Need help with waterproofing floor frame of shed.

5 years ago

I just finished building a 8x12' shed in my backyard. I built the entire structure with untreated pine, including the floor frame with untreated wood. I placed the shed on cinder blocks to keep it about 8" off the ground. I'm now worried I should have used treated pine for the floor frame. Here I get some decent snow and rain.

Any ideas how to compensate for water exposure now that its already built??

Thanks so much.

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

5 years ago

where are you.. so we get a flavor of what the weather may hold ... bug city name ...

im not sure it matters.. if its above grade .. and you are not in a flood zone ...and if you are in a flood zone.. im also not sure balancing on some cider blocks is enough either ... lol

ken

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Comments (6)

zen_man
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hello Terren,

The products they sell to apply to wooden decks might do the trick. Or even products to paint boat decks. Just be careful, those are meant to be applied "outdoors" and probably will fill your shed with vapors while they are drying or curing or whatever they do. So keep the door and windows open while they are drying. With untreated wood near the soil you will find out soon enough whether there any termites in your neighborhood. So add anti-termite properties to your shopping list. And you don't want to breathe those vapors. Maybe you should add a gas mask to your shopping list.

ZM
Terren Trott thanked zen_man
Terren Trott
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you!
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Seabornman
5 years ago
I have used this stuff to treat wood:
Terren Trott thanked Seabornman
3onthetree
5 years ago
Well what's done is done. You have a haven for leaves, critters and ground moisture coming up. So if you haven't I would stick some poly sheeting under there to stop the moisture up, then you can cover the sides with skirting (but still leave some venting). Preservatives as mentioned if you want.
Terren Trott thanked 3onthetree
krnuttle
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I have a 10 X 12 shed, it is on skids and the skids sit on cider block. Under the shed is open on three sides and mostly open on the side with the door. At that side I have an earthen ramp that comes up to about 4" below the front cross member. I use an auxiliary ramp to make the final lift to the shed.

That said the shed has been there for nearly 10 years, and i have seen no signs of degradation of the wood. The air can circulate from all four sides and keeps the area relatively dry. Since it slopes about 18" on the 12' width and about 8" across the 10" width water does not collect under the shed. While leaves could collect under the shed the fact that all sides are open keeps the area clear. As for animals.I have never seen evidence of an animal den or nest under the shed. Being open on four sides it would be hard to defend a nest. That is not to say the animals don't go under the shed, it just they do not appear to stay.

One other thing, the first fall leaves and pine needle collected on the roof. I created all types of schemes to deal with them. With the first storm they disappeared. ( Its a barn type roof.)

Would I do it again Yes, as the approach seems to be working
Terren Trott thanked krnuttle