Shack Built Into Slope - Foundation/Floor Help

[CTSap4Maple]

My 12x16 shack was built into a slope by the prior property owner with basic 2x4 construction. It sits on the ground with a pressure treated wood sill (hopefully) and has a field stone foundation on one gable end. The floor is dirt, which I covered with Tyvek and crushed stone temporarily, and it actually slopes downward inside. There a 12” difference between the ground and top wall plate at each gable. From the photos you can see where the building steps down with the slope. Surface water drainage is a problem as well.

I would like to build a proper level foundation and floor, either of concrete or wood (if wood, a concrete pad under the evaporator as others have done here) and get the shack off the ground. I am thinking about jacking up the shack and installing a cinder block perimeter and with a retaining wall and drainage at the high end. The wall height a difference makes lifting the shack and pouring a slab a challenge. Open to your suggestions. Many thanks!

[Ghs57]

Having just replaced my dirt floor in the old section of my shack with concrete (last summer), and built an addition to the shack on a concrete slab, that's the solution I'd recommend. It was a ton of work, but it is fantastic. But you can go wood off of a footing/blocks/slab if that gets you high enough to solve the grade issue. Without seeing it in person, this would be a very general suggestion. If you can find/borrow some porch (screw) jacks, you can raise the building high enough to get the wok done. Run two girders of steel or big enough 2bys to support the load, and use the jacks to raise those evenly. Support the raised girders/structure with solid cribbing - not concrete blocks because they are not designed for a point load and may collapse without warning. Be safe, not sorry. If it's beyond your abilities, get someone in to do it that knows what they are doing.

I dug out the ground/rock on the high side of my shack, and will have to do some more work on the grade this year, but no drainage issues as of yet. I'd do just about anything to get off a dirt floor!

[TapTapTap]

I don't think what you're thinking can be justified. For the effort and headaches, I think you could dismantle the structure and rebuild it cheaper. Or at least it will seem like it in the end.
Ken

[NhShaun]

I'm with Taptaptap above, the foundation work is extremely difficult with a building in your way for the whole project, unless you can jack it up 8 feet or so. Depending on the resources and skills you have it may be easier to rebuild on a fresh foundation. Or possibly move the building over out of the way to rebuild the foundation and move it back on top. I have seen a lot of old barns in my area moved like this.

[CTSap4Maple]

Thanks for all the responses. The more I look at it, the building is actually stepped down in 3 different heights. It would be a challenge to get the cinders to match level. And, not sure it would even hold up if I was able to move it to the side since there is no level sill. I’ll probably repurpose what I can given the increased lumber prices and start fresh. Thanks again!

[NhShaun]

Do you have the option to just start over in a new location and save that building for extra storage? Are there any local sawmills nearby that sell rough sawn lumber? Much more affordable than box store or lumber yard prices these days, especially if you've got your own trees they can saw.