Shed Skid Foundation Question

[mears]

I'm building an 8'x14' shed (odd size I know), and am using a 6x6 skid foundation where the 6x6s will be laying on solid concrete blocks.

What I didn't factor in is just how rare 6x6s rated for ground contact are in lengths over 12'. I spent all day calling the lumber yards around Denver and found only one place that carries pressure treated 6x6s longer than 12'. However, the lumber they carry is PTI treated, which from my research doesn't appear to be usable for ground contact.

Rather than risking rot with that lumber, I'm thinking about just using 12' lengths and joining them together with either a lap or simple scarf joint. As long the joint is centered over 8"x12" masonry blocks, will I avoid negatively effecting the structure? This shed doesn't require an inspection.

 

[PoorOwner]

Just use 8' skids on the width of the shed?

 

[pattenp]

I think you'll be fine with the lap joints. One thing though, where the cuts are made for the laps be sure to coat the fresh cuts with wood preservative. The pressure treatment does not go as far into the wood as you may think.

 

[pstnbly]

Nobody sells 16' 6x6's? Must be some kind of urban thing.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

What about laminating 3 2x6s to make your 6x6s.

 

[BigSteve63]

What about laminating 3 2x6s to make your 6x6s.

^^^ This ^^^

 

[csp]

Did you ask if they can order ground contact rated in the length you need? I have done this through Alpine Lumber on a few occasions. Just ordered five of them last week for a deck repair job.

 

[TonyMazz]

I just placed my 4x6 Pressure Treated skids on compacted class 5. I raised it up about 5" or so nice and solid foundation. The shed is a 10 X 20 on 4 20' 4x6....

 

[tab2]

Just use 8' skids on the width of the shed?

His current floor joists most likely will run this way so they would be running parallel to each other so this won't work?

What about laminating 3 2x6s to make your 6x6s.

^^^ This ^^^

Agreed

 

[BoWingo]

What about laminating 3 2x6s to make your 6x6s.

...and we have a winner!

If you don't want to flip your joists to run lengthwise, I'd recommend laminating three or four 2x6's. 6" dimensional lumber is 5-1/2". Three 2x's gets you 4-1/2" while four 2x's gets you 6".

 

[UpNorther]

Are 4 x 6's more available ?
4w x 6h is commonly used for ice fishing houses here. I used green treated 4x6x16' on 1 fish house (8'x16'). Resorts use 4w x 6h x 26' white oak on bigger houses (12x24' ,6 tons).

 

[James-W]

When you say "laminating" are you talking about gluing and screwing? If you are, pressure treated wood will glue OK if it is dry, but a lot of the pressure treated wood is rather "wet" when you try to cut it. I don't think they let it dry long enough before they sell it. If it is "wet" when you glue it I don't think the glue will stick all that well.

 

[captaindiode]

In my experience, most 2x lumber is not rated for ground contact either.

 

[TractorJeff]

YEP! Not no more!
The "good" stuff is no longer manufactured!
the "environmentally friendly" PT they sell now will not last as long as the old PT would.
If it is up on concrete blocks, I wouldn't worry about ground contact.
I "think" Menards here can get them that long if you order also?

 

[mears]

Just to follow up, there were a couple places that could special order longer 6x6s that were rated for ground contact, but I wanted to get the floor built that weekend and didn't want to postpone the project a week. As another poster pointed out, 2x6s aren't rated for ground contact. In the end, I just butted 6x6s together. I couldn't come up with one single scenario in my head that would make it any less structurally sound.

 

[visiting guest]

shed floor kits ?
or galvanized tin can studs ?

http://www.lowes.com/Outdoors/Sheds-Outdoor-Storage/Storage-Shed-Floor-Kits/_/N-1z0wg83/pl#!

 

[visiting guest]

http://denver.craigslist.org/mat/5577309897.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/mat/5563051887.html