Build a Complete Garden Storage Shed Floor Platform

Phase 1 — Preconstruction Control

1. Review the Project 01 jobsite plan and establish the capstone work, cutting, material, waste, and access zones. Reject the site until every stop-work condition from Project 01 is corrected.
2. Review the approved Project 06 layout record and confirm the strings, benchmark, skid lines, and work-zone offsets remain valid. Recheck both diagonals against the Project 06 tolerance before continuing.
3. Review the approved Project 07 takeoff, purchase list, cut plan, panel plan, hardware schedule, assumptions, and exclusions. Confirm the reconciliation checklist shows no missing or unexplained item.
4. Verify local permit, setback, foundation, anchorage, frost, drainage, and utility requirements. Record confirmation of each item from the Site and Structural Control section.
5. Stop work if the actual site does not match the controlled support conditions. Contact an authorized person to resolve any conflict before proceeding.
6. Inspect all lumber, panels, connectors, fasteners, aggregate, and tools before installation. Reject any component that fails the Project 03 lumber-inspection criteria or shows connector or fastener damage.
7. Protect the material from ground moisture and weather while maintaining the clear access route. Stack lumber flat and off the ground per the Project 01 material-zone method.

Phase 2 — Support-Strip Preparation

1. Transfer the three skid centerlines at 12, 60, and 108 inches from the selected end baseline. Confirm each transferred mark against the approved Project 06 layout record.
2. Mark each gravel strip 6 inches on both sides of its centerline. Each strip is 12 inches wide.
3. Excavate each strip to the depth required to provide 4 inches of compacted aggregate or the greater approved site depth. Confirm the required depth against the Site and Structural Control verification in Phase 1.
4. Remove organic material, soft spots, standing water, roots, and loose soil from the controlled support area. Do not place aggregate over unremoved organic material.
5. Install geotextile where required by the approved site plan. Follow the manufacturer's overlap and placement instructions.
6. Place aggregate in controlled lifts. Do not place the full 4-inch depth in a single uncompacted lift.
7. Compact each lift before adding the next. Use the tamper across the full width and length of each strip.
8. Screed the three strips to the required elevation and verify their relationship to the benchmark. Use the line level or approved elevation-transfer method from Project 02.
9. Confirm drainage is directed away from protected structures and that the strips do not trap water. Correct any low point that would pond water beneath the platform.

Phase 3 — Skid Installation

1. Place the three 96-inch pressure-treated 4×4 skids on the support strips. Handle each skid with a helper where required.
2. Align each skid to its centerline and the 8-foot platform width. Confirm alignment against the Project 06 layout strings or transferred corner marks.
3. Level each skid along its length. Use the spirit level from Project 02 on the full length of each skid.
4. Use a straightedge, level, string, or approved method to bring all three skid tops into one plane. Check across all three skids, not only adjacent pairs.
5. Use only approved durable shims or bearing corrections; do not use loose scrap wood, soil piles, or unstable wedges. Confirm every shim is fully supported by the compacted aggregate beneath it.
6. Recheck skid spacing, parallel condition, end alignment, level, and coplanarity. Correct any skid that fails a check before proceeding.
7. Record the final skid elevations before assembling the frame. Use the benchmark established in Project 06.

Phase 4 — Frame Preparation

1. Cut the two end rim joists to 96 inches and the seven longitudinal joists to 117 inches. Follow the Project 07 cut plan and the Project 03 cutting method.
2. Prepare four 13 3/4-inch blocks and eight 14 1/2-inch blocks from the Project 07 cut plan. Cut from the two reserved 96-inch 2×6 boards.
3. Mark reference faces and identify the two outside side joists and five interior joists. Label each joist after cutting.
4. Pair the two end rim joists and transfer the joist layout marks across both members. Clamp them together to transfer marks accurately.
5. Mark the five interior joist centerlines at 16, 32, 48, 64, and 80 inches. Measure from the selected side reference on both end rim joists.
6. Mark the correct edge of each joist location so the installed joist centers fall on the stated dimensions. Confirm the hanger will be installed on the correct side of each mark.
7. Position and fasten the ten joist hangers using only the approved connector fasteners. Fill every required hanger hole per the manufacturer instructions.
8. Mark the blocking-row locations at 48 and 96 inches from the selected end. Transfer these marks onto the outside side joists.

Phase 5 — Frame Assembly

1. Assemble the two outside side joists and two end rim joists into the 96-by-120-inch perimeter. Position on a flat assembly surface or directly on the skids as site conditions allow.
2. Clamp the corners, verify flush top edges, and install three 5-inch exterior structural screws at each of the four perimeter corners. Twelve screws total.
3. Measure both frame diagonals and adjust the perimeter until they are equal within 1/8 inch. Compare the measured diagonal to the theoretical 12 ft. 9 11/16 in. diagonal as a check.
4. Install the five interior joists in the hangers and verify their centers at 16, 32, 48, 64, and 80 inches. Confirm full hanger bearing at every joist end.
5. Check every joist for crown orientation where applicable, full hanger bearing, flush top alignment, and correct fasteners. Correct any joist that is not fully seated before continuing.
6. Recheck overall width, length, and diagonals after the joists are installed. Correct any drift before moving the frame onto the skids.
7. Position the frame on the three skids with 12-inch end overhangs beyond the outer skid centerlines. Confirm the overhang matches the Project 06 skid-line spacing.
8. Align the frame to the Project 06 footprint strings or transferred corner marks. Confirm the frame sits within the approved footprint.
9. Verify the frame remains level, square, and fully supported at each skid crossing. Correct any gap between the frame and a skid before fastening connectors.

Phase 6 — Blocking and Frame-to-Skid Connections

1. Install the first blocking row beneath the planned 48-inch panel joint. Use two 13 3/4-inch edge blocks and two or more 14 1/2-inch interior blocks per the Project 07 blocking cut plan.
2. Install the second blocking row beneath the planned 96-inch panel joint. Use the remaining blocks per the cut plan.
3. Keep all blocking tops flush with the joist tops and joints tight without forcing the frame out of square. Recheck square before final fastening if any block requires forcing into place.
4. Fasten each block with two 3-inch exterior structural screws through the joist into each block end, for four screws per block. Forty-eight screws total across twelve blocks.
5. Recheck joist spacing and diagonal equality after blocking. Correct any shift caused by block installation.
6. Install the nine approved frame-to-skid connectors at the two outside side joists and center joist over each of the three skids. One connector at each of the three joists over each of the three skid crossings.
7. Use only the manufacturer-approved connector fasteners and fill every required hole in the controlled schedule. Confirm the fastener type and quantity against the Project 07 hardware schedule.
8. Complete any separate site-specific anchorage only from the approved local design. Do not improvise anchorage not identified in the Site and Structural Control verification.

Phase 7 — Floor-Deck Installation

1. Review the panel plan and confirm the 96-inch panel strength direction will run across the platform width and perpendicular to the longitudinal joists. Confirm against the Project 07 panel plan before cutting any panel.
2. Inspect all three panels and identify the best reference edges and faces. Reject any panel with damaged edges, delamination, or moisture damage.
3. Rip one 24-by-96-inch strip from the third panel using the Project 03 support and cutting method. Fully support the panel during the rip cut.
4. Dry-lay the first 48-by-96-inch panel and confirm its edges align with the frame and first blocking row. Do not fasten until alignment is confirmed.
5. Maintain the required perimeter and panel-joint gaps using controlled spacers. Use 1/8-inch spacers unless the identified panel manufacturer requires otherwise.
6. Temporarily secure the first panel and recheck frame square before full fastening. Confirm both diagonals remain within 1/8 inch.
7. Install the second full panel over the 48-to-96-inch platform section. Maintain the required panel-joint gap at the shared edge.
8. Install the 24-by-96-inch strip over the final 24 inches. Maintain the required gap at the final joint.
9. Confirm both panel joints are fully supported by the blocking rows. Check that no panel edge overhangs unsupported framing.
10. Fasten the panels with 2 1/2-inch exterior-rated floor-deck screws at 6 inches on center along supported panel edges and 12 inches on center along field framing, working from a controlled reference and avoiding overdriven heads. Follow the Project 07 deck-fastener layout.
11. Keep fasteners clear of panel edges by the required distance and ensure every fastener enters framing. Mark joist and blocking centerlines on the panel surface before fastening if needed.
12. Correct missed framing, proud heads, overdriven heads, damaged panel edges, or incorrect gaps by the supplied repair method. Reset any fastener that missed framing into the correct location.

Phase 8 — Final Inspection and Closeout

1. Measure and record the final 96-inch width and 120-inch length. Confirm both dimensions within ±1/8 inch.
2. Measure and record both final diagonals. Confirm the diagonal difference is not more than 1/8 inch.
3. Check level along the length, width, and major joist lines. Correct any deviation before proceeding to the walk-test.
4. Check skid bearing, joist alignment, hanger installation, connector installation, blocking, panel support, panel gaps, and fastener seating. Use the Required Final Inspection list below.
5. Walk the deck only when the controlled assembly and site conditions permit and inspect for movement, bounce, rocking, unsupported edges, or abnormal sound. Stop and investigate any unexpected movement immediately.
6. Create a punch list identifying every failed dimension, connection, surface, and documentation item. Record each item on the punch-list worksheet.
7. Correct every punch-list item within the approved project scope. Do not close out the project with an open punch-list item.
8. Repeat the affected inspection after each correction. Confirm the corrected item now passes.
9. Photograph the completed support system, frame before decking, hardware, panel layout, and final platform. Retain these photographs with the project record.
10. Record product identifications, material treatment markings, connector types, fastener types, final dimensions, and unresolved site requirements. Complete the documentation worksheet in full.
11. Apply required temporary weather protection without trapping water against the platform. Confirm airflow beneath any protective covering.
12. Clear waste, remove temporary hazards, protect the finished platform, and close the jobsite according to Project 01. Restore the jobsite controls established at the start of this project.