Foundations for timber build

shivermetimber

Hi all. If the build allows and if site access is no problem then would screw piles and strapping be an easier and cheaper foundation alternative to other options like full pour, strip foundations or concrete pillars? If so then are screw pile and strapping usually ok with planning or do they sometimes turn their nose up at it?

Gumbo

shivermetimber wrote: »

Hi all. If the build allows and if site access is no problem then would screw piles and strapping be an easier and cheaper foundation alternative to other options like full pour, strip foundations or concrete pillars? If so then are screw pile and strapping usually ok with planning or do they sometimes turn their nose up at it?

Nothing to do with Planning, Its Building Regulation compliance that covers this. What has your Engineer said and what have the Timber Frame Company said?

shivermetimber

kceire wrote: »

Nothing to do with Planning, Its Building Regulation compliance that covers this. What has your Engineer said and what have the Timber Frame Company said?

Engineer not involved yet as just future planning in my head. Timber frame company have specified that any of the above options will do but they usually mount up a small build like mine on screw piles and strapping.

delfagio

Agreed this is more a structural engineer issue to be honest. The engineer or architect signing off the build will need to be able to give advice here.

shivermetimber

delfagio wrote: »

Agreed this is more a structural engineer issue to be honest. The engineer or architect signing off the build will need to be able to give advice here.

Say it was possible to use any options then would screw piles and strapping be the best option in cost vs benefit debate? I do like the idea of flood prevention and the ability to build on uneven or odd surfaces or slopes without too much land work required.

B-D-P--

shivermetimber wrote: »

I do like the idea of flood prevention and the ability to build on uneven or odd surfaces or slopes without too much land work required.

This will lead to heartache when doing the rest of the floors. You'll have to compensate for uneven floor.

Regardless of what your looking at now, try take a step back and see is it going to make future jobs harder and more expensive?

shivermetimber

B-D-P-- wrote: »

This will lead to heartache when doing the rest of the floors. You'll have to compensate for uneven floor.

Regardless of what your looking at now, try take a step back and see is it going to make future jobs harder and more expensive?

How so? The screw piles and strapping will all be perfectly level regardless of ground they are in and the timber frame will be on top of it..

delfagio

shivermetimber wrote:

How so? The screw piles and strapping will all be perfectly level regardless of ground they are in and the timber frame will be on top of it..

I suppose first thing would be to see if the screw piles option is going to compare in cost verses strip foundations, raft foundations etc. Pros and Cons etc.

B-D-P--

shivermetimber wrote: »

I do like the idea of flood prevention and the ability to build on uneven or odd surfaces or slopes without too much land work required.

shivermetimber wrote: »

How so? The screw piles and strapping will all be perfectly level regardless of ground they are in and the timber frame will be on top of it..

Sorry, I missunderstod something here, But it still remains, look further and ensure whats cheaper now doesn't end up more expensive later!

shivermetimber

B-D-P-- wrote: »

Sorry, I missunderstod something here, But it still remains, look further and ensure whats cheaper now doesn't end up more expensive later!

No worries Aye, I agree but I just don't want to end up paying more for something I could have done without!

BryanF

How many domestic screw pile jobs have the pros here worked on ?

I'd guesstimate not many.. strip or raft would be standard options, maybe because there cheaper..

shivermetimber

BryanF wrote: »

How many domestic screw pile jobs have the pros here worked on ?

I'd guesstimate not many.. strip or raft would be standard options, maybe because there cheaper..

Which is funny given the method was thought to be invented by an Irish man! Easy to install, quick, eco friendly and apparently cost effective. What's not to like? If it's a pain in the arse though to get someone to do it I'd probably look at pillars instead rather then going whole hog.

Metric Tensor

Zero - in 15+ years working and another 10 before that seeing foundations regularly. I'm not saying it's not done but it's definitely not common.

I'd wager a strip or raft foundation (depending on your location in the country) will be the cheapest - they are by far the most common and hence there are a few (or more) experienced installers in every locality.

Don't know what you mean by "pillars" - on what are these pillars going to sit?

P.S. - Where I have seen piles used they have either been the more traditional augered or driven piles or sometimes "mini piles".

Calahonda52

While I have my doubts that this is anything more than a keyboard warrior thread by the OP, just to add to what the other contributors have said: the soil mechanics design, and site investigations for these are a bit more complex and thus expensive.

One problem area is where changes in the water table level is pretty dynamic, something that we are seeing more and more with the shifting weather patterns, giving rise to differential settlement issues.
Similarly in a rural setting, changes to the drainage patterns in nearby fields have been known to cause settlement issues.

The upside is that there may be no need for a earth ground bar:D

shivermetimber

Metric Tensor wrote: »

Zero - in 15+ years working and another 10 before that seeing foundations regularly. I'm not saying it's not done but it's definitely not common.

I'd wager a strip or raft foundation (depending on your location in the country) will be the cheapest - they are by far the most common and hence there are a few (or more) experienced installers in every locality.

Don't know what you mean by "pillars" - on what are these pillars going to sit?

P.S. - Where I have seen piles used they have either been the more traditional augered or driven piles or sometimes "mini piles".

When I say pillars I suppose I mean to say foundation pads, dug and filled at intervals rather then a full strip.

Calahonda52 wrote: »

While I have my doubts that this is anything more than a keyboard warrior thread by the OP, just to add to what the other contributors have said: the soil mechanics design, and site investigations for these are a bit more complex and thus expensive.

One problem area is where changes in the water table level is pretty dynamic, something that we are seeing more and more with the shifting weather patterns, giving rise to differential settlement issues.
Similarly in a rural setting, changes to the drainage patterns in nearby fields have been known to cause settlement issues.

The upside is that there may be no need for a earth ground bar:D

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by keyboard warrior thread? I'm simply looking to try and understand the best option for a timber framed build. The last thing I want to do is put down an over engineered foundation for the house and waste time and money doing so when it's not needed. Surely that's a valid point to check pre build?

I know nothing about foundations but am trying to learn. I am only asking about piles / screw piles and strapping as I have seen this system used many times with lighter timber frame builds in other countries and anything I read about them says good things regarding less site disturbance, easy of installation, benefits for the building (just as good load bearing wise and gives access underneath for future maintenance) and cost. Starting to sound like it's not an option though as not commonly used in little old Ireland but I'm open to other alternatives like those suggested.