Buying the right portable building is only part of the process. Before your shed, barn, garage or cabin arrives, you also need to make sure there is a suitable location for the building and a clear route for delivery.
Cardinal delivers portable buildings across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Its delivery system is designed to position buildings beyond where the main delivery truck can physically reach, but customers still need to prepare the site and identify possible access problems beforehand. Cardinal recommends discussing gates, slopes, trees and overhead lines with your dealer before delivery.
How Should You Prepare for Shed Delivery?
Choose a level location, check the entire delivery route and tell your Cardinal dealer about potential obstacles before your building arrives.
Cardinal’s current guidance states that the building site should be level to within six inches and that site preparation is the buyer’s responsibility. Customers are also responsible for checking any permits or licenses required by their city or county.
A little preparation before delivery can prevent much bigger problems on delivery day.
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How Level Does the Shed Site Need to Be?
Cardinal currently asks for the selected site to be level to within six inches.
A portable building needs a suitable location where it can be positioned correctly and remain stable.
Avoid automatically choosing the lowest part of the yard simply because it is unused space. Think about drainage after heavy rain and whether water naturally collects in that area.
Where appropriate for the property, a properly prepared gravel pad can provide a clean, well-drained base. Your Cardinal dealer can help explain what is required for your particular building and location.
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How Much Delivery Access Is Needed?
You need to consider the entire path from the road to the final building location, not just the space where the shed will sit.
Cardinal’s published local delivery guidance recommends approximately two feet of clearance beyond the building width along the delivery path and roughly 13 feet of overhead clearance.
Look carefully for:
- Gates and narrow openings
- Fences
- Trees and low branches
- Overhead utility lines
- Roof overhangs
- Tight corners
- Steep slopes
- Soft or wet ground
- Drainage ditches or culverts
Measure the narrowest part of the route rather than assuming the building will fit.
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Can Cardinal Deliver Into Difficult Spaces?
Cardinal’s delivery system is designed to move buildings beyond the point where the main delivery truck can go.
Cardinal explains that buildings can be unloaded at street level and moved into their final position from there. The company specifically identifies narrow gates, sloping yards and awkward side lots as situations its delivery system is designed to handle.
That does not mean every site is automatically accessible. Discuss unusual access conditions with your Cardinal location before purchasing.
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Do You Need a Permit for a Portable Shed?
Permit requirements depend on your local city or county, so they should be checked before delivery.
Cardinal states that permits and licenses are the buyer’s responsibility.
Requirements can vary according to location, building size, intended use and where the building will sit on the property.
Do not assume that a portable building automatically means no permit is required.
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What Are the Most Common Site-Preparation Mistakes?
Most problems can be avoided by checking the location and delivery route before purchasing the building.
Common mistakes include choosing a low or poorly drained area, failing to measure gates, overlooking low branches, forgetting overhead utility lines and selecting a building before checking whether it can physically reach the site.
Another mistake is measuring only the final location.
A 12-foot-wide building may fit perfectly in the backyard but that does not help if the delivery route contains an opening that is too narrow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cardinal deliver portable buildings?
Yes. Cardinal delivers buildings throughout its service area across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.
Does Cardinal set the building in position?
Cardinal states that its delivery system unloads the building and moves it into its final location where site conditions allow.
Who prepares the building site?
Cardinal’s published guidance states that site preparation is the buyer’s responsibility.
Should I tell Cardinal about a narrow gate?
Yes. Gates, slopes, trees and overhead lines should be discussed with your dealer before delivery.
Do I need to check for a shed permit?
Yes. Check with your city or county because permit and licensing requirements vary by location.
Can I buy a building that is already built?
Yes. Cardinal Marketplace displays buildings already completed and currently sitting on Cardinal lots.
Get Ready Before Your Cardinal Building Arrives
Good site preparation starts before you choose your building.
Decide where it will sit, measure the delivery route, identify obstacles and speak with your Cardinal dealer about anything that could affect access.
Then visit Cardinal Marketplace to browse sheds, barns, garages, cabins and other portable buildings currently available near you.