How to fill in an open area at the bottom of a shed?

Linda
by Linda

Years ago we built a shed & then a deck over it. The shed needed replaced,so we bought one. In order for it to fit under the deck, we had to dig about a foot & 1/2 down & slide it under the deck. Problem is we need to fill in that one foot area & we don’t want dirt since it will make new shed damp & possibly rot like the older one. We also don’t want animals living under it. Any suggestions???

Thought about pavers??

  12 answers
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Sep 20, 2020

    I would fill that with washed gravel.

  • Seth Seth on Sep 20, 2020

    Whatever you use , it needs to drain or you will end up with the lower part of the shed being wet. So Chloe's gravel idea would work. You may also want to consider an under deck floor drainage system to move water away from the deck. And, if one side of the open are under your deck is lower than the other two, you might want to try and get water to drain away in that direction so it does not drain back towards your foundation or just sit under your shed. Where the cement apron is, it looks like some of the fill or gravel is missing. Make sure you pack it back in so it is completely supported by some type of material.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Sep 20, 2020

    Gravel would be a good thing to consider. Also if you have any leftover window screening or wire fencing rolling it up and crumbling it and sticking it under there so animals cannot burrow and might be a consideration.

    Alternatively I have you seen some homeowners use lattice to skirt the bottom of their sheds as well. They do have a plastic PVC version now that would not rot.

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Sep 20, 2020

    What about adding some lattice. There will be air circulation and keep larger critters out.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Sep 20, 2020

    fill the area with as much gravel as possible. Wet the area underneath so it all settles and add more gravel. Put chicken wire 1' deep under soil/gravel and cover. This will keep anything from digging under it all.

  • Annie Annie on Sep 20, 2020

    Gravel would be good, I am not sure you can keep critters out though, unless you add mesh screen all around the perimeter

  • Janice Janice on Sep 20, 2020

    I would use several inches of gravel on top of the area you've dug out, then lay hardware cloth and a bit more gravel. A few concrete blocks at the corners of the shed and perhpas in the middle of each outside edge (depending on how large the shed is). Then do as the person did in this video to insure there's air flow beneath but no pests.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+foundation+for+a+shed+varmit+proof%3F&rlz=1C1CHZL_enUS709US709&oq=how+to+make+foundation+for+a+shed+varmit+proof%3F&aqs=chrome..69i57.33335j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_zIZnX_quB4fr-wSYhojgDg33

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 20, 2020

    Pea gravel would keep animals out and also provide some drainage or standing water relief. Only problem with pea gravel is that is doesn't stay in where it is put. Pea gravel especially is bad for this but driveway gravel is angled, which allows individual rocks to lock together instead of slipping around each other.

  • Sharon Sharon on Sep 20, 2020

    Gravel with large pavers on top. If your afraid you have critters that will dig under, add some wire hardware screen under an inch of gravel and then top with the pavers. I would slightly tip the top pavers away from the shed for drainage.

  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Sep 20, 2020

    What about pebbles?

  • Jeremy Hoffpauir Jeremy Hoffpauir on Sep 30, 2020

    Gravel will be your best bet in my opinion.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Sep 30, 2020

    gravel to keep nice water drain