Timber Bearers – What You Need to Know

We highly recommend using timber bearers on top of your base before your shed or garden building is installed.

Timber bearers are an important part of protecting your building long-term, helping to prevent moisture issues and extending the life of the floor.

They might not be the most exciting part of buying a shed… but they’re definitely one of the most important!

Why Do You Need Timber Bearers?

Timber bearers lift your building slightly off the base, which helps to:

  • Provide good airflow underneath the building
  • Reduce moisture build-up
  • Help prevent damp and decay
  • Protect the floor and extend its lifespan

Without bearers, moisture can sit between the base and the floor, which over time can lead to rot or deterioration.

Our Timber Bearer Specification

We use 3” x 3” pressure treated timber bearers, designed to provide strong support and long-lasting protection.

Timber Bearers – Supplied by You or Us

Option 1 – Supply Your Own Bearers

You are welcome to source your own bearers.

However, please note: if you supply your own bearers, you will need to lay them down and level them yourself prior to installation.

We do not lay or level customer-supplied bearers.

Option 2 – We Supply Them (Optional Extra)

We can supply a full set of timber bearers as an optional extra, and lay them down for you, bringing them up to level where needed.

Suitable Surfaces for Timber Bearers

Timber bearers can be installed onto:

  • Concrete slab
  • Patio slabs
  • A properly prepared chipping base

If you're unsure whether your surface is suitable, feel free to send us a few photos and we'll happily advise.

Bearer Positioning (Important)

Timber bearers should be positioned so the building is properly supported across the full floor area.

As a general guide:

  • Bearers should run along the shortest length of the building
  • For example, on an 8' x 6' building, the bearers would run 6'
  • Bearers should be spaced evenly to provide solid support
  • Bearers should sit fully on the base and not overhang the edges
  • All bearers must be level, with no rocking or twisting

If bearers are uneven or not positioned correctly, it can affect the stability of the building and cause issues with door alignment.

If you're unsure how to position your bearers, feel free to contact us before installation day and we'll happily advise.

How Many Bearers Will I Need?

The number of bearers required depends on the size of the building.

Larger buildings will require additional bearers for extra support.

Also, please note: larger buildings, or any building with 20mm heavy-duty flooring, will often need the floor to be supplied in split sections. In these cases, additional bearers will be required to ensure the floor is properly supported along the joins.

If you are purchasing bearers from us, they are sold as a set, with the correct amount based on the size of your building.

If you are sourcing your own, please contact us and we can advise the correct quantity and spacing.

Do You Really Need Timber Bearers?

Timber bearers are not essential, and if you choose not to use them, that is absolutely fine.

However, it's important to understand that the floor is typically the first part of a garden building to rot over time, especially if moisture sits between the base and the underside framing of the shed.

By installing bearers first, they act as a protective barrier between your base and the floor of the building. This helps your building last significantly longer.

In simple terms:

  • The bearers take the brunt of moisture exposure
  • Over time, the bearers would rot before the shed floor does
  • For the floor to rot, moisture has to get through the bearers first

So rather than your shed floor being the first thing to deteriorate, it's the bearers - which are far easier (and cheaper) to replace in the future.

Additional Benefit
Timber bearers can also help compensate for small uneven areas in the base, allowing the building to sit more securely and level.

Want to add a set of Timber Bearers to Your Order?

If you’d like to include timber bearers with your building, just let us know at the time of ordering and we can provide a quote.