How to Tie Down a Shed

Learn how to tie down a shed.

Thunderstorms and high winds can cause serious damage to your shed, and to your house or other property, by blowing your shed off its foundation. Depending on your city's building codes, you may be required to anchor your shed to the ground. You can buy a tie-down kit for your shed wherever you bought the shed, or at any lumberyard. Tying down your shed will provide peace of mind.

Things You'll Need

• Tie down kit including anchors
• Safety equipment
• Hammer
• Crowbar
• Wire cutters

Send to Phone

Brought to you by

Send to Phone

Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.

Send

A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.

Close

Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. Message and data rates may apply.

Instructions

1. Put on your safety equipment, including safety glasses and gloves.

2. Position a shed anchor at each of the shed's corners. The anchor should be angled slightly away from the shed, with the flat cutting surface touching the ground. Lightly hammer each shed anchor into place.

3. Twist the anchor into the ground. Keep twisting until only the eye loop shows above ground. This could take a while if the ground is frozen.

4. Find the wire cable that came with the tie-down kit. Thread the wire under the shed between the shed deck and over the two 4 by 4-inch skids to the opposite corner of the shed. Run the wire perpendicular to the skids. Do this for both ends of the shed.

5. Attach the wire to the anchors on the other side of the shed by first running the cable wire over the top of the shed if your shed does not have skids. Use the fasteners supplied with the tie-down kit to attach the wires to the anchors.

6. Use wire cutters to cut off the end of the wire, trying to remove as much of the extra wire as you can. Repeat the procedure in steps 5 and 6 for the other side of your shed.

Tips & Warnings

• For hard dry soil, soak the ground with water the day before you want to install the anchors.

• Use care when handling and cutting wire cables as they are very sharp.

References

• Osceola County Building Department: Standard Plans for Lawn Storage Buildings or Sheds