The best base for a log store: level, drained and raised

Use a firm, level, free-draining base wider than the feet but not shaped like a water tray. The store then needs bearers or feet that keep timber and logs above splash and surface water.

Existing paving

Sound paving is convenient if it falls away from buildings and does not rock. Do not level a store by jamming loose offcuts beneath one corner. Use durable packers intended for exterior loading and follow the anchoring instructions.

Compacted granular base

A properly excavated and compacted sub-base with a free-draining top layer can suit a lightweight store. Loose decorative gravel tipped onto soil is not the same thing; feet can settle unevenly and doors or frames twist.

Slabs or pads

Individual supports reduce materials, but each must bear on stable ground and finish in one plane. They should support every load path, not only the visible front posts. Keep soil and mulch away from timber.

Drainage before level

A perfectly level slab that collects water is worse than a sound base with a controlled fall around it. Observe runoff, redirect downpipes and preserve nearby inspection covers. Do not discharge a new gutter at the downhill foot.

Anchor to suit the product

Follow the maker's fixing schedule. A store is most vulnerable before it is full and whenever it is emptied, so the weight of logs is not a permanent anchoring system.