Shed Floor?

[Toller]

I am building a 4x8 garden shed. The plans call for a PT floor frame of 2x4s on 16" center, and a sheet of plywood; all set on 4x4s. I don't have any PT 2x4s or plywood, but I have a big pile of 5/4x6 cedar that I would like to get rid of.

Would it be reasonable to substitute the 5/4x6s run the 8' direction, and then another layer of them run the 4' direction? I can throw in a few more

4x4s than the plan calls for, since I have plenty of those too.

Also, since the 5/4x6s have been stored outside and are pretty wet, could I just put them up against each other, figuring they are much more likely to get smaller when they dry out, than expand?

[dpb]

Any reason you couldn't just use the -x6's as floor joists? They would be adequate long-ways unless you're planning on some real weight but certainly ok on 16" center the short way -- or you could even go to 12" center if have enough material. Only downside I can see would be losing a couple inches of ceiling height, but if you haven't already, you could surely arrange to lift the outside a little to compensate if that were a major issue. That and then 5/4" flooring would be far stronger than any store-bought or ready-built building you'd likely find..

[Toller]

I hadn't thought of that. Not quite as much wood to nail into though.

[hallerb]

Hide quoted text -

as long as you dont mind animals living under your shed wood is fine.

me and a neighbor both built sheds, mine on concrete slab his PT wood floor.

wood rot has attacked his PT wood floor, animals nest under it.

he is talking about replacing the floor completely

[Toller]

^^as long as you dont mind animals living under your shed wood is fine.

You must not have a dog. A rabbit was dumb enough to nest in my yard. Jessie was so excited when she brought me one of them. I don't want to think about what happened to the rest.

[hallerb]

neighbor has dog too, but dog free in yard cant get to bunnies or racoons

shed sits on property line, animals come and go thru neighbors yard. dog just howls a lot and tries digging under shed, he is too big .....

but the PT wood has rotted away. some sleepers just gone.

he wishes he had used concrete.

my shed is 16 by 20 his a bit smaller, but fixing this will be a nightmare.

he may tear down and start over

[3G]

neighbor has dog too, but dog free in yard cant get to bunnies or racoons

shed sits on property line, animals come and go thru neighbors yard. dog just howls a lot and tries digging under shed, he is too big .....

but the PT wood has rotted away. some sleepers just gone.

he wishes he had used concrete.

my shed is 16 by 20 his a bit smaller, but fixing this will be a nightmare.

he may tear down and start over

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16x20 is more like a garage, not a shed. a shed usually is not larger than 120 sq. ft.

and built ON the property line, what, no consideration of neighbors and/or setbacks where you live?

[dpb]

Not as much to nail _what_ into? You mean to nail flooring down? Of course, you could always double up if you wanted to stiffen it up even further...

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I was certainly assuming it wouldn't be setting directly on the ground but at least blocks if not a full foundation. And, of course, even a shed should have a provision for ventilation and preparation under it as would a house crawl space...it won't last forever, undoubtedly, but a modicum of preparation should make that quite a long time away...

[** Frank **]

I did three of with wood flooring and all rotted out. Two lasted 7 years and one lasted 20 years with damages from termites, dry rot and rats. I do all mine now with concrete slab.

[dpb]

Guess it depends on where you are -- have one here (the old brooder house) that granddad built probably in the early 20s, if not earlier, that is still in pretty good shape.