Delivery & Installation, Operations, V9I6

Solid Shed Anchors

(Photo courtesy of Northland Sheds)

When selling a backyard shed or animal shelter, a dealer can demonstrate their customer service expertise by informing the buyer about the importance of securing an outdoor structure to a foundation of some kind. 

Many dealers, such as Silas Bowling of Sheds By Design, rely on anchors for securing sheds or other structures outside. 

“Even a wind gust can damage (a shed),” says Bowling. 

If a shed or outdoor building is not anchored in some way, it could fail a county or city inspection, he says. 

In North Carolina, where Sheds By Design is headquartered, code inspections are required, depending on the building. 

Failing an inspection is bad for business. 

“People are generally not happy if they fail an inspection,” says Bowling. 

A shed that does not satisfy code restrictions cannot be used until it passes. Add that pressure to the reality that anchor kits may be delayed in delivery, and the benefits of advanced planning are obvious.

A customer may choose to anchor their shed for several reasons. Among them include:

  • Adds stability and strength to an outdoor structure.
  • Improves the overall safety of a shed or animal housing.
  • Prevention of wind damage.
  • Lower insurance premiums.

Anchoring a shed makes it more stable, making its use as a storage site more reliable. 

Some sheds are constructed of lightweight materials, so installing some type of anchoring system is a great way to lessen the likelihood of a structure blowing away in a wind gust or storm. 

While anchoring a shed does not necessarily mean it cannot get damaged, such a preventive measure could serve to lessen it. Stabilizing a shed can also decrease the potential for it to be tossed into any nearby electrical wires.

Moreover, a stable shed protects its inventory, making anchoring it even more imperative. 

An unattached shed can also lead to higher insurance rates. That’s because it is more prone to being damaged or destroying something else. 

According to a recent report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, over $165 billion in damages was caused by extreme weather conditions or storms in the United States in 2022 alone. 

Securing a shed to a foundation can lead to lower insurance premiums along with a reimbursement method should the shed sustain weather damage.

Selecting the appropriate anchoring system is imperative to stabilizing it to an appropriate foundation. 

Cities, counties, and municipalities generally have laws relating to anchoring sheds, so it is wise to read those regulations to ensure compliance. 

Several types of anchoring systems exist. Among them are:

  • Concrete expansion anchors.
  • Foundation anchor plates and straps.
  • Auger-styled shed anchors.
  • Anchor bolts.

The type of foundation upon which the shed will sit plays a role in selecting the appropriate anchoring system. 

Before delivering a shed to a customer, Sheds By Design learns whether the shed is to be placed on a concrete pad. 

“If so, educate the customer that their concrete installer needs to install the anchors while the concrete is still wet,” Bowling says. “That way, we have anchors with eyelets for the next phase of installation.”

If anchors are not installed while the concrete is wet and before it is set, holes would have to be drilled into the concrete and epoxy used. 

A shed’s size also weighs into the selection of the appropriate anchors for it. 

“The larger the portable building, the more anchors that may be required. Check local laws,” urges Bowling. 

Steve Fischer, president and owner of Fox Run Storage Sheds in Washington, New Jersey, agrees. 

“Size matters,” he points out. 

According to Fischer, a shed over 200 square feet should be anchored. 

“Typically, once a building goes over 200 square feet, it requires a building permit,” he says. 

While Fischer admits installing anchors “is not of great benefit to me, we meet every code enforcement.”

Fischer eschews anchor kits in favor of a stabilizing product he likes better. Rather than anchoring a shed using a kit, Fox Storage Sheds uses DiamondPier Foundations. 

Diamond Pier footings are an excellent foundation, says Fischer.  

“The concrete footing is three feet in depth (depending on application). They also feature a six-inch diameter footing installed three feet down, below frost level,” he says.

“The next step is to install an L bracket to the footing to anchor the shed to the pier.”

The foundation underneath a shed or animal shelter impacts the type of anchoring system needed to secure the structure. 

For example, the earth auger is used as a mobile home anchor. It is twisted into the ground, usually with a machine. An earth anchor is best for use in soft clay soil. 

It is best to secure a shed on sandy, rocky soil using a McAdam Anchor, says Fischer. 

In normal clay, heavy-duty machinery is needed to ensure the hole for the anchors is deep enough to support the shed. 

According to Bowling, anchor kits are ideal for securing a shed to a foundation. 

“Anchor kits are about installing the shed well. It’s a best practice, which is why many municipalities are now requiring them, depending on a structure’s size,” sums up Bowling. 

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