Foundation for garden house with approx. 364 cm x 304 cm external dimensions

Hello everyone,

I did use the search function, but didn’t really find anything suitable for my problem, since it won’t be a tool shed.
The following problem: we want to buy a small garden house with the aforementioned dimensions (maybe it will even be 400cm x 400cm). This should serve as a shelter for us during the construction phase and later as a guest house.
So, of course I tried to find out which type of foundation would be best. Unfortunately, I didn’t come to a clear conclusion, since there are different things stated everywhere. What do you think? I somehow tend towards a point foundation, but don’t know if that would be the right choice. Or is it enough to dig out the soil (but how deep?) => add gravel => add crushed stone => add weed protection fabric => add sand => put concrete paving slabs/paving stones on top? And then put the floor of the house on that?
Thanks for your help.

For a garden house of that size, I would simply have a foundation poured. If construction is happening anyway, that should be quite doable "on the side." We did it that way too – the surface is level and remains so.

But the construction will only start later; the building application has not even been submitted yet. However, the house is supposed to go there soon. Otherwise, you are of course right, it would be a piece of cake.

I would simply excavate the topsoil, put in some gravel, and then pour a small concrete slab (10-15cm) on top. Although this is not 100% correct (not frost-free foundation), it should be sufficient for a small garden shed. This way, you will have a permanent solid and stable base and never have to worry about crooked slabs or similar issues again.

But do my dimensions still count as a "small garden shed"? I mean, it's not a tool shed :) What do you think about the pad foundation? Put such pipes into the ground, fill them with concrete, insert such concrete feet, and then screw the floor of the house to them. Somehow I am torn back and forth...

You need to look at the building regulations to see up to what size your house is exempt from approval. Here in Nds, for example, I believe only up to 30 cubic meters are exempt. For everything else, you need a permit.