Site Prep & Delivery

What do I need to do to prepare for shed delivery?

Have level ground ready, clear a path wide enough for the truck and mule, mark the exact placement, and remove obstacles like low branches, fence sections, and parked vehicles. Level ground and clear access are the two things that decide whether delivery day goes smoothly. Our shed site prep walkthrough covers everything to have ready on delivery day.

Does my shed need a gravel pad or a concrete slab?

For a skid-mounted shed, a compacted gravel pad is usually the better choice: it drains, it costs less, and it is easy to build. Reserve a concrete slab for garages, home shells, heavy vehicle loads, and anything permitted with a foundation detail. The full comparison, gravel quantities, and costs are in our Colorado shed foundation guide.

What kind of foundation does a garage need in Colorado?

A level reinforced concrete slab with footings carried to local frost depth. Thickness, reinforcement, and footing depth come from your county's approved detail, and the slab must be poured, cured, and inspected before the garage is built on it. Slab thickness, frost depth, and soil issues are covered in our Colorado shed and garage foundation guide.

How much gravel do I need for a shed pad?

Plan on a compacted 4 to 6 inch base of 3/4 inch road base, extending about a foot past the building on all sides. A 10x12 pad needs roughly 2 to 3 tons; a 12x24 needs about 5 to 7 tons depending on depth. Our Colorado shed foundation guide includes a gravel chart by shed size.

Can you deliver to a mountain or rural property?

Yes. We deliver fully assembled buildings into Park, Summit, Lake, Grand, Gilpin, Chaffee, and other mountain counties every season using a shed mule that handles dirt roads, grades, and tight corners. On truly landlocked sites we build on site instead. See how we handle tight mountain sites in delivering to mountain and rural properties.

How much clearance do you need to deliver a shed?

Plan on a delivery path at least one foot wider than the building on a straight shot, plus roughly 16 feet of vertical clearance for the trailer. Tight corners, fences, and tree lines change the math, so send photos of the path first — the full rundown is in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

Do I need to be home for my shed delivery?

No. As long as we know exactly where the building goes — marked with stakes or photos — our delivery tech can place, level, and orient it without you there. Most customers choose to be home anyway. Delivery day is walked through step by step in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

How long does it take to get my building after I order?

Current lead times are 4 to 6 weeks for a new build delivered fully assembled, 5 to 8 weeks for an on-site build, and 1 to 2 weeks for an in-stock building. Your sales rep confirms your lead time during ordering — timing details are in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

Can I get a shed delivered through a narrow gate?

Only if the opening is at least one foot wider than the building, with about 16 feet of vertical clearance along the path. If your gate or side yard is too narrow, removing a fence panel often solves it — or we build the shed on site instead. Send photos of the path first. Access requirements are covered in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

Can I get a shed delivered up a steep driveway?

In many cases, yes. We use a shed mule — a compact machine built to move buildings — that handles grades, dirt roads, and tight corners the trailer cannot. Truly extreme grades or landlocked sites may call for an on-site build instead. Share photos of the driveway when you order. See how we handle tough access in delivering to mountain and rural properties.

Can I have my shed built on site instead of delivered?

Yes. When a fully assembled building cannot reach your spot, our crew builds it in your yard. On-site construction costs $6.50 per square foot with a $550 minimum, and current lead times run 5 to 8 weeks versus 4 to 6 weeks for fully assembled delivery. The trade-offs are compared in our prefab vs. site-built garage guide.

Can I put a shed on a sloped yard?

Yes, with the right base. A slope needs to be leveled through grading, a built-up gravel pad, a retaining wall, or a pier-and-post foundation so the building sits level and water drains away. The steeper the slope, the more site work it takes. Our shed pad and site preparation services cover grading, retaining walls, and foundations in one crew.

Can I put a shed directly on the ground?

It is not recommended. Bare dirt or grass holds moisture, settles unevenly, and lets the building go out of level, which strains doors and framing. A compacted gravel pad is the affordable standard for skid-mounted sheds because it drains and stays level. Pad options and gravel quantities are in our Colorado shed foundation guide.

Can I put a shed on an existing concrete slab?

Yes, if the slab is level, solid, and drains away from the building. A slab that is cracked, heaved, or pitched toward the shed should be repaired or replaced first. Measure the slab against the building footprint, and make sure delivery equipment can reach it. Gravel versus concrete is compared in our Colorado shed foundation guide.

Can I have The Shed Yard build my shed pad?

Yes. Our site crew builds leveled gravel and crushed-stone pads sized to your building, pours concrete foundations, and handles grading, excavation, and demolition, so one team prepares the site and delivers the building. Estimates are free and on site. See everything included in our shed pad and site preparation services.

Can I get free shed delivery in Colorado?

Yes, within 150 miles of our Penrose, Colorado location when the building can be delivered fully assembled. Delivery outside that area is available for an additional fee — check the delivery map for the estimated cost. Sites that require an on-site build carry a separate construction fee. Delivery details are in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

Can I choose exactly where my shed is placed?

Yes. Mark the corners with stakes or paint and note which way the door faces, and our delivery tech places, levels, and orients the building there, as long as the path and spot meet clearance requirements. You do not have to be home if the placement is clearly marked. Delivery day is walked through in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

Can I get a shed delivered under trees or power lines?

Only with enough overhead room. Fully assembled delivery needs roughly 16 feet of vertical clearance along the path, so low branches, wires, and eaves can block it. Trimming branches often fixes the problem; where wires or structures cannot move, an on-site build is the alternative. Clearance rules are explained in our Colorado shed delivery guide.

Can I have sprinkler lines moved before my shed is installed?

Yes. Our site crew can relocate sprinkler heads and lines out of the building footprint, cap or reroute zones, and coordinate with your existing timers and valves before the pad goes in. That prevents crushed lines and leaks under a new building. Irrigation work is part of our shed and garage site preparation services.

Can I have my old shed removed when the new one arrives?

Yes. Our site crew handles demolition and removal of old sheds, slabs, fencing, brush, and debris, including disposal, so the new building starts on a clean, prepared site. Plan the removal before delivery day so the pad can be built. Demo and haul-off are part of our site preparation services.