll want to consider a gravel pad.Dec 31, 2015

How far apart should piers be?

8 to 10 feet apartWhile 8 to 10 feet apart is a sufficient distance for foundation piers to support most structures that would sit atop a post and pier foundation, if the building is particularly tall or made of heavier materials such as brick or metal, it's not uncommon to place the foundation piers even closer together.

How many piers do I need for a 10X12 shed?

To give you an idea of the total, if you are constructing a 10 ft. x 12 ft. shed, and are creating 16 piers, that will cost approximately $1,000. However, the actual cost will vary if your piers need to be deeper or if you chose not to place the piers based on 4-foot spans.Mar 30, 2021

How many foundation piers are needed?

You may only need 1-2 interior piers, or you may require 10-15, and possibly even more. All foundations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. While installing piers under concrete slabs is a somewhat messy procedure, it is imperative that the work be done if significant foundation settling has occurred.Dec 4, 2017

How many piers do I need for a shed?

How many footings do I need for a shed? There is no hard-and-fast answer, but a good rule of thumb (if using concrete foundation piers) is one shed footing every 8-10 feet. That means an 8×10 shed should have 4 shed footings (if footings are required) while a 16×40 shed should have about 15 shed footings.Dec 17, 2021

How deep do concrete piers need to be?

Thickness. The minimum thickness for a pier is 8 inches. The minimum thickness for pier footings is 8 inches or 1-1/2 times the length of the footing projection from the pier, whichever is greater.

What size sonotube for shed?

The decision as to whether to go for 10 or 12 inch diameter tubes will depend on the ground conditions where you intend to build your shed. If your site is on sandy or gravelly ground then 10” diameter would likely be sufficient, for a more clay soil then 12” diameter would more likely be adopted.

What size piers do I need?

For sizing pier diameters for small foundations, the rule of thumb is “1 inch per foot of span.” Thus, a deck that spans 8 ft. will stand comfortably on 8-in. -diameter piers, while a deck that spans 10 ft. requires 10-in. -diameter piers.

How do you layout concrete piers?

2:0815:22How to Build a Garage #1 - Layout and Concrete Piers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBased on running a parallel line off of this porch. You can see the string sitting there. This isMoreBased on running a parallel line off of this porch. You can see the string sitting there. This is the location the customer already determined where they wanted to start the building over.

How do you build a concrete pier foundation?

0:041:01How to Build a Cabin - Concrete Pier Foundation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey do need a footing. They need to sit on a footing to distribute the load that they're that they'MoreThey do need a footing. They need to sit on a footing to distribute the load that they're that they're bearing of the cabins weight. Now also after the concrete is poured.

How far apart should house piles be?

Piles were installed to a minimum depth of 300 mm or to solid bearing, and were required to finish 150-350 mm above cleared ground level. They were equally spaced in rows to give a maximum bearer span of 1350 mm, and rows were spaced 1.6-4.5 m apart (joist span).

How tall can concrete piers be?

Piers between 36 and 80 inches (914 and 2032 mm) in height and all corner piers greater than 24 inches (610 mm) in height shall be at least 16 inches by 16 inches (406 mm by 406 mm) consisting of interlocking masonry units and shall be fully capped with minimum 4-inch (102 mm) solid masonry units or equivalent.

How many rows of concrete piers are needed for a 4x6?

Or, you could pour your concrete piers and set your 4x6s on top as you proposed, but you would need 3 parallel rows, not two. Each row ( 20 ft length direction) would need a pier every7 to 8 ft apart...

How far above ground should a 4x6 pier be?

If you want to space them further, increase the size of the piers. You want the piers at least 6-in above the ground and at least 6-inches into the ground (this is for areas with no frost line - if you have snow on the ground, consult your local building department). The 4x6 floor girders will span 8-feet max.

Why use a pier for a shed?

A pier shed foundation elevates the shed, keeping it from direct contact with the ground. Since the shed foundation piers extend above the soil , it is an excellent choice if your terrain is uneven or if water tends to collect in the area.

How far should a 2x8 pier span?

A double 2×8 beam should be supported every 4 to 6 feet. A 2×8 joist can normally span 8 feet. Additionally, you want to place the piers near the corners of the structure.

What is a concrete pier foundation?

A concrete pier foundation features a series of concrete piers sunk below the frost line and supporting treated wood posts above the ground. The shed is then attached to the wood posts, usually with steel connecting plates or post brackets.

What does it mean when a shed is heavy?

Heavier objects mean you need more support, so a shed holding items like a riding lawn mower will need bigger piers than one holding basic garden tools. The shed’s structure can also be a factor. The size of the joists determines their strength, dictating how many piers you’ll need.

How do I build a pier foundation?

To build a pier shed foundation you’ll need to determine the right number of piers, mark the pier locations, dig or drill the holes, place the sonotubes, and fill them with concrete. The last step is to add bent anchor bolts or galvanized post base before the concrete sets. I built a concrete pier foundation for my deck, ...

How to make a concrete pier stronger than unmoist concrete?

If you moist cure the concrete for seven days, it will create a pier that is around 50 percent stronger than unmoist concrete. Leave the form in place and spray down the area with water. Place a plastic shield, like a tarp, over the posts, and pin it down with cement blocks or timber.

How deep is the frost line in Michigan?

Additionally, if the frost line is deep, you’re going to need to go deeper. For example: in parts of Michigan, the frost line can be 40 inches deep, and in Anchorage, Alaska, the frost line can be 60 inches down. Considering you need to dig 6 inches deeper than the frost line, that’s a deep hole!

How far apart should foundation piers be?

While 8 to 10 feet apart is a sufficient distance for foundation piers to support most structures that would sit atop a post and pier foundation, if the building is particularly tall or made of heavier materials such as brick or metal, it’s not uncommon to place the foundation piers even closer together. If the foundation piers are not placed close ...

What happens if foundation piers are not placed close enough together?

If the foundation piers are not placed close enough together to adequately support the weight of the structure, this will create weak areas where the foundation itself will begin to sag and can lead to major structural issues.

How thick should a concrete slab be?

You could add a concrete slab next to an existing slab if you choose. A slab used for general use such as storage should be 4” thick. If for some reason you use the shed for a garage 4” thick should also be the minimum. But if a heavier vehicle like a truck the slab would be required to be thicker.

What is the best foundation for a 12x16 shed?

A concrete slab is one option to a foundation for your 12×16 shed. But this shed can also be built on a 2×4 treated floor frame (or larger floor frame) and OSB, plywood or other floor deck material. Constructing 16” on-center for joist spacing is the minimum recommended. Build at 12” on-center joists if for heavier use.

What is the foundation of a storage shed?

The foundation of a storage shed is the first and most important part of the installation process! Building the right foundation for a storage shed is extremely important. The photo on the left shows a great example of what a poor foundation and time can do to a shed. Regardless of how strong the building construction is, ...

Why does my shed move?

If frost lines are not considered, your shed may move due to seasonal freeze and thaw changes. This means that the foundation will need to be built to the frost line. Once again, you will need to contact your local building inspector to determine the frost line for your area.

How high is a wood foundation?

Wood Foundations: Wood foundations are typically built using solid concrete leveling blocks which are 8” x 16” and no more than 2” high. Each block is arranged in evenly spaced rows by placing one in each corner and at each break. These concrete leveling blocks will support the floor.

Is it okay to have a level foundation for a shed?

Yes, that is fine. Besides the obvious, having a level shed foundation is important to prevent an abundant amount of sitting water. For example, if you have large holes underneath your building, puddles of water will form causing many different problems. Go ahead and use up as much dirt as needed….

Can you put gravel under a shed?

It would be best to put gravel underneath the shed. If you place your shed directly on the ground, it may not allow excess moisture to evaporate. Please give us a call at 855.853.8558 if you have any further questions. Have a great day!

Layout in five steps

1. Using the dimension from the plans, measure out from the foundation to the centerline of the beam on the right side of the deck. This is distance A.

Which came first, the piers or the beam?

Deciding how many piers a deck needs, and how far apart they’ll be, depends on the maximum total load on the deck, which is determined by multiplying the code-assumed per-sq.-ft. load of 50 lb. (at a minimum) by the size of the deck. Half of that load is supported by the ledger, and half by the beam and piers.

Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9