I'd like to build a 12' x 12' tool shed next spring using PC block.
I live in the Ohio Valley area.. The climatic data says we average 40 inches of rain a year, 30 inches of snow, and we're cloudy 50% of the time. My soil has a high clay content.
Where I want to build it has good drainage, but due to the clay soil and local runoff, it can be "squishy" for a few days after a heavy rain. In the dry summer months, the soil can get very dry.
For background, my first plan was to level a grade on my hillside and then pour a PC "pad" about 8-12" thick with the top about 2-3" above the ground level or building something similar using preformed blocks.
The shed will have a covered roof, so rain, snow, and ice falling on the PC should not be an issue. Similarly, it will not be occupied, so a little incidental mold or mildew shouldn't pose a health hazard.
My questions are:
(1) What's the consensus on PC foundations in wet climates?
(2) Should I build on joists above ground, pour a concrete pad, or can I allow the PC to come in direct contact with the soil?
In reading on-line, I've come across different views concerning PC in moist soils.
Some say it's OK as long as the PC has an opportunity to dry out eventually, others appear to say that if you don't live in an arid climate, don't let the PC stay in contact with the damp soil.
What's the latest consensus?
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