Can You Build a Shed on Sloped Ground?

16 October 2024

Installing a shed on your land is a great way to add some extra storage and value to your property, as well as give you a separate space away from home to work, exercise, or relax. But what about when you want to build a shed on uneven ground? Is it even possible, or will this cut your dreams down at the first hurdle?

Here at Fair Dinkum Builds, we love a challenge and will certainly help you with any residential shed options you need. We're happy to work with you to create your dream outbuilding, but is it possible to build upon sloped ground? Let's explore your options together.

Firstly, Do You Need Planning Permission?

Most Fair Dinkum Builds will need planning permission due to their sizes and heights, but it all depends on your local regulations and council.

We always recommend that our customers check with their council planning department first to make sure your shed fits within the compliance rules. Most of our customers have found that they need a permit, so it's best to check beforehand to prevent you from being served any penalties or fines for building on land without permission.

Before we build a shed - we always ensure that planning permissions are in place, and will not commence a build without confirming this.

What Are the Challenges of Building on Sloped Land?

So, you've checked with your local authority and have all the information you need about planning permits required for building on your land. But just because you can, should you build on a slope?

The main issue with sloped terrain is the stability of the foundation and structure placed on top of it. A shed needs to be level with a solid foundation to keep it safe and strong for as long as possible.

Another potential challenge is the drainage. Sloped land can often come with runoff issues which can impact the foundation and overall structural integrity of the shed.

Depending on the severity of the slope, access might also be an issue that shouldn't be overlooked. There's no use building a shed on a slope that minimises the use of its doors, pathways, and surrounding land.

Lastly, building on a slope can also cost more money as you'll likely need more materials and specialised equipment, as well as longer labour hours to finalise the project.

Building a Shed on Sloped Ground

While there may be a number of challenges present in the idea of building a shed on a slope, it's not impossible. With the correct planning, you should be able to build your dream shed on your land without any future issues! However, it's important that you undergo the correct preparation and topography to make sure your land is stable and safe for your future outhouse.

Cutting and Filling

The first thing you'll need to do is address the uneven ground where you're hoping to place your shed. We know this probably isn't what you want to hear, as it's going to be a long-winded process that needs to be done perfectly before any shed can be placed on top of it. This process requires cutting soil from the upper part of the slope and using it to fill the lower parts. This can reduce the slope and even remove it altogether, leaving you with perfectly level ground to build upon.

Retaining Walls

Once your slope has been levelled, you'll need to build retaining walls which are essential for stabilising the sloped land and creating the level areas. The walls act as a sturdy barrier to hold the soil back and prevent erosion in the future, which is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of your shed.

Foundations

All sheds need a sturdy foundation, but the options you have available to you will depend on the severity of your sloped terrain and the soil type. A slight slope might only require a concrete slab, while taller slips might need more specialised foundations like a pier structure. At Fair Dinkum Builds, our shed designers will be able to help you decide which kind of foundation you need.

Drainage Options

Even once you've flattened the surface your shed will be sitting on, any residual slopes can cause an issue with drainage. So, you might need to add extra drainage options, such as gravel, to prevent water from pooling around the shed. This can weaken your foundation over time and compromise its stability.

What are the costs of Building a Shed on a Slope?

Undertaking a project like adding a residential shed onto your land comes with some complexities, and for that reason it's very difficult to give costing information. Additionally, our builds are all custom built - with options for different profiles, colours, sizes, features & extras, so we would need to talk with your about your project before providing information on costs. Get anobligation free quote from our team today.

Designing Your Dream Shed With Fair Dinkum Builds

As soon as you're ready to get started with your dream shed build, we're here to help in turning your vision into reality. At Fair Dinkum Builds, we offer our customers limitless design possibilities, letting you control the design and building of your perfect shed. Let us know what you want out of your shed profile, colour, size, doors, roof, and extras you want, and we'll get to work on the build!

Top tip: Check out our free, industry leading shed designer app, and use the app to design the shed of your dreams.

Get in touch for an obligation free quote on your new shed

Building a shed on sloped ground is possible, but you'll need to carry out the necessary prep work before designing your dream outhouse. You'll need to obtain planning permission and level out your slope, build retaining walls and proper foundations, and make sure you have proper drainage before introducing a shed. At Fair Dinkum Builds, we offer plenty of design options to help you create the perfect residential shed for your land, letting you design and create the entire building from the ground up. So, what are you waiting for? Get in contact with us today to see how we can get the ball rolling on building a shed on your sloped land.