Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to paint or stain my new shed,
cabana, gazebo, etc ...?
A: We recommend that paint or stain be applied to protect all exposed
wood. This is important to validate your warranty since untreated wood
is not warranted. Clasys recommends a penetrating stain on pine or
cedar siding and trim and paint on smart panel siding.
Q: Should I use a polyurethane coating to
protect the stained finish?
A: CLASYS does not recommend polyurethane coating over stain. A good
quality penetrating oil or water stain will last many years and can be
touched up simply by applying additional stain with a cloth.
Q: Do I need a building permit?
A: Generally structures of less than 108 square feet do not require a
permit. But it is the homeowner responsibility to make sure all permits
are obtained. To be safe, call your local building department to find
out your communities regulations. CUSTOMER RESPONSABILITY TO CHECK WITH
LOCAL MUNICIPALITY ON BUILDING CODES FOR BASE PREPARATION AND BUILDING
PERMITS.
Q: Does CLASYS provide ELECTRICAL
CONNECTIONS?
A: Yes, CLASYS is fully Insured & Licensed ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
COMPANY offering services for RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL,
AGRICULTURAL electrical projects. ECRA / ESA License # 7008887.
Q: Do I have to do any preparation before
the shed is installed?
A: Yes, we request that the homeowner mark the location of the shed by
driving stakes at the corners and marking the door. The homeowner needs
to be aware of lot line setbacks required by their municipality. Clasys
will install the shed where indicated. CLASYS is not responsible for
moving the shed if it is installed too close to lot lines at the
homeowners request.
Q: Can I place my shed on my property line?
A: Generally the building code requires a setback from the property line
of 2 feet or more. Additionally there must be adequate space around the
shed to allow air to circulate freely. However, CLASYS will install the
shed in the customer specified location, subject to point above.
Q: I don't know which siding to choose, can
you help?
A: Siding choice is very personal and is influenced by many factors
including end use, appearance, maintenance, budget and functionality.
Vinyl siding is mainly chosen because it is low maintenance and weather
resistant. If your home is clad with vinyl, it's the perfect siding to
compliment your home and is still fairly economical. You can have it in
a color to match your home.
Pine siding must be stained or painted. Left untreated it will turn a
dull gray. A semi transparent stain will protect and color the wood but
also show off its unique characteristics. Pine siding gives a rich
appearance to the interior of your shed.
Cedar siding will turn to a beautiful gray patina over time if left
untreated. Western red cedar is particularly resistant to the elements
but is not maintenance free as it is prone to dark, unsightly stains if
left untreated. Cedar has natural color fluctuations and will give the
interior of your shed an interesting look. Cedar should be stained with
a penetrating oil or water base stain or a product such as cetol (widely
available in paint stores), see the Western Red Cedar Lumber
Association's web site at
for complete finishing suggestions.
Smart Panel siding is an exceptionally durable and economical product.
It is an oriented strand board (OSB)
product with a cedar grain textured in the finish side. It comes pre-primed from the manufacturer. Smart Panel must be painted, it can't
be stained.
Q: How should the foundation be prepared?
A: You can use three different methods for constructing the basic foundation
for our product:
- 4x4's Pressure Treated Runners
- Patio stones
- Concrete slabs
4x4's PRESSURE TREATED RUNNERS FOUNDATION
We recommend digging 3 inches deep and filling with compacted gravel
base. Insert runners 3 inch deep into the compacted gravel base. Leave
each side or end of the foundation open to promote air circulation
beneath the floor.
PATIO STONE FOUNDATION
We recommend excavating the site 3 inches deep and laying gravel or
crushed rock. Position stones around its perimeter and specific joists.
Add or remove soil/sand under each stone until level.
CONCRETE SLABS
Typically a slab 3-4 inches thick laid over a sub base of 4 inches of
gravel or crushed rock is sufficient. Excavate the slab area to a depth
6 inches. This would put the finished slab surface 2 inches above
ground. Pour concrete compacting it gently into the slab area. Use
tools, to smooth the concrete surface.
Please note that if you do install a concrete slab or foundation, the classification will change to a permanent structure and will affect your appraisal and taxes.