Do I need a foundation under my 10'X14' shed if I have a floor kit with 3/4" plywood as the floor?

Question

I just purchased an Arrow Lindale 10'X14' metal storage shed with a floor kit and 3/4" plywood for the flooring. Looking at it as I build it, it looks like I should have something to seperate the metal flooring from the earth. I don't want to have rusting in 3-5 years on the floor kit because of moisture from rain or whatever. Any suggestions or ideas would be helpful. Of course the ground probably wont get all that wet directly under the shed but I don't want the shed to sink into the dirt because the shed is directly on the ground.

Answer 1

I just put this same building up this weekend, well it was the one from Home Depot not Lowes, the Dakota, but same size and I used a concrete slab as my foundation because I replaced a smaller arrow building where the floor was rotted out after 5 years of use.  

Hopefully whatever you decide to do you will have years of use from your new building.

Answer 2

You're right. The shed will last a lot longer if you build a foundation. Even though it can't rain "under" the shed the ground will "wick" the moisture to the under side of the shed. If you don't want to pour a foundation, you can use cinder blocks.

Answer 3

If you do not want to go to the expense of pouring a concrete slab..simply get an exterior wood sealer and seal both sides and ALL EDGES of the plywood with it..then put the floor on concrete blocks every 2 feet..

Answer 4

I can tell you from experience it's best to put down the cement foundation first. We put our metal shed up and laid in the wooden floor (it's really thick wood too), but what happens is moisture will eventually warp that wood, making it uneven and your doors have trouble closing etc. We have always wished we would have poured a pad first. As far as the shed though, it has never rusted at the bottom though.