8 x 8 shed floor question

[widerberg]

Hi, everyone

I've run out of space in my attached and, as money's a bit tight, I've decided to build a small 8ft x 8ft shed in the back yard. My initial shed dimensions were much bigger, but I think the 8x8 will suit my needs for now.

Lots of plans online call for 2x6 support and end boards under the surface boards (floor). For a shed this size, can I get away with 2x4s?

I'll be storing a hard top for a Triumph Spitfire, some car doors, and a scooter (about 200 lbs) or two in there.

For flooring, I'd thought about 3/4" pressure treated plywood with 3/4" tongue and groove planking on top (for the look).

The whole thing is going to sit on 15 of those Dek-Block concrete piers you can buy at Home Depot.

Will 2x4s work, or should I really go with 2x6s? I plan on having them on 12" or 16" centers, rather than the usual 24".

Any advice would be appreciate. Thanks

 

[vtx531]

Good question. I also am planning on building an 8x8' shed in the next couple weeks. There is a company around here that builds a bunch with 4 - 4x4s and 3/4" plywood. My dad suggested that I make a form with 2x4's and use quickrete to pour a cement slab. Pouring cement scares me though because I don't know anything about it but I guess 8x8' would be a good way to learn.

 

[widerberg]

Hey, VTX:

Actually, concrete with a nice moisture barrier would be my first choice, but my deed restrictions say I can't have a "permanent" outbuilding, of any size So, that's what's got me going the route of putting it up on concrete piers. That qualifies as making the building not permanent. Gotta love bureaucracy.

2x4s are about 1/3 the price of 2x6s in my neck of the woods, which is why I was asking. I'm on basically pennies for a budget, so I'm trying to cut costs wherever possible.

 

[wbrian63]

Are you asking about using 2x4's for the floor joists? Minimum spacing on floor joists is 16" so the "savings" by not going 24" spacing isn't valid.

Unless you're really trying to spend $ - just go with 2x6x8 PT (pressure treated) joists. For an 8x8 shed, you'll need 9 (1 each for the front and rear, and 7 spaced 16" on center between. Deck it with 3/4" PT plywood, running the ply parallel to the 7 joists.

Forget the added cost of the 3/4" T&G decking - it's a shed. 9 2x6x8 PT + 2 sheets 3/4" 4x8 PT ply will be cheaper than 2x4x8 + 3/4" PT + 3/4" T&G.

Also, I think you can probably just use 8 or 9 of those concrete blocks. One at each corner, one mid-span on each side = 8. One in the middle = 9. More savings.

We keep this up, and the shed's gonna be free, no?

You might think about investing in a couple of "dog augers" (for lack of a better term). They're long corkscrew things you put in the ground and attach a dog leash to (which BTW I think is just plain mean). A couple of those screwed in the ground inside the perimeter of the shed and properly affixed to the joists will go a long way to keeping the shed in place in the event of a hurricane. Don't want that Triumph hard-top blowing away in a Cat 3...

Of course, if you need to move the shed in the future, then they'll slow that job down. Just put them where you can get at 'em with a sawzall from the sides.

Regards

 

[dodgeram2500]

Another vote for concrete, legal or not. Would you get fined or just have to remove it when you move? I'd talk to the city and see if you can swing it. Pouring concrete is much less time consuming than building a wood floor, especially if there is a 'dial a mix' service near you. Most likely cheaper as well. You'd need just under one yard. I just slid a 10' 2x4 back and forth over the forms of my 8x8...no finishing needed cus its just a shed. Nice and flat too.

 

[wormwood]

Hi, everyone

:

Your avatar is quite distracting.

what did you say?

 

[metal1313]

most places wont deleiver less than several yards of crete, i vote 2x6 framing. an 8x8 floor will take minutes to build esp if you have a framing nailer

 

[nate379]

Need about 1.5 yards, most places around here won't touch anything under 5 yards unless you go with a contractor and they are in with the concrete company.

 

[35mastr]

You can get the concrete with a trailer. They rent those dump trailers and you get the concrete youself.

 

[monteperformance]

I did a floor for my 8X12 shed out of 2X6 treated (24" on center) and 3/4" treated plywood and it took maybe an hour. I put 6 mil plastic underneath on the ground as a moisture barrier.

 

[84scrambler]

I'm almost done with my shed. Its 16' x 8'. I used concrete blocks, 2x6 pressure treated floor joists, and 2/4" regular plywood. If I remember right I used 24 concrete blocks and inset them about 1 foot from the edge and spread them evenly in the middle. The floor on mine feels really stable with little to no flexing. My brother just recently finished his 16' x 8' shed and used 2x4's for his sub floor with half inch plywood. His shed sits on 4 4x4 pressure treated skids which sits directly on a concrete pad. Unfortunately his floor had a lot of flex. He added an addition 1/2" thick piece of ply which helped a little but isn't anywhere near as strong as my floor.

the 2x4's will work but if your going to put a lot of weight in it like I am then I would go with 2x6's. It can easily be a light duty shed that can be a learning platform for a bigger one if you decide to go that route. I had the benefit of having my brothers shed as a learning platform. I also tend to over engineer all of my projects so that is something else to keep in mind (but hopefully it will last a life time).

 

[XSive]

Hi, everyone

I've run out of space in my attached and, as money's a bit tight, I've decided to build a small 8ft x 8ft shed in the back yard. My initial shed dimensions were much bigger, but I think the 8x8 will suit my needs for now.

Lots of plans online call for 2x6 support and end boards under the surface boards (floor). For a shed this size, can I get away with 2x4s?

I'll be storing a hard top for a Triumph Spitfire, some car doors, and a scooter (about 200 lbs) or two in there.

For flooring, I'd thought about 3/4" pressure treated plywood with 3/4" tongue and groove planking on top (for the look).

The whole thing is going to sit on 15 of those Dek-Block concrete piers you can buy at Home Depot.

Will 2x4s work, or should I really go with 2x6s? I plan on having them on 12" or 16" centers, rather than the usual 24".

Any advice would be appreciate. Thanks

I don't see why that wouldn't be fine. I did pretty much the same thing for my Suncast 10"x10" shed two years ago and it is solid as a rock. I used pressure treated material. I went with 2x4's because I didn't want to slope the ramp to the door anymore than necessary.