Advice wanted on log cabin base please

mp31

I'm looking at building a log cabin (approx 5m x 3m) to use as a home office at the end of the garden and thinking about a plastic grid shed base - something like this http://www.plasticshedbase.co.uk/5-shed-bases-plastic

Has anyone used this type of base - if so what are your experiences.

I was thinking about digging out 2-3 inches of the soil, using sand to make a level surface, the place weed mat before before placing the grids and then filling the grids with gravel to reduce the chances of the cabin sinking over time.

Thoughts/comments/suggestions welcome.

_Brian

I can't get that link to open.

But I'd be thinking of digging down a bit deeper, maybe 6 inches.
Also I'd fill with 804 and whack with a petrol whacker, level with more 804 and whack again.

The 804 is much firmer than sand yet still easy to shovel about.

This would give a far more stable base to place the cabin on.

mp31

_Brian wrote: »

I can't get that link to open.

But I'd be thinking of digging down a bit deeper, maybe 6 inches.
Also I'd fill with 804 and whack with a petrol whacker, level with more 804 and whack again.

The 804 is much firmer than sand yet still easy to shovel about.

This would give a far more stable base to place the cabin on.

Just to be clear, do you mean the following:

• Dig 6 inches
• Creating a level surface using 804
• Place the plastic grid base on the 804
• Filling the plastic grid base with more 804

listermint

It would be wiser to dig foundations around the edges, level them and pour with concrete or lay blocks in the trenches. Log cabin is going to be heavy. This system you have chosen is not built for that weight.

You need foundations.

_Brian

mp31 wrote: »

Just to be clear, do you mean the following:

• Dig 6 inches
• Creating a level surface using 804
• Place the plastic grid base on the 804
• Filling the plastic grid base with more 804

Yea.

However the poster above may be correct as I couldn't see the product you were referring to. I think the best people to advise on the most suitable base woukd nentje suppliers of the log cabin.

Right2Write

The FAQ with the product says that log cabins are suited. Appears a bit flimsy to me. What's the advantage? That the cabin structure is not in direct contact with the ground, like a damp proof course etc?

M.T.D

As Brian says ask the cabin supplier.

This is just my view
Depending on wall thickness the cabin will weight 1/2 ton plus contents.
Needs to be on a firm base but as the flooring and joists are timber it really needs to be off the ground to allow air flow underneath.
The gravel takes the weight the plastic grid is just to hold the stones in place.
If you put a concrete slab down you will still need to put the cabin on blocks for the air flow.

If your ground is firm and you do not want the expense of concrete dig out and level an area slightly bigger than the cabin (30-50cm all round) build a retaining wall (bricks, blocks, kerbs, flags on edge) that comes 10cm-15cm out of the ground. Fill with your rocks and whack.
Lay 100x75 treated timbers or concrete lintels at right angles to the cabin joists. Insulation can then go between the cabin joists and still leave ventilation. If you don't want to use insulation you can put concrete slabs/blocks on the gravel to support the joists
Apart from being a soak away the gravel around the outside helps avoid splash back stains.

insebayguy

Lads, I have just bought a 4 x 3 meter cabin that I plan to put at the end of my garden. Are ground screws an option for this type of Thing? I don't want the hassle or expense of pouring a concrete slab base and still having to put a timber frame under the cabin for ventilation. Would it make sense to even dig out holes every meter, fill with concrete and build a wooden subframe on that for the cabin to stand on?

mp31

insebayguy wrote: »

Lads, I have just bought a 4 x 3 meter cabin that I plan to put at the end of my garden. Are ground screws an option for this type of Thing? I don't want the hassle or expense of pouring a concrete slab base and still having to put a timber frame under the cabin for ventilation. Would it make sense to even dig out holes every meter, fill with concrete and build a wooden subframe on that for the cabin to stand on?

Instead of filling with concrete, why not use concrete blocks with sharp sand underneath to level them out?

I would have thought that using shop bought concrete blocks would provide a sufficient load bearing capacity for a cabin but I'm no expert so maybe wait for an expert to comment

This all depends on the structure of the ground i.e. is it a sand based soil or a clay based soil etc. and the weight of the cabin as well.

wexfordman2

A friend of mine (he's a tree surgeon) built a log cabin in his back yard as an office. He built it on raised tree trunks that he had felled, so its about five feet up off the ground.