Rubbermaid Big Max Shed Install

[RedAggie03]

I picked up this shed cheap from a neighbor and I'm trying to decide how to make the base for this shed. It comes with a hard plastic floor, but I'm wanting to dig down an inch or so, throw down some rock, pack it, and put pavers over that. I cannot pour concrete. Overkill? Better way to do this?

 

[moserjj]

I put mine on a wood foundation made of treated 2x6s with plywood on top and then leveled that to the ground using deck post blocks with gravel under them. It's higher up this way but not significantly and it's very stable and secure. We previously had it just sitting on half concrete blocks layed carelessly on the ground (not my doing) and that was terrible and the plastic floor would flex where the base wasn't even

 

[Big Gus]

I put mine on a wood foundation made of treated 2x6s with plywood on top and then leveled that to the ground using deck post blocks with gravel under them. It's higher up this way but not significantly and it's very stable and secure. We previously had it just sitting on half concrete blocks layed carelessly on the ground (not my doing) and that was terrible and the plastic floor would flex where the base wasn't even

^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^^^

 

[RedAggie03]

Hmm...sounds good. Will 2x4's be enough or do I have to use 2x6's? Can I put them into the ground some to lower it down? I don't really want it far off the ground.

 

[TxAgs]

Hey Red,

Been meaning to give you a shout. I've been working on my mustang quite a bit. Hopefully it will be on the road terrorizing the neighborhood soon. Can't wait to drive 3 blocks to Petrol Station.

Anyway, go buy a few of those concrete foundation blocks with the grooves in the top for 2x4 framing. I hope you understand what I'm explaining. They have them and Lowe Depot. Anyway, build a nice frame under with those as the footers, and then do a nice solid plywood base to set the shed on. I had one of those sheds and it sucked until we were able to set it on a solid pad.

 

[RedAggie03]

Hey Tx! Let me know, I'll buy you a beer. I'd like to check the car out. There's a really nice red fast back on Gardenia I drool over when I drive by. He's also got one of those funky 3-wheeled motorcycles.

Like this right?

That's a good idea. I think it's easier to build this than to get all of that gravel perfectly level.

For a 7x7 shed though, do I need 2x6's or will 2x4's be enough?

 

[RedAggie03]

Also, how many blocks for a 7x7?

 

[moserjj]

2x4s are probably fine, space them on 12" centers if you are really concerned with weight bearing ability. I used 1/2" treated plywood for the top only because i had enough around to use and not buy any but I would have used 3/4" if buying new. Mine is 8x10 and I used 9 pier blocks total. I'd maybe use a couple more if doing 2x4s depending on what you might put in there. Mine looks just like the picture above with just less pier blocks. Mine gets lawn furniture and stuff in it, nothing very heavy

 

[Big N8]

Seems to me to be a lot of block in that pic. what is going in to shed?

 

[elementip]

I have one of these sheds - Great shed, but a level and solid base is very important - The walls will bow out and the doors won't shut properly if the base is skewed.

I put mine on treated plywood base that is screwed to a framework of 4x4 posts laid on their sides, spanned across 3 posts acting as skids.

 

[TxAgs]

I've never seen that car on Gardenia. I'll have to start making my way across Ella more.

Those blocks are exactly what I was thinking. You could probably get away with way less support than what's in those photos. If you already have that, it will be a great base for a shed later on.

I'm working offshore at the moment. I'll let you know when I get back and plan on playing with the car some.

Jason

 

[RedAggie03]

Floor is DONE!

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm wanting to dig down an inch or so, throw down some rock, pack it, and put pavers over that.

The pavers are overkill and have you priced them ?

 

[theoldwizard1]

That's a good idea. I think it's easier to build this than to get all of that gravel perfectly level.

I disagree.

Lowering the floor like that is asking for varmints to move in underneath. Opossum, raccoon, skunk, rats, whatever. Without a concrete base, you want the floor high enough that a lot of light and air gets underneath.

If you really want the floor low like that, you need 1/4" galvanized wire mesh, securely attached to the rim joist and then buried about 2-4" below the soil/sod on all sides. This need to extend out a minimum of 2'.

Remember on PT wood, you must use hot dipped galvanized or stainless steel nail and screws. The chemicals in PT will eat through everything else in a few years.

 

[RedAggie03]

I used Grip-Rite Galvanized Phillips Deck Screws, those should be fine.

I agree, the animals are a concern I have as well...I have not figured out the best way to keep them out just yet, but the galvanized mesh wire is a pretty good idea. The 2' thing is a lot though.

 

[bchee]

 

[RedAggie03]

I didn't build it onsite because it was raining outside and I could build it in my garage on level concrete and then carry it out there once I had the concrete blocks leveled out. Which is proving to take a lot of time...

 

[RedAggie03]

Pavers down:

Leveled out:

Base installed, plywood screwed down, and Rubbermaid floor put down:

Ran out of light, so the rest goes up tonight!!

I can't wait until it's all done!

 

[coolreed]

I installed an 8' x 10' Lifetime Plastic Shed five years ago. I poured a 10' x 12' x 4" concrete slab. In my humble opinion the slab is what will make or break any shed, especially a 'Plastic' one. A concrete slab will go a loooong way toward protecting whatever is in the shed. You will have issues with a wood or block base eventually and end up wishing you had a concrete foundation.

Anyway, so far I have been very happy with my Plastic Shed and considering the occasional breezes we get in Oklahoma,....you know those cone shaped dark winds that drop down from the sky, it has performed well.

That is All, At Ease, Carry On

 

[Kaleb]

I have a smaller Rubbermaid shed of the same type. I dug down about 2-3" and used paver base (the sharp gravel stuff), leveled it and built it right on top of that. I've had no issues this year. Your base is much better unless the weeds/grass underneath somehow cause a problem.

 

[RedAggie03]

I think it will be fine... After all, it is just a plastic shed. The things that will go in there will be the things that are one step short of the smaller plastic bin (the trash). So I don't need it to be perfect. When this dies in a few years, I might take another route, but I think this will work great for my needs, budget, and utility easement constraints (ie, no poured concrete coolreed).

I'm actually really stoked with how solid the base is. I really spent a lot of time making sure the base was level and solid.

 

[RedAggie03]

All done!

Built a bench and put up some peg board I had laying around:

Garden tool organizer from Rubbermaid:

overall, I'm very happy with how it all turned out. It was a lot of work getting the base ready and that took the majority of the time and effort.

 

[Phabeon]

I didn't build it onsite because it was raining outside and I could build it in my garage on level concrete and then carry it out there once I had the concrete blocks leveled out. Which is proving to take a lot of time...

RedAggie03..

AMAZING posts.. and Shed looks beautiful, this Thread with your stuff has been like a pool of water in a desert for me.. thank you!

some quick questions tho..

1. HOW in the world did you get those pavers leveled out?

2. How is the shed holding up now 2 years later?



Look forward to hearing from ya!


oNe


P.S. I joined this forum JUST to thank you!!