How to prepare the ground for a garden house
Preparing the ground for a garden house seems like a child’s play. In fact, it is not a complicated process, but all of its stages must be performed with the appropriate precision and accuracy.
Such a wooden garden house can be built on a foundation, concrete blocks, or on a screed, i.e. a reinforced foundation slab. The method of making the base depends mainly on the properties and shape of the terrain. Do you want to know what the differences are between the individual methods of making foundations for a garden house? Read on!
What to build a garden house on?
This question most often appears in the minds of all those who plan to build a cottage on their plot. The decision depends primarily on the type of ground. Plots that are characterized by a high level of groundwater require appropriate insulation of the garden house.
The purpose of such action is to prevent the appearance of moisture, which is harmful to wooden structures. In such cases, it is worth deciding on a point foundation, made of foundation blocks.
Another method is the traditional foundation, which ensures maximum stability of the structure – at the same time, it is time-consuming, requires a lot of work and many different construction elements (e.g. foundation strips).
The last method is to make a screed, or reinforced foundation slab. This is the most solid solution, but also the most expensive. Such reinforced foundation slabs work best in the case of a substrate with a low load-bearing capacity. Making such a screed yourself is complicated, so it requires the help of professionals.
Foundation for a garden house
Making a traditional foundation for a garden house is a rather rarely chosen solution. Why? Both the costs and the amount of time that such an investment takes are definitely too high, compared to, for example, a point foundation. Despite everything, some investors decide on a traditional foundation when building a wooden garden house.
Such foundations should be about 1.2 m deep. In the case of construction of light structures, such as garden houses up to 35 square meters, strip foundations are most often used. This makes it possible to prepare a solid foundation on which a wooden garden house can be built.
It is worth noting that in the vast majority of cases, investors decide on a point foundation, because it is simpler to construct, less time-consuming and simply cheaper. What is more, a traditional foundation for a garden house is only profitable in the case of plots with a simple terrain.
Point foundation for a wooden house
A foundation made of concrete blocks is the quickest and easiest to prepare. Concrete blocks (foundation blocks) are distinguished by their resistance to moisture and gravity. Such blocks should be placed in critical places of the structure, i.e. on the outline and along the floor joists.
Thanks to this, the weight of the wooden garden house will be distributed evenly. It is worth adding that the foundation blocks allow for easy correction of unevenness of the terrain by placing several concrete blocks on top of each other.
In the case of a point foundation, it is best to choose blocks made of concrete class B12, B20 or B25. They are the most popular because they are durable and resistant to weather conditions. A house on concrete blocks can be built on a relatively even and stable surface, although of course it is better to think about hardening it with crushed stone and a key block beforehand.
Screed for a garden house
The screed, or reinforced foundation slab, is distinguished by its durability, but at the same time it is the most expensive solution. Such a reinforced concrete screed usually reaches about 20-30 cm into the ground and ensures complete stability of the structure that will be placed on it.
The relatively short preparation time is a big advantage, because the slab is ready for use after a maximum of 7 days from its pouring. It is worth adding that making such a screed for a garden house is quite complicated and requires appropriate knowledge. The best solution is the help of specialists. Both traditional and modern garden houses can be successfully built on a reinforced foundation slab. The cost of such an investment is the highest, but it is also the most durable type of foundation for a summer house.
In summary, the foundation for a garden house must be primarily adapted to the topography of the given plot. A point foundation for a wooden garden house is the most common choice, due to the speed and simplicity of its construction. What’s more, such a block foundation can be easily adjusted to the slope of the terrain. A traditional foundation and a screed, i.e. a reinforced foundation slab, are also popular solutions, both for traditional and modern garden houses. Now you know what to build a garden house on!
