Carpentry and Woodworking - building on unlevel surface
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mr_dove
08-11-04, 12:31 PM
I have a small shed in the back yard that needs a storage overhaul. The problem that it has is that it was build on a slope and it therefore VERY unlevel. The joists are 2-3 inches out of level.
I nailed a yard stick to the joists to see how the shelves would look and looks seriously funny when built level.
Its just SO against my nature to intentionally build a shelf that is SO out of whack...
What should I do? Build level and have it look funny? Or build square with the walls and have the shelves be slanted but normal looking?
Maybe there's something I can do to minimize the terrible look...
by the way. The walls are just unfinished joists and I had planned on building shelves right onto the joists with cut-outs for each joist to take advantage of the space between joists.
I nailed a yard stick to the joists to see how the shelves would look and looks seriously funny when built level.
Its just SO against my nature to intentionally build a shelf that is SO out of whack...
What should I do? Build level and have it look funny? Or build square with the walls and have the shelves be slanted but normal looking?
Maybe there's something I can do to minimize the terrible look...
by the way. The walls are just unfinished joists and I had planned on building shelves right onto the joists with cut-outs for each joist to take advantage of the space between joists.
chfite
08-11-04, 01:03 PM
Appearances notwithstanding, unlevel shelves are not so useful as level ones.
Dave_D1945
08-11-04, 03:19 PM
You need to ask yourself WHY it's so out of level...............it probably wasn't built that way on purpose. :eek:
Do yourself a favor and get it level (or at least close) before you do much interior work.....you'll be happier in the long run.
Do yourself a favor and get it level (or at least close) before you do much interior work.....you'll be happier in the long run.
mr_dove
08-11-04, 03:20 PM
well, I don't know much about foundations but the little slab that the shed is on is also out of level. I kinda just figured that they built it that way because they were stupid. Maybe the slab just sunk.
We live in townhouses. Maybe I should check the level of everyone elses shed.
edit: perhaps stupid isn't the best word. Incompetant is better.
We live in townhouses. Maybe I should check the level of everyone elses shed.
edit: perhaps stupid isn't the best word. Incompetant is better.
whales
08-11-04, 03:35 PM
I don't know how out of level you're saying this is, but I would have some safety concerns about putting shelves up in there. I know it sounds like more of a PIA than it's worth, but you may want to consider investigating the underlying problem and addressing that before going forward. In other words, get a flat, stable surface under that shed. Depending on the condition of the shed, and on your finances, it may give you an excuse to go "shed shopping"!
Dave_D1945
08-12-04, 08:20 AM
Ahhh, the plot thickens!!
If you're in a townhouse and every unit has a shed, I would bet that the 'foundations' are nothing more than concrete slabs that were poured on grade. If the development is a few years old, the original grade has probably settled causing your shed to tilt. This would happen if your shed was built on fill and the builder didn't compact it before pouring the slab.
Check with your homeowners association and get the plans for the shed construction. If it was built on a poured pad you MAY be able to jack it level and pour some concrete under it to support it. This will only work if:
- the pad isn't cracked or broken
- the pad isn't too far out of level
- the pad has rebar in it.
If you're in a townhouse and every unit has a shed, I would bet that the 'foundations' are nothing more than concrete slabs that were poured on grade. If the development is a few years old, the original grade has probably settled causing your shed to tilt. This would happen if your shed was built on fill and the builder didn't compact it before pouring the slab.
Check with your homeowners association and get the plans for the shed construction. If it was built on a poured pad you MAY be able to jack it level and pour some concrete under it to support it. This will only work if:
- the pad isn't cracked or broken
- the pad isn't too far out of level
- the pad has rebar in it.
mr_dove
08-13-04, 07:33 AM
It has been recommended by a few people (not here) that I lift the low side of the shed and shim it up a bit so that at least the building is level.
I have an idea how to do this but a description would still be useful. My main question would be how to get the jack underneath some part of the building.
would I need to loosen the bolts on the high side as well or jus the side that will be lifted? There appear to be no bolts on the short side of the shed (dimensions about 4"x12").
I have an idea how to do this but a description would still be useful. My main question would be how to get the jack underneath some part of the building.
would I need to loosen the bolts on the high side as well or jus the side that will be lifted? There appear to be no bolts on the short side of the shed (dimensions about 4"x12").