DIY Garden Room Base

[icowden]

HI All,

I am embarked upon a project to reclaim my garden from a wall of Leylandii type trees currently occupying the bottom third of the garden.
The garden is about 10m wide, and half of it I want to screen with nicer trees. The other half I want to build a garden room in.

I've looked at buying a garden room but they are very expensive. I've also found various DIY solutions online which I reckon I could do.
The question is, what would you do in terms of a base? I've seen various options including the standard put down a patio, the plastic matting stuff and finally ground screws.

What would you go for?

 

[Jameshow]

I would put it on concrete blocks every 4ft or so. Keeping it just off the ground with a dpm between the blocks and the treated timber.
Giving the base another coat of wood preservative or creosote wouldn't hurt.

 

[Beebo]

We went for a proper concert base. Dig out the ground and install shuttering, then pour concrete and add rebar.

We are lucky that we have rear access so a mixer could pour straight into the hole. I wouldn’t want to be barrowing it.

My neighbours have just had one done this summer and I am now very jealous. It is hand built by a local contractor. The base is a solid concrete slab with two courses of engineering bricks on top. Then loads of wood.

If and when I ever change my summer house, this is what I will do.

 

[Emanresu]

How wet does your ground get?

Professional concrete base (plus utilities) gets you a long way in terms of what you can put on it. Matting and bricks if it isn't going to be there long.

 

[MontyVeda]

another vote for a concrete base.

 

[Jameshow]

We went for a proper concert base. Dig out the ground and install shuttering, then pour concrete and add rebar.

We are lucky that we have rear access so a mixer could pour straight into the hole. I wouldn’t want to be barrowing it.

My neighbours have just had one done this summer and I am now very jealous. It is hand built by a local contractor. The base is a solid concrete slab with two courses of engineering bricks on top. Then loads of wood.

If and when I ever change my summer house, this is what I will do.

View attachment 822474

Concrete base and engineering bricks are the rolls Royce tbh.

 

[Drago]

Concrete, or gravel grid if youre wanting to be less environmentally damaging.

 

[icowden]

OK - a lot of love for concrete bases. Has anyone tried with groundscrews (concreted or otherwise) ?

I keep seeing this sort of thing:

 

[Emanresu]

Have you been over to Buildhub. Have had a lot done in the past few years and there are a lot of knowledgeable people over there. Groundscrews come up a few times.

Someone is not a fan

I guess you've seen how groundscrews are hyped as the cheap and easy way for amateur construction. Yes they are, but for decking, fences etc I'd agree.
For a comfortable building you need damp proofing , materials that won't rot, insulation. Otherwise you will not be using it except as a store, until it falls apart in 10 years.

https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/search/?q=groundscrews&quick=1

 

[MontyVeda]

I'd agree with 'someone who's not a fan'.
Build from the ground up and start with a substantial base. It's the last place you want to be cutting corners on, or doing on the cheap, or finding an easy option. Cut corners on the roof because at least that's a lot easier to replace than the foundation.

 

[icowden]

Have you been over to Buildhub. Have had a lot done in the past few years and there are a lot of knowledgeable people over there. Groundscrews come up a few times.

Someone is not a fan


https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/search/?q=groundscrews&quick=1

Thanks for that link - very handy. I'm still at the research stage at the moment. I have a lot of tree work to do over the next year...

 

[slowmotion]

If your building is going to have timber cladding, you should keep the bottom edge of the cladding at least 150-200 mm off ground level to prevent splashback from heavy rain wetting its bottom edge. I would use in-situ cast concrete pads ( with a few rebars ) set into the ground to raise the timber floor.

 

[Jameshow]

https://www.thewoodhaven2.co.uk/threads/mike-gs-how-to-build-a-shed.2293/

A good source from an architect.

 

[matticus]

We went for a proper concert base.

For the acoustics?

 

[jowwy]

like @Drago stated earlier, get some gravel grids and a good strength weed membane. so much easier if going the diy route and the gravel grids will help drain away the water and keep the timbers nice and dry.