Tips for slightly off-level pad?

[Skittleinaustin]

I live on top of a limestone hill in Austin. I've had as much leveling done as I can without a jackhammer...but my pad is slightly off. I built my base 8' by 14' and I'm not sure how to address the slight slope? My hubby says I'll need to make adjustments with my frame-but I've never built anything before now and I'm struggling to find info online. I'm off this week and ready to start my framing...but now I'm nervous to start the cuts! Thoughts? Advice? All help is much appreciated!!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Use a long, straight board and a level to determine how many inches off your pad is. Prop up the lower end until the board is level, and measure the height above the ground on the low end. If it it's slight, don't worry about it your chickens will never notice. If out is more than you like, you can cut the vertical boards to make up for the difference.

 

[Carols Clucks]

Quote:
above and you can always call it "drainage"


Moms place is 130 years old, straight level and plumb are all concepts not realities there.

 

[jerryb]

I'm with mutts on this one, for 8' x 14' unless its off by two inches or so I would just move on and build.

if you really want it to look plumb and level from the outside without fussing with the cuts then build your walls and then make a shim to level the rafters when they go on. at this point you install the trim level and plumb and it will not show even to the sharp eyed.

good luck
Jerry

 

[Skittleinaustin]

Thanks all. I'll be checking to see how bad it is today and will hope for no more than a two inch differential (I think it is less) so I can keep on working. My driveway is full of lumber and I'm back at the office on the 3rd so not much time to lose!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

How to fix it depends on how you plan to build it.

If it's going to sit directly on the limestone "pad" you can use wedges to shim up the low end, and fill the gap with mortar or concrete

 

[querimonious]

My garden is really badly sloped so I built mine on legs. I sunk some tall fence posts and built the coop off the ground. The run isn't level, but it works and looks OK once I painted it up. A slope isn't all bad news, I don't suffer too bad with water puddling in the coop.