A Step-By-Step Guide to Shed Floor Replacement

Sometimes, your small outdoor shed needs only a bit of rework and replacement rather than rebuilding it from scratch. Identifying how and where to work on a prefab shed to make it functional again can save you an overall cost to build a shed from scratch. And when it comes to the most common shed rework project, we often find the shed floors to be of huge interest. Shed floor replacement is a project that needs to be done every few years in your backyard because this part of the shed is most prone to damage as they are under the most stress and use and also suffers from damages from the land underneath it.

Fortunately, it is possible to work on shed floor replacement without spending an arm and leg and hiring expensive labor. If you are also wondering how to repair a shed floor, this article contains a detailed step-by-step guide to help you through your new flooring for the shed.

How to Replace a Shed Floor?

Besides worrying about the cost to replace the shed floor, many people also wonder about the damage to the entire shed during this floor replacement project. But the truth is you can replace and rebuild shed floors without messing with the integrity and look of the entire structure, and in the end, the whole shed will come out looking as good as new. The only thing to take care of? Make sure you stick to proper guidelines while carrying out this whole process. Below is a step-by-step guide to work on your backyard office shed to bring about the transformation you need.

Identifying the Problem

The first step to this rework project is identifying the problem and the cause of the problem. Sometimes, your floor needs rework again and again because the foundation underneath isn't properly solid and dense. Hence, the moisture entrapment and improper drainage can facilitate the growth of mildew and fungi, causing the entire layer to become rotten and spread throughout the floor and shed siding panels, too. This problem is highly harmful when living and working in such a space. So start by spotting the damaged floor, then cut the damaged region and remove it from the rest of the space. Please ensure the remaining space doesn't have a hint of damage, as it might throw off your rework project in a few weeks.

Changing the Damaged Parts vs. Changing the Entire Floor

Only two solutions are available to you if you discover minor holes or other problems before the entire floor rots. You have two options: fixing the damaged components or obtaining a new floor. A better choice is to replace the entire floor rather than try to fix the damaged areas. The reason is that even though some floor panels and sections may appear in good condition, they may have collected moisture, which will eventually cause damage to the new component as well. A fully new floor will also lengthen the lifespan of your existing shed.

Building the Foundation

After you are done deciding and removing the entire floor or the damaged part, it is time to start with the foundation again, also known as the subframe. Sub frame is a barrier between the natural ground and the shed floor, which prevents moisture, fungus, and humidity from entering the floor. Make sure you build a solid, dense, and fully packed subframe this time with no escape from moisture bubbles. A subframe can be built from various materials, such as concrete or other types, and you need to put a sealant on the top of the subframe to seal the lowest foundation. The protective seal acts as another layer between the lowest foundation and the floor and helps with the soundproofing of the structure.

Wall Repairing

If the bottom end of the wall boards must be repaired, do so after fixing the subframe. The walls' sides might also rot since they are affixed to the floor. Make careful you simply replace the damaged portion of the wall because repairing the entire wall would cost as much as purchasing a new shed. Therefore, re-felting the shed's sides frequently solves the problem. Then, once the repairs are complete, install a new floor coating of your preferred material. Select the material that meets your usage requirements and serves the type of shed you are planning.

How to Know if Shed Floor Needs a Repair?

Most of the time, the shed floor repair project comes unannounced and shocks you to the core. Especially when you thought your shed floor was well performing and you found a smell building up in the shed. Hence, it is important to identify when a shed floor needs repair before you sacrifice your precious belongings stored in the shed or ruin your health by inhaling air full of spores and fungi particles.

Always being aware of the state of your shed is one of the tenets of proper shed maintenance. This implies that you should periodically check the shed's condition to see if any components require repair. In that situation, you should thoroughly check any bent or discolored wood that caught your eye for dampness, rot, etc.

Why Do Shed Floors Get Damaged?

If you treat your backyard structure the same as the indoor buildings, then you are in the wrong. Backyards and anything built in them are much different than indoors and have a foundation that begins way below the ground level. Hence, it is always wise to expect your shed floor to be damaged a few years later, no matter how much work was put into it.

It is also true that good quality flooring can elongate the life of the backyard floor, but it cannot prevent the inevitable. Now, when it comes to the cause of damage to the shed floor, moisture is the main culprit. Some other factors also give rise to the damage to the backyard floor.

• Frequently examine the floor for any symptoms of infestations since termite infestations degrade the floor's structure and require replacement.
• Heavy furniture or equipment on the floor might wear out the floorboards' integrity and need replacement.
• The shed floor may need to be replaced sooner than expected due to poor construction or inferior materials.
• The worst weather for sheds is extreme rain, snow, and flooding since they create high moisture levels within the shed and deteriorate the materials.