A friend has asked me to build them an 8 foot by 16 foot storage shed. I got the basic shed figured out but I am questioning what to do for foundation. Will be a skid foundation of 4x4's pressure treated sitting on one 8 inch cement block every so often.
So how many 4x4 skids 16 feet long? 2 or 3? and the exact spacing?
For the floor joists on top of them 2x4 or 2x6 on 16 inch centers?
I think you all are great and thanks in advance for the help.
Paul
If it were mine I would go with 6X6 skids. 2 if you set them in 18"-24" from the sides and 2X6 joist. Use solid 4" blocks for the skids to set on.
I just built a shed this way (10x14) (http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=14177.0). I used two 4x4 skids with 2x6 joists. I did not cantilever the joists. 9' 9" or 9' 1" (species) is the rated span for 2x6 floor joists 16" OC for a 40PSF live, 10PSF dead load. That's why I felt comfortable spanning 9' 5". Each skid is sitting on three 4"x8"x16" concrete blocks.
The load bearing walls are where the rafters rest. IMO there is no purpose to adding a third skid. For 16' I would use 4 blocks under each skid. Certainly would not hurt anything to step up to 6x6 skids. Also just make sure your local supplier has them in 16' length.
After looking at sheds on display in the area,I decided on 4 x 4 runners 16' long, 2 of them on 6' center with 2x6 floor joists on 16 inch centers and 3/4 pt plywood floor.
most roll back trucks will handle this if it is ever moved which is not likely as there is a 7'wide wing on one 16 foot side and a green house on the other 16' side.
will publish photos as i get going on it.
Paul