# Peter Scott Shed Out-of-Level — Appointment Prep **Today, Monday May 11, 2026 · 4:30 PM** **3232 Green Oak, Commerce Township, MI** > Sam's neighbor Judy Scott's son. Shed on grass/dirt/stones. Out of level. Prefer NOT pouring concrete slab. Peter has bottle jacks (Judy unclear if she meant for the fix or just to help). --- ## Your toolkit to bring **Measurement tools:** - 4-foot level (most important) - Torpedo level (tight spaces) - 25-ft tape measure - Carpenter's pencil + small notepad - Phone for photos (lots of photos) - Flashlight (under-shed inspection) **Just in case:** - Square (check if shed is also out of square — common with settling) - Plumb bob or laser level if you have one (vertical alignment check) **Don't bring (yet):** - Your bottle jacks (assessment first, fix later) - Cordless drill (not needed for inspection) --- ## What you're actually assessing Don't show up trying to fix it today. **Today is diagnosis + quote.** ### 5 things to determine **1. Foundation type currently** - Bare dirt? - Grass over dirt? - Gravel/stone bed? - Existing skids (4x4 or 4x6 pressure-treated runners)? - Existing blocks or piers under the corners? - Slab partial? **2. How far out of level** - Use 4-ft level on the floor at multiple points - Use 4-ft level on the door header (door binding = floor sagging) - Use 4-ft level on each wall (vertical) - Measure delta in inches at the worst point - Reference shed dimensions (length × width × height) **3. Which direction it's settled** - Front-back? Side-side? One corner? - This tells you what caused it (water runoff, soft soil, root pressure) - Affects how to fix it **4. Shed structural condition** - Walk inside, jump lightly on floor — sags? cracks? - Check sill plates and floor joists for rot - Check siding for cracking that indicates rack - Check door + window operation - **If structure is rotting**, releveling is a band-aid — they need new floor system, or new shed **5. Site conditions around shed** - Drainage — does water flow toward shed? - Trees nearby (roots can lift one side) - Slope of yard - Access (can equipment reach it?) --- ## The methods you'll discuss (research-backed) ### Option A — Wood shim leveling (small adjustments only, under 1") - Pry up the low corner with the 4-ft level or pry bar - Slip in cedar shims or pressure-treated shims - **Cost: ~$20 materials, 1 hour labor** - **When this works:** Less than 1" out of level, structure good, ground is firm - **When it doesn't:** Anything more than 1" or recurring settling ### Option B — Bottle jacks + concrete deck blocks (RECOMMENDED for most cases) - Use his bottle jacks under the wall plates / skid beams - Jack up the low side to level - Place 4"x8"x16" or 8"x16"x16" solid concrete deck blocks under the skids - Lower the shed onto blocks - **Cost: ~$60-150 materials (10-20 deck blocks at $4-8 each), 4-6 hours labor** - **When this works:** Most common case — 1" to 6" out of level - **Permanent solution if blocks are on firm, drained base** ### Option C — Bottle jacks + concrete piers (deeper fix) - Jack up shed - Dig holes at corners (or every 6-8 ft along skids) - Set sonotubes, pour concrete, anchor - Lower shed onto piers - **Cost: ~$200-400 materials, full weekend labor** - **When this works:** Soft soil, frost issue, larger sheds (10x16+) ### Option D — TuffBlocks / Adjustable plastic shed jacks - Modern alternative to concrete blocks - $35-50 each, hold 60,000 lbs each - 4x4 posts thread into them, adjustable height - **Cost: ~$200-400 materials, 4-6 hours labor** - **When this works:** Modern aesthetic preference, easier future adjustments ### Option E — Existing concrete blocks (he says he wants poly or concrete blocks) - Same as Option B but he's open to either material - Concrete blocks: durable, $4-8 each, traditional - Poly/plastic blocks (RhinoBlock, similar): UV-stable, $15-25 each, easier to handle --- ## The shed will need to be lifted regardless **Critical message for Peter:** Any non-concrete-slab option requires: 1. **Removing everything from inside the shed first** (or jacking with stuff in it = more weight to lift) 2. **Lifting the shed structure off the current foundation** 3. **Placing new support material under the skids/sill** 4. **Lowering shed onto new supports** The bottle jacks are TOOLS for the lifting step, not the permanent solution. **Judy may have meant either** — confirm with Peter on-site. If he was thinking "leave the bottle jacks in place permanently" — that's not viable. Bottle jacks aren't designed for permanent load-bearing and will eventually fail. --- ## On-site decision tree ``` ARRIVE → INSPECT ↓ Structure good? NO → Recommend new shed or significant repair before releveling. Quote inspection only. YES ↓ How far out of level? <1" → Recommend Option A (shims), simple quote ~$200 1"-3" → Recommend Option B (deck blocks), quote $400-700 3"-6" → Recommend Option B with more blocks + drainage work, quote $700-1200 >6" → Recommend Option C (piers) or new pad, quote $1500+ Soft/wet ground? YES → Add gravel pad under blocks/piers, add $200-400 to quote Drainage problem visible? YES → Note in quote — separate add-on for grading or drainage Frost-prone in winter? Note: blocks may shift annually, advise periodic re-leveling expected (~$100-200 every 2-3 years) ``` --- ## Your quote structure (build during visit) ### Standard line items for releveling | Line item | Cost | |---|---| | Site inspection + diagnosis (waived if work accepted) | $75 | | Empty shed of contents (his job OR add labor) | $0 or $150 | | Lift shed + temporary cribbing | $200-350 | | Install concrete deck blocks / piers | $300-600 | | Material — concrete blocks (10-20 @ $4-8) | $60-150 | | Material — pressure-treated 4x4 if needed | $40-80 | | Material — gravel for base if needed | $50-100 | | Re-level final adjustment + cleanup | $100-200 | | **Typical total** | **$600-1,500** | Hourly rate: $85-95/hour for this work in SE Michigan. --- ## Same Solutions LLC framing This is a **SS-Q009 quote candidate.** Add to manage app after appointment. Customer record: - Peter Scott - 3232 Green Oak, Commerce Township, MI - (Phone TBD — get from Peter today) - Property type: residential, neighboring referral via Judy Scott (his mother, your next-door neighbor) - Job classification: shed foundation repair / releveling --- ## Questions to ask Peter on-site **About the shed:** 1. How long has it been there? (recent settling vs decade-old) 2. When did you first notice it was out of level? 3. Is it getting worse, or stable? 4. Door binding? Windows sticking? Floor sloped enough to feel? 5. Dimensions of the shed? 6. What's stored in it? (load weight) **About expectations:** 7. What's your budget range? (Lets you scope appropriately) 8. Permanent fix or quick re-level you'll redo in a few years? 9. Concerned about appearance? (TuffBlocks look more polished than concrete blocks) 10. Are you OK emptying it before work begins, or do you want me to budget for that? **About logistics:** 11. Best contact for follow-up — phone or email? 12. When are you available for the work? (Weather-dependent) 13. Anyone else needs to be home/approve? --- ## What you're NOT doing today - ❌ Don't bring tools to do the work - ❌ Don't quote a number on the spot without inspecting - ❌ Don't commit to a date today (check your calendar after, follow up) - ❌ Don't undersell — quote real prices, this is real work - ❌ Don't oversell — match solution to problem, not maximum dollar --- ## After the appointment **Within 24 hours:** - Add Peter to manage app customers - Create SS-Q009 quote with line items - Email/text quote to Peter - Photos saved to Peter's customer-job folder on substrate **If accepted:** - Schedule work (2-3 day project typically) - Order materials at Home Depot or Menards - Plan tool list (your bottle jacks, his bottle jacks, 4x4 cribbing, blocks) - Allow 1 full Saturday or 2 half-days --- ## Tools collective opportunity (note for friends meeting) This job specifically uses: bottle jacks (Sam has, Peter has), 4-ft level, tape, hand tools. **Implication for venture:** Many small jobs like this need standard tools that group members already own. Tool inventory tracking lets the group know what's collectively available. Cost of tools to BUY for this job alone: <$50 (level + tape + pencils if not owned). Cost of tools to BUY to handle 50 similar jobs: <$500 (small kit). This kind of work is high-margin, low-tool-investment, exactly the "PB&J of services" you're looking for. --- ## Final note **You're walking in as a competent neighbor's-son contractor.** Not a sales pitch. Diagnose, document, quote honestly, follow up professionally. The neighborly connection through Judy is your trust foundation — don't burn it with overselling. Photos. Honest diagnosis. Real quote. Follow up within 24 hours. That's the play.