How to Prepare for Your Shed Delivery from Your Local Shed Builders

When you invest in a high-quality shed or garage from Fisher Structures, you want to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. From the style of your shed to your customization options, you can count on us to build your shed or garage exactly how you envisioned it with all the features and options you want. But, after you order your shed, there are some steps to take to prepare for your shed’s delivery.

As your local shed builders, Fisher Structures is committed to ensuring the process for getting your outdoor structure is smooth from ordering to delivery. We’ve put together this blog post, so you know what to do to complete the site prep for your shed delivery. For more than 30 years, we’ve been helping people in the Carlisle and Harrisburg, PA areas design, build, and receive the backyard structure of their dreams. Get started today with a free estimate from our friendly representatives.

Step 1. Choose the Right Shed Placement

Deciding where you’ll place your shed is the first step you need to complete before your shed arrives. But just any open space in your backyard won’t do. There are some considerations you first need to make, such as:

• Are there any HOA or zoning restrictions? If you live in a community governed by a homeowner’s association (HOA), you should check with them first to ensure that your new structure doesn’t violate any of their terms or conditions.

Also, check with your local municipality on the placement of your shed. You don’t want to block any utility lines that may run under your property because if the city needs access to them, you’ll have to move your shed and pay for it. It should also have about 40 feet of clearance in front of it for delivery.

• Is there a risk of flooding? Few things will ruin your custom-built shed as much as water. You don’t want to place your shed or garage in your backyard where water drains to or near a body of water where there is a risk of flooding. Even though your local shed builders at Fisher Structures use pressure-treated lumber in our storage sheds for sale, water is the enemy of wood and can lead to rot.
• Is the shed site level? You can level out nearly any area where you’ll prepare the shed foundation. However, if the site is already fairly level, it will be much easier for you to move on to the next step.

Step 2. Prepare the Foundation

Once you’ve picked the perfect spot in your yard for your new garden shed or other outdoor storage space, you need to start the site prep for your shed. This step may be the most crucial to ensure your storage shed’s longevity. Proper site preparation involves three primary steps:

• Create the appropriate shed base—Measure out an area in your backyard about two feet larger on all sides of your outdoor structure’s dimensions. For example, if your new shed is a 14×24′ one-car garage, create a shed base that is 18×28’ so each side has an extra two feet of gravel base around it. Remove the sod from the appropriate-sized area as the outline for the site prep for your shed.
• Level the area—Remove any dirt as necessary to level the area. You’ll also want to dig out about three to four inches of soil to make room for the gravel pad. Many customers think their ground is level, but when the shed gets delivered, they discover it is not.Be sure the ground is level. Unstable foundations may cause the doors and windows to work improperly, or your shed will start to sag over time.
• Add gravel and tamp down—When choosing the stone for your shed’s location, your local shed builders at Fisher Structures recommend ¾” limestone. Use this gravel to fill the depth you dug out and leveled. Tamp down the rock until it is flat and level. Gravel allows rainwater to drain away while providing a solid shed pad for your building. We don’t recommend using concrete or cinder blogs as your foundation, as they can cause your shed to be uneven and stress the structure.

Step 3. Remove Obstacles

The last step you want to think about when it comes to your new shed is the actual delivery. Our professional drivers need approximately 40 feet of clearance in front of the proposed site, so be sure to choose a place in your backyard that has enough clearance for our driver.

You’ll also need to remove obstacles in the way, such as tree branches, wires, and fences. Even underground dog fences can be damaged when the truck drives over them if it is on the surface or not deep enough.

Another underground obstruction to be aware of is a septic tank. No one should ever drive over your septic tank, especially a truck delivering your shed. Know the location of your and your neighbor’s septic tanks if applicable. If you think the delivery driver will have to drive on your neighbor’s lawn, be sure to speak with them and get permission to use their property.

If there are power line obstructions, talk with your municipality to see what you can do to ensure they don’t get damaged during delivery.

Ready for a New Shed? Contact Your Local Shed Builders at Fisher Structures!

Now that you know the three steps to prepare for shed delivery, you can feel confident that your site prep for a shed is complete. It will be ready to take on the weight and use of the structure, ensuring a long-lasting storage solution in your backyard.

When you’re ready to order your new shed, contact your local shed builders at Fisher Structures! We are experts in crafting long-lasting, beautiful, and durable outdoor structures. Whether you want to add a shed, garage, gazebo, or pavilion, we can make a customized structure for you. Get in touch with our team today to get started!