You make a fair point about luck and local conditions, but I'd still argue that skipping detailed prep isn't always wise. Sure, your neighbor's shed is fine now—but foundations aren't just about immediate stability. Over time, subtle shifts in soil moisture or frost heave can cause issues like cracking walls or uneven floors. I've seen clients regret cutting corners when their flooring buckled after a few winters. A solid foundation isn't just peace of mind; it's long-term protection for your investment... even if it feels like overkill at first.
"Over time, subtle shifts in soil moisture or frost heave can cause issues like cracking walls or uneven floors."
That's definitely true about frost heave and moisture shifts—I dealt with something similar a few years ago. But honestly, sometimes detailed prep can be overkill depending on the project scope. My garden shed, for example, sits perfectly fine on compacted gravel and concrete blocks after 5 winters. For smaller outbuildings or temporary structures, simpler foundations can save a ton of time and cost without sacrificing much stability... just gotta pick your battles carefully.
I get what you're saying about simpler foundations sometimes doing the trick. I built a small workshop about eight years back using just compacted gravel and concrete deck blocks, similar to your shed setup. It held up pretty well at first, but after a few harsh winters, I did notice some slight shifting that made doors stick and windows harder to open. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to bug me into eventually pouring a proper concrete pad.
"simpler foundations can save a ton of time and cost without sacrificing much stability..."
You're right that it really depends on the scope. If it's just a garden shed or something temporary, I'd probably still go the easy route again. But for anything I'm spending serious money or effort on—like my workshop—I think it's worth doing the extra prep upfront to avoid headaches later. Learned that lesson the hard way, haha.
Good points there, and I've seen similar experiences myself. A few thoughts on this from my own projects:
- Gravel and deck blocks are definitely tempting because they're quick and budget-friendly, especially for small sheds or storage spaces. But they tend to struggle in climates with heavy freeze-thaw cycles—exactly the issue you ran into.
- One workaround I've found is adding deeper footings below the frost line, even if you're still using blocks. It means a bit more digging upfront, but you might avoid the shifting headaches later.
- For anything larger than a basic garden shed, though, I'd always lean toward a concrete pad or at least proper piers. The stability really pays off long-term, especially if you're investing in quality doors and windows (nothing worse than having your nice new doors stick after just a couple winters!).
That said, sometimes those DIY lessons become the best teachers...I've definitely learned a few foundation lessons the hard way myself.
"One workaround I've found is adding deeper footings below the frost line, even if you're still using blocks."
That's exactly what I ended up doing after my first attempt went sideways. My original shed was built on simple deck blocks and gravel—seemed like a smart shortcut at the time. But after a couple of winters, the doors were sticking so badly I practically needed a crowbar to open them. Ended up tearing it down and starting fresh.
Second time around, dug down deeper than I initially thought necessary—below the frost line, just like you mentioned—and poured proper concrete footings. Honestly, the extra weekend of digging and mixing concrete was worth every sore muscle. Haven't had a single issue with shifting or sticking doors since, even through some nasty freeze-thaw cycles.
Funny how those DIY shortcuts always seem so appealing until reality sets in. At least now I have a good story to tell whenever someone asks why my shed foundation looks over-engineered...
