shed foundation

[Capt'nMorgan]

I have an 8x12 shed and it sits on some cement blocks, i am adding green treat boards at the bottom of the sides and burying them into the ground to keep the gophers and rabitts from living under it, because then the neighbors dogs dig under the shed. My question is do i need to cut in a vent or screened hole to allow air circulation?

was told the the floor would rot out because there would be moisture under the shed

[Steve Foss]

The floor will rot out faster than normal unless it's treated plywood. Once you encase the foundation, that moisture has nowhere to go unless you vent it. If your prevailing winds are east/west, vent the east and west boards. If it's north/south, etc.

Based on my own experience, even if you sink the boards into the soil, critters will find a way to get in. They do know how to dig, and an encased foundation is a WAY better house for chipmunks and rabbits and ground squirrels and such than an open one.

Have you thought about approaching your neighbors about their errant dog?

[birdswacker]

I'd drill some 2" hole and put those little soffit vents in. There aluminum and pretty durable in case the dogs are digging. Then you could put several on each side. You can get them at menards.

[CAMAN]

I would run 1/2" galvanized mesh screening around the entire outside before I used plywood since animals can easily chew through wood. My only worry is you are loosing the stability of the soil when you dig around the entire foundation like this since I doubt this foundation extends very deep if any into the soil. You will need to compact it very good to keep the ground underneath from settling and pushing outward during the next big rain.

[Surface Tension]

When you enclose a porch or shed you invite critters to live under it.

If you leave it open and at a height of 1' between the structure and ground it is no longer a place for critters to take up home.

Easiest and best IMO would be to lift the shed and leave it open.

[shizzy]

When you enclose a porch or shed you invite critters to live under it.

If you leave it open and at a height of 1' between the structure and ground it is no longer a place for critters to take up home.

Easiest and best IMO would be to lift the shed and leave it open.

X2.

and maybe use some of that dog repellent spray around the base just long enough to teach the dog to associate that spot with bad times.

[hawgchaser]

If your shed sits on heavy soil, putting a solid skirting will trap moisture and greatly shorten the life of your floor and the skirting. I had a neighbor many homes ago that raised pheasants. They predator-proofed their pens by trenching 2+ ft. deep around the fence putting steel mesh in the trench (attached to the fence) and filling the trench with 4" rock.

Since seeing that, I now do a similar trick with any raised structure: trench about 6" deep around the structure; attach 1/4" galvanized mesh to shed and down to the bottom of the trench; put 1" to 2" rock about 3" deep in the trench; and fill the rest of the trench with topsoil. Solves the moisture issue and seems to prevent most of the vermin issue. I have a neighbor who let's his dogs roam...a single Daisy lesson with me yelling and chasing after the lesson seems to have taught them the property lines ( but then again, I'm a bit old school ).