Garden Room Foundation systems (Low impact)
If you’re living in an AONB, Conservation area or National Park it may be advisable to seek out a garden room foundation sytem which is low-impact. Fortunately, there are several options available for your garden room installation.
Today, we’ll be highlighting the benefits of three of our favorite systems:
- The Groundscrew by ‘Stop Digging’ – which drives down into the ground
- The eco-plinth by Swift Foundations – sits on top of the ground
- The eco-base fast fit, also by Swift Foundations – requires the footprint (of the garden room) topsoil area to be cleared by 10cm (100mm)
Ground Screws (https://stop-digging.co.uk/)
Benefits of Ground Screws
Ground screws can be installed anywhere you normally dig to concrete in an upright post or site a prefabricated concrete support. Installation of your garden room foundation system is carried out by their certified installers in a gentle process that does not utilise digging.
- Groundscrews minimise any disturbance to the ground where your building will be sited – commonly referred to as ‘pinhole’ footings, they are driven into the ground at itervals creating zero disturbance to tree-roots/lawn/block-paving etc.
- They are idea for flood zones as they elevate the building above the ground to a height which is required to avoid flooding
- This system can screw straight through an existing wooden deck or through tarmac
- Fast and efficient. They come and undertake the work for you – you can then build your garden room straight away
- Portable so no site access problems
- Promotes air flow underneath your garden room – keeping timbers dry
- Height adjustable
- Allows access to services underneath your building
- Economic alternative to a concrete slab
We just love these. Love them.
Swift Plinth ( https://swiftfoundations.co.uk /)
The Swift Plinth is a ‘caravan code’ foundation system for garden room buildings and can carry up to 1 tonne per plinth with spans of no more than 2 metres. We find that on sensitive sites, the planning officers like these as they can be uplifted and carried away at the end of the buidlings’ life.
Benefits of the Swift Plinth
- No wet mix. Install and start building
- Portable so no site access problems
- 50mm of adjustment in each bracket for easy levelling – great for sloping sites
- Allows air flow under your building
- Keeps timbers away from ground moisture
- Helps prevent splash back onto your timbers
- Allows access to services underneath your building
- No specialist skills or equipment required for installation
- Economic alternative to a concrete slab
These can be installed independently without disturbing the topsoil apart from the ‘grid’ which requires the topsoil clearing.
EcoBase ( https://swiftfoundations.co.uk /)
EcoBase Fastfit can be used as a firm foundation for a wide variety of smaller garden buildings and comes with a permeable membrane, cut to the size of the building’s foundation to suppress the growth of weeds.
EcoBase Fastfit Benefits
Of course, each and every site is different and depending on the size/weight/orientation and location of your building in addition to the soil type may determine what is realistic for your garden room installation.
Other (less environmentally friendly options) footing types usually involve concrete and these are:
- Pile and Pad foundations
- Raft Foundations
- Concrete blocks
- Concrete slab
- Timber-piles
- Strip foundations
It’s always best to check your local builder/groundworks professional or garden room manufacturer which they suggest dependent on your circumstances and budget prior to selecting your foundation system.
Hopefully this has been useful to you, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line on (0161) 2223350 should you have any further queries relating to the installation and design of your unique garden room and we’ll do our best to advise.
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