Foundation for the garden wooden house

Hi everyone,

I plan to set up a garden wood house in my garden (ground area in the range of 3*3 - 3*4m). Unfortunately, there is a height difference of about 40cm on one side (4m length) in that area. So the base area should definitely be 3*4m.

But now the question arises, how should I build the base?

Option A would be to set strip foundations along the "same" levels.

Option B would be point foundations with metal anchors to screw in the base beams in order to lay and screw the floorboards on the base beams, on which the house will be mounted.

Option C would be to enclose the "frame" with L-stones or shuttering stones (set at one level) and compact gravel inside, spread grit, and finally lay paving stones.

Personally, I would actually go for option B, but I don't know if that is the optimal solution. I think adding some reinforcing steel bars would be beneficial, right?

The garden house is meant to function as a shed for tools, bicycles, etc., so it will not be heavily loaded. Attached is a sketch of my "idea", the top shows the top view and below is the construction to compensate for the height difference. I would lay the floorboards from "top to bottom". So at least that would be my idea.

I hope you understand what I mean and maybe you can help me.

Michael

Hello, I have set deep curbstones in 100x35x8cm on my property. Around the perimeter in a 3x4m area. Filled inside with gravel. Then 10x10 beams were doweled onto the deep curbstones and the small house was placed on top. I did this in 2005 and it still stands. Inside, I simply put in some chippings and laid patio slabs.

Good day,

thank you for the kind response. Is there something like a slope there as well, or is it relatively flat? Because I unfortunately can't smooth it out, since the access road runs parallel to the house and I didn't really want a half "underground house" :-)

So that's why my construction idea.

Best regards

Michael Neumann

Hi, height difference on one side about 50cm. I have cleared that. The terrain ends about 5cm below the beam and then rises by the mentioned 50cm at about 2m distance to the neighbor. Threw grass seeds and that’s that. Meanwhile, there is more weed than grass and it’s rather difficult to 'maintain' because you can’t get at it properly. If I ever don’t know what to do all day I dig it out, make a 1m wide passage and put up 2 rows of planting rings.

Okay, then I’m informed. Due to the location of sewage pipes and similar things in the area, I will probably resort to point foundations.

So I was thinking of a distance of about 1m from center to center of the foundation. Foundations measuring 40*40*60cm because at 60cm depth there is already clay soil and I think it’s well compacted if I don’t dig too much there.

I will just add some reinforcing steel, maybe I’ll get a mesh and cut it into squares or simply take round bars and set them in properly.

I think that could also provide proper stability.

On one side there would be a “cavity” of about 30cm between the ground and the underside of the house, but maybe there is also the possibility to bury a ground tank for water collection there or something. Or would that be rather disadvantageous in that area? Like under the house? But that’s just an idea without much thought yet.

Michael