DIY foundation for a barn. How to make a foundation for a shed with your own hands - reliably and durable! How to pour pillars under a barn

The barn can be used for storing firewood, construction and household tools, and even for equipment that will be used when cultivating the soil on the site. In this room you can also create a work area for installing a workbench or a small machine. In a word, a barn is an irreplaceable structure, and therefore during its construction all the rules and regulations for the construction of such a structure must be observed. As with other buildings, a barn also needs a foundation.

Shed foundation depth

1. Of course, compared to a residential building, a barn is a lighter structure, and therefore the requirements for building a foundation are lower. However, one should not forget about some of the subtleties contained in the characteristics of the soil. That is, depending on the type of soil on the site, the level of groundwater, the compressibility of the soil, the presence of quicksand, the depth of soil freezing, we need to decide on the type of foundation for the shed.
2. An area with rocky soil can be said to be the best option for a high-quality foundation. Such soil practically does not freeze, does not sag, does not shrink, and most importantly, there will be no quicksand in it. But such soil also has its drawback, which is its intractability. That is, it will be very difficult to dig anything here. However, for a foundation for a shed on such soil, a depth of up to 50 cm is sufficient.
3. In cases of sandy soil, freezing is observed up to 70 cm. Such soil has excellent water throughput and does not compress. But at the same time, it is not at all necessary to make a foundation to a depth of 70 cm, you can limit yourself to 55 - 60 cm. The soil for which gravel is the basis will not erode or shrink, but freezes at a depth of 0.5 m, which is optimal depth for the foundation.
4. The lowest quality are loams and sandy loams, as they have a greater freezing depth. In an area with such soil, the depth of the foundation should be more than 70 cm.
5. Clay soil has high rates of swelling and contraction, but in addition to this, it also contains a large amount of moisture. Consequently, in winter, increased pressure will be exerted on our structure. In clay soil, the foundation must be below the freezing depth of the soil, since otherwise the finished foundation will be subject to destruction and deformation.
6. Currently, the most popular, and also the most in demand, type of foundation is strip foundation. And this is not surprising, because a foundation of this type is suitable for almost any soil. The simplest and most affordable foundation is a columnar one. However, unlike the previous option, the soil in the area where such a foundation will be built must be stationary. And the third type of foundation is a screw foundation, which is used in areas with high groundwater levels, as well as in areas with heaving soil.

It is also worth noting that in different regions of our country the depth of soil freezing is different, and therefore, if there is a need to make a foundation for a shed below the freezing depth, I recommend checking with specialists in your region the exact freezing depth.

Shed on foundation

The question: whether to build a foundation for a barn or not, faces everyone who is planning a room for a utility block or other non-residential structure. For a person ignorant of construction, an important factor is the choice of the type of foundation that combines reliability and reasonable price. The article will discuss the question: how to make a reliable foundation for a shed with your own hands, and what are the advantages of building a shed on a solid foundation.

Why do you need a foundation for a barn?

A barn is an indispensable building in private homes. It is used to store tools or necessary things for which there is no room in the house. It is indispensable for breeding domestic animals and birds. Some people equip the barn as a workshop or garage. It is not surprising that every owner expects long service from this structure.

Although the easiest way may seem to be to abandon the foundation when building a shed, there are some disadvantages to such a solution. Firstly, the layer of earth never stands still. Due to fragile soil and groundwater, it can move to the side and fail. This will lead to the fact that the walls of your building may tilt and move in different directions, which will lead to the collapse of the structure. It is possible that every year the barn will gradually sink deeper and deeper into the ground.

Secondly, compared to residential buildings, a barn has less weight, and without a foundation it will be difficult for it to withstand the onslaught of rain, strong winds and other weather vagaries.

Therefore, the foundation for a utility block is an important point in construction planning.

What to consider when choosing a foundation

Modern construction techniques offer a large number of options to lay the foundation for a future building project. When choosing a foundation for a brick shed or woodshed, you must consider the following factors:

1. Terrain. It is necessary to understand whether the barn will be located on a flat piece of land, or whether there is a slope in the place chosen for construction.
2. Knowing the groundwater level will help determine whether the foundation will require additional waterproofing.
3. Knowledge of the soil structure is also necessary for choosing the type of foundation, since clay or sandy soils are more conducive to the shrinkage of the structure, while hard rocky soil makes it possible to use minimal forces on the foundation, since it will help in maintaining the immobility of the structure.
4. The selected materials will definitely have an impact on the foundation for the cabin. The weight of the building and its strength will depend on them.

Taking into account all the above factors, you can choose and build the optimal foundation for the shed with your own hands. What are the manufacturing steps for some of the main types of bases?

Strip foundation type

Such a foundation is considered the optimal foundation for construction on different types of soil. Its main disadvantage is the relatively high cost of materials for manufacturing.

To pour a strip foundation for a shed with your own hands, you need to dig a ditch around the perimeter of the future building to a depth of approximately 70 cm, having previously made markings with pegs and string. The exact calculation of the depth of the ditch for the foundation is calculated individually depending on climatic conditions. It is important that it is below the soil freezing level.

If you plan to build a large shed, filling around the edges will not be enough. A concrete base will be required over the entire area of ​​the structure so that the floor does not sag.

Layers of crushed stone (10 cm) and construction sand (up to 8 cm) are placed at the bottom of the ditch to strengthen the soil. All this must be compacted thoroughly.

The next stage of manufacturing a strip foundation is to install formwork from boards. It should protrude approximately 30 cm above the ground. This is how the bottom of the shed is usually protected from rotting. For reliability, it can be additionally reinforced.

At this stage of work, care must be taken to ventilate the base to avoid moisture accumulation. To do this, cut pieces of metal or plastic pipes are placed inside. The holes should be in different places to create air movement within the foundation.

Now you need to prepare the concrete solution. It is a mixture of sand, crushed stone and cement in a ratio of 5:3:1. All this is stirred until a homogeneous mixture and poured into the prepared ditch. This needs to be implemented in 2 stages. First you need to make a thin layer of concrete around the entire perimeter and let it harden a little. This will create insulation that prevents water and cement laitance from leaving the concrete mixture, which can greatly reduce its strength. And then you can fill in everything else.

The prepared mixture must be used up within a day, since later, due to the hardening process that has begun, it will be unusable.

In conclusion, all that remains is to wait until the solution dries and remove the frame. It is important to remember that construction can continue 1.5-2 weeks after pouring the foundation, when the concrete has hardened by 70%. Maximum foundation strength is usually achieved in 24-27 days. A properly poured strip foundation will become a reliable foundation for a shed of any weight and load.

Foundation on screw piles

This method, which allows you to pour the foundation for a change house with your own hands, was developed relatively recently. It is able to hold the structure even on the most unreliable soils.

The table shows the dependence of the pile load on its size and soil type.

Installing a pile foundation does not require large material costs. It is possible to build a shed on screw piles without special machines. Using a crowbar or a piece of pipe, two adult men can cope with this task.

You should start working with markings. Then small holes are dug in the places where the piles will be located. Their goal is to direct the pile blade in the desired direction. Afterwards you can start driving the piles.

The structure must be mounted vertically on piles, avoiding deviations.

Therefore, you can check the work using a building level or invite a third person to ensure that the installation is correct. After completion, it is necessary to check that the piles are at the same horizontal level.

Now the cavities between the ground and the piles need to be filled with concrete. This will help protect the base from corrosion. Finally, it is necessary to install the heads in order to begin the construction of the utility block itself.

Columnar foundation

As the simplest foundation, a columnar foundation is chosen by those who do not have sufficient experience in construction. It does not require large material costs and physical effort to manufacture. The only drawback is the inability to use this option on unstable soils. There is an algorithm for how to construct a columnar foundation for a barn.

First you need to clean and prepare the space where you plan to build a shed. Clay soil will have to be covered with a 10 cm layer of gravel. Now the points for installing the posts are marked. In these places, holes up to 1 m deep should be dug.

Before you begin installing the posts, the bottom of the recesses made must be covered 15 cm with sand and crushed stone, and then compacted. The posts used can be made of wood, bricks or concrete blocks. If the planned structure is heavy, the columns should be strengthened with reinforcing bars.

After fixing the columns, you need to install the formwork and fill it with concrete solution. Construction of the barn itself can begin 5-7 days after the concrete has hardened.

Foundation made from car tires

For car owners, this is a good opportunity to give a second life to tires that are no longer suitable for driving. The structure can be built with a tire base in two ways.

On unstable soils, it is necessary to dig holes with a depth below the freezing level of the ground. Their size must match the tires. The bottom is strengthened with a compacted cushion of crushed stone, and the tires are stacked. All this is covered with inert material.

On more durable soil, it is enough to remove the fertile layer, strengthen it and compact it with sand. The tire placed on top will serve as formwork for the concrete. It is worth remembering that after the concrete dries, such a base loses some of its strength, so it seems to be a less reliable option compared to the first one.

The disadvantage of such a foundation is the wide diameter of the tires. Since the wall of the shed is in the middle of the tires, they will be clearly visible after the construction of the shed is completed. Therefore, they need to be painted or masked so that they do not spoil the overall appearance. When using a base made of tires, voids are formed in the subfloor of the utility block, favorable for the penetration of moisture and favorable for the appearance of rodents.

To make protective padding, openings are cut in metal sheets to fit the size of the protruding parts of the tires.

Foundation for a barn made of blocks

Constructing a foundation for a shed from blocks is similar to a strip foundation, only it costs the future owner of the barn less. First, a trench up to 60 cm is dug, the bottom of which is also reinforced with crushed stone and sand. A layer of concrete is poured on top, on which you can begin laying blocks. After waterproofing the base, the trench must be buried.

The bottom of the foundation for a shed made of foam blocks will be slightly shallower, since this fairly light material shrinks less. The width should match the size of the block so that it fits without much effort. A concrete pad is also important when working with a foundation for a shed made of foam blocks, so after installing the formwork, it is poured in a layer of up to 20 cm, and laying the blocks begins after the concrete has hardened.

Other types of foundation for a barn

If you have a drilling rig, you can use bored piles instead of screw piles. To do this, it is necessary to drill wells in the designated locations and insert asbestos-cement or polyethylene pipes into them. The formwork for the pipe is made from a piece of roofing felt, the seam of which is secured with bitumen mastic.

Filling the pipe with concrete solution occurs in two steps. First, the space is filled to about a third, and after reinforcement, the filling is completed.

A rather rare method is the foundation on reinforced concrete sleepers. The reason is the difficulty in acquiring this material. For such a base, like a strip base, a trench is dug. Only sleepers are laid on its bottom so that the joint of one row coincides with a whole sleeper in the next.

Let's summarize: the question - which foundation to choose when building a shed depends on several factors. Firstly, this is the topography of the area where the future building will be located and the type of soil. Secondly, the financial condition and construction skills of the master will play a role. Thirdly, the choice of materials for the change house itself is important. Thus, the foundation for a shed made of blocks will be different from a brick or wooden structure, so before choosing the simplest method of pouring the foundation, you need to make sure that it will maintain a decent appearance for your shed for many years.

When designing a foundation for a shed, the owner of a land plot solves two main problems. This is to reduce the construction budget and not reduce the operational life of the future structure. Therefore, the first task is solved simply - the barn and its foundation are erected with your own hands. The second depends on the correct choice of the type of foundation structure.

Do it yourself

The barn itself is an easy construction, because it is most often erected as a frame structure, which means it does not bear large loads on the foundation. A frame barn consists of four load-bearing beams installed vertically at the corners of the building, tied with timber at the top and bottom. Which means It is better to build a columnar foundation for such a structure, but screw piles can also be used.

In this case, the pillars are erected precisely at the corners of the building. If you need to build a house with large dimensions, then, based on the length of the span of the walls between the corner support foundations, intermediate pillars are poured in increments of 2 - 3 m. By the way, the fastest way to build foundation pillars is to use not concrete mortar, but ready-made concrete blocks.

The construction of a foundation for a barn made of blocks is not inferior in load-bearing capacity to either metal piles or a monolith. It is important what sizes the blocks are purchased. Their main purpose is to create a strong and reliable support, so the main thing in this matter is to accurately determine the dimensions of the foundation pillars, both in height and in cross-sectional size. From which it follows that first of all it is necessary to determine the pressure that will act on the foundation from the side of the building.

Type selection

The optimal columnar foundation cannot always be used. Much will depend on the type of soil on the construction site and the size of the construction project. If the soil at the site of the shed is heaving, then it is better to lay a slab or tape. Both options cope well with ground movements.

The only thing that is required from the technology of laying a strip foundation is take into account the level of soil freezing. True, the budget may increase due to an increase in the level of laying the structure. Therefore, it is recommended to lay either a shallow foundation or a surface foundation under the shed.

As for the slab variety, this is the most expensive option, which is used extremely rarely under sheds. In addition, its costs will largely depend on the depth of the foundation for the shed. The thicker the slab, the more money you will have to invest in it.

You need to start talking about strip foundations with the choice of materials. Since the structure is light, you can use various technologies that use different building materials.

For example: brick, the same concrete blocks, railway wooden sleepers, a monolith made of concrete mortar.

A brick foundation is one of the budget options. The main thing in this process is to correctly carry out the masonry with the banding of elements, which guarantees the strength of the structure and its long service life. It should be taken into account that such a foundation is usually laid on the surface. There is no point in laying bricks in the ground. If this cannot be avoided, then you will have to thoroughly waterproof the foundation walls, for example, with bitumen mastic.

The foundation of a shed made of sleepers is also an inexpensive option. The sleepers themselves are impregnated with oil, which increases their service life in difficult natural conditions. The main thing is to connect them correctly, why the joint between two elements is made according to the principle of a half cut. After assembly, the joints are fastened with metal staples and perforated plates with self-tapping screws.

After installation, all sleepers are treated with bitumen mastic on both sides.

And the most famous technology is to pour the foundation under the barn with concrete into the formwork. The method is not the cheapest, but in some situations it is the only possible option. If a shallow or surface foundation is being poured, then there is no need to take into account the level of soil freezing.

Work progress

Let's look at how to properly pour a concrete foundation. First of all, the parameters of the tape are determined. Its length will be equal to the perimeter of the future building. Width and depth within 30 - 40 cm - this is a surface model, width 20 - 30 cm and depth up to 70 cm - this is a shallow version.

1. In the first case, the turf is removed along the perimeter of the barn, that is, a trench 20 cm deep is dug.
2. A sand cushion is filled with a tamper to the edges of the soil.
3. Waterproofing material is laid, preferably in two layers.
4. Formwork is being installed, for which you can use boards, plywood, OSB boards, corrugated sheets, iron sheets and other durable slab or sheet materials.
5. A frame made of reinforcement is laid inside. It is knitted in the form of two lattices, which are then connected to each other by transverse pieces. The distance between the gratings is determined by the width of the trench. They should be spaced within 5 cm from the internal planes of the sheathing. If a very light barn is being built, then the reinforced frame can not be laid in the foundation.
6. A concrete solution is prepared from cement with the addition of a mixture of sand and gravel. The ratio of components: cement - sand - gravel, as 1: 2: 3. By the way, the mixture can be made of sand and crushed stone.
7. Concrete is poured with uniform distribution of the material throughout the entire volume of the formwork. The main task is to complete the process in one day. In this case, it is very important to remove air from the solution that gets there during the process of mixing the ingredients. This is done either with the help of a vibrator, or with improvised means: fittings, pipes, slats and others.
8. After 7 days the formwork is removed, after 28 days the foundation for the barn is ready to accept loads.

Here are step-by-step instructions for pouring a strip foundation for a small shed.

This is the simplest option for constructing a foundation structure in terms of speed of work. To do this, you need to select the piles themselves by size.

For one-story wooden buildings, which include a barn, it is better to use piles with a diameter of 89 mm and a blade diameter of 250 mm. This steel element can easily withstand loads of up to 3 tons.

Installation of screw piles is often carried out on heaving soils, therefore their length is chosen based on this indicator. But not less than 1.5 m for light buildings. They are simply screwed in to the required depth at the corners of the building, and if necessary, intermediate elements are installed, after which the piles are secured with a metal profile or wooden beams.

As mentioned above, a columnar foundation for a barn is the best option. It is assembled from bricks, sleepers, vertically installed concrete blocks, or a monolith is poured with the installation of a reinforcing frame.

A block foundation made of blocks or bricks requires a special approach to preparing the installation site. To do this, the bottom of the pit or the surface of the soil must be prepared.

Make a bedding of sand with a layer of 20 cm, which is covered with waterproofing material on top. If the block pillar is recessed into the ground, then the lateral waterproofing of the pillars is also carried out, for example, by coating with bitumen mastic.

As an option for a columnar foundation - sleepers, cut to the height of the pillars to be laid and installed in prepared holes. The main task of the work manufacturer is to level the sleepers to the same level and thoroughly waterproof the areas located in the ground. This is the simplest foundation for wooden construction.

Of course, screw piles and monolith pillars have greater load-bearing capacity. A stone barn can be erected on such a columnar foundation. Although, if you correctly assemble blocks and bricks and accurately calculate their load-bearing capacity, then these materials will cope well with the loads.

The main task of building a columnar foundation for a barn with your own hands is to save money.

Video

Video about how to make a foundation with your own hands.

From tires

A foundation for a frame shed made from tires is an original, but quite reliable option. This design is actually the simplest. It is practically cost-free in terms of purchasing building materials.

1. To do this, holes are dug in the corners of the barn with a diameter larger than the diameter of the tires by 20 - 30 cm and a depth that determines the depth of the foundation, based on preliminary calculations.
2. Tires are stacked one on top of the other.
3. They are filled with crushed stone of small or medium fraction (grain sizes from 5 to 40 mm). The backfill is thoroughly compacted.
4. After that, backfilling is done on the outer sides of the tires with sand and soil.
5. The upper rubber element is filled with concrete mortar to increase the load-bearing capacity.

Although this option is considered original, it has long been used in rural areas.

On dense soils, it is not necessary to dig deep holes for tires. One or two is enough.

They will have to be completely filled with concrete. On soft, fragile soils, holes must be made deeper, and the foundation itself must be assembled from at least three car tires. But the more there are in the pit, the higher the load-bearing capacity of the structure.

So, let's look at how to properly pour a slab for building a shed. Usually it is erected on moving soils with minimal immersion in the soil.

Moreover, such a foundation can be laid under a shed made of blocks, bricks, under a frame structure, and so on.

In this regard, there are no restrictions, because the bearing capacity of the structure will mainly depend on the thickness of the slab foundation being poured. Therefore, under non-heavy structures, you can pour concrete mortar with a thickness of 20 cm, and under heavy structures, at least 30 cm.

1. Dig a pit up to 30 cm deep exactly according to the linear dimensions of the future barn.
2. A cushion of crushed stone 15 cm thick is poured into it. It is leveled and compacted.
3. Fill a layer of sand to the level of the soil surface. It is also compacted with water and leveled.
4. If the depth of the pit allows it, that is, the cushion was not filled to the brim, and besides, the soil in the area is clayey, then the reinforcing frame is laid in the pit on supports. If the foundation pit was not dug deep, then formwork made of boards no more than 15 cm high is installed around the perimeter of the barn. It is at this level that the frame is installed. It can be assembled from steel reinforcement, or it can be a mesh, for example, a chain-link.
5. The concrete solution is poured and air is removed from its mass using a vibrator or available materials.

As for the load-bearing capacity, it all depends on the thickness of the concrete being poured and the number of levels of reinforcing mesh. For example, if a foundation is being poured for a shed made of foam blocks, and this is a small load, then the thickness of the poured layer can be a maximum of 20 cm, and one lattice of the reinforcing frame is laid in it.

If a shed is being built from cinder block, concrete block or brick, then the thickness of the screed should not be less than 30 cm, and a reinforced frame of two or more gratings installed one above the other must be placed in it.

In this case, it is very important to take into account the fact that the frame should extend 10 cm from the edges of the slab. And this is on each side.

The slab is considered the most expensive option for the foundation structure, therefore it is used very rarely for sheds. The main reason for the construction is mobile, heaving soils, which make, for example, columnar options unsuitable.

Conclusions

A self-made foundation for a light small shed should have all the characteristics, like any foundation structures. In any case, it must have such a load-bearing capacity to support the entire mass of the barn. These are not only the materials from which the building was erected, but also room fillers in the form of garden tools, spare parts for equipment, tanks with liquids and other necessary items and tools.

Building a shed with your own hands is not such a difficult task, but you cannot do without such a building on a personal plot, especially if the plot is new and the construction of a house is just being planned. During this time, the barn will become a shelter for craftsmen, a storage for their tools, and later will be a workshop or a good warehouse for firewood and garden utensils. Therefore, you need to start equipping the fenced area with the installation of this utility structure.

Selecting a location

You cannot install a shed anywhere - first you need to carry out zoning, since you need to remember that the building will serve for more than one year and may become a hindrance to other buildings, or spoil the planned landscape design of the area. Therefore, it is necessary to allocate a place for it that will not be suitable for agricultural or decorative plantings, construction of a gazebo, garage, bathhouse, toilet and other buildings. If you install a shed in the far corner of the site, it will not only not interfere with the work process, but will also provide protection from prying eyes.

But if in the future you plan to build a woodshed in it, then you should not move the barn too far from the main building, since in winter it will be difficult to get to it, and firewood should always be at hand.

Having chosen a suitable area for installation, you can proceed to further actions.

Site preparation

The first thing to do after choosing a location is to mark the site. It is usually marked with pegs placed in the corners of the future structure. A string is pulled over the pegs - this will make it easier to control the level of the foundation being built.

The foundation for a shed can be made in different ways, and the choice will depend on what material the structure will be built from. Most often, a barn is built using a frame type, but some owners prefer to build such an outbuilding from brick.

A frame structure is much lighter than a brick one, so you can choose a monolithic, columnar or strip foundation for it, or you can install it on relatively large concrete blocks.

For a brick building, a strip and monolithic version of the foundation is well suited. You can, of course, adapt a columnar one to it by making jumpers between the pillars, but this is quite troublesome. To choose a suitable foundation for your intended structure, you need to know what they are.

Although the most expensive and labor-intensive to install, but it has several advantages over other types of bases.

• It is durable and strong, so even when a wooden structure becomes unusable, a new one can be built on the old foundation.
• Having arranged such a foundation, the owner receives not only a foundation for the walls, but also a finished barn floor.
• If the concrete is strengthened with topping, then the floor will not require additional flooring. But if desired, you can put linoleum or tiles on it, i.e. the concrete base gives you complete freedom to choose its decoration.

The construction of such a foundation occurs as follows:

• A not too deep pit is dug on the marked area, since the barn is a light non-residential premises, does not require insulation basics. Therefore, its total thickness can be 300 ÷ 350 mm, i.e. its underground part will be 200 ÷-250 mm, and the above-ground part 100 ÷ 150. Even if the walls are built of brick, half a brick thick (and more is usually not required for a barn), this height of the base will be quite enough for it.
• In the prepared area, you need to loosen and remove the soil to a depth of 400 ÷ 550 mm.
• Then at the bottom of the pit you need to place a 100 mm sand cushion, which will waterproof foundation sn izu. The sand must be thoroughly compacted by pouring water.
• Crushed stone is laid on the sand in the same layer. It is also compacted to the maximum. Crushed stone will make the base more durable and will not allow it to sag.
• Formwork is installed around the pit, 100 ÷ 150 mm high above the soil level.
• Next, a coarse concrete solution is mixed, which is laid on the crushed stone in a layer 7-10 cm thick and evenly distributed throughout the pit - this will be a rough screed.
• Then a reinforcing grid with cells 60 ÷ 100 mm is immediately laid. It can be fixed with wire staples by inserting them in several places into the rough screed.
• If the shed floor area is large enough, then after the rough screed has set, you need to install beacons flush with the height of the formwork. They will be necessary for the convenience of leveling the surface.
• Next, a thinner cement-sand mortar, made in proportions 1:3, is poured and leveled using the rule along the guides of the beacons.
• The structure should be given several hours to set, and then covered on top with plastic film to ensure even hardening.
• If it is planned to strengthen the surface with topping, then this process is carried out on a newly set, but still wet surface.

Strip foundation

It will require less costs, but having installed it, you will also have to make a floor from boards, plywood, or also pour a screed, but a thinner one, since this type of foundation is intended only for the base of wall structures. It can be made both under brick walls and under wooden frames.

• For a strip foundation, a trench is dug along the perimeter of the marked area, approximately 100 ÷ 120 mm wide than the thickness of the future walls. The depth of the trench, just like that of a monolithic foundation, should be 400 ÷ 550 mm.
• Laying the sand cushion and strengthening it with crushed stone is also done in the same way as when installing a monolith.
• Next, the trench is fenced from the outside and inside with formwork, which should be 200 ÷ 350 mm high.
• A welded structure made of reinforcement is installed on the crushed stone layer; it is desirable that it be 50 ÷ 70 mm high below the top edge of the formwork.
• Next, the concrete mixture is poured into it and tapped with a bayonet shovel to remove air, which can form cavities inside the concrete, which will weaken the structure.
• The top of the poured foundation is leveled along the top edge of the formwork, and the structure is left to harden.
• When the concrete hardens, the formwork is removed from the base.
• Inside the foundation, it is best to fill in fine expanded clay; it will insulate and waterproof the floor, and will also prevent rodents from getting in, since they simply do not live in it.

Columnar foundation

Used for the construction of frame structures. Install it as follows:

• The area allocated for the barn is marked specifically for a columnar foundation, since the supports must stand at a certain distance from each other, usually from one to one and a half meters.
• According to the markings, the required number of holes are dug with a depth of 350 ÷ 450 mm, width along the top approximately 400 × 400 mm.
• A layer of 100 mm of sand and the same amount of crushed stone is poured onto the bottom of the dug holes. Each layer is well compacted.
• The next step is to lay waterproofing from polyethylene film, it should line the hole and come out to the surface, to a height future columns, plus 70 ÷ 100 mm.

• Formwork is installed in each hole - a box without a bottom. The waterproofing film is spread out inside it and secured with staples along its top. The shed structure will be raised from the ground to the height of the box.
• A welded or wire-bound reinforcement structure is installed in each formwork box.
• After this, the concrete solution is poured. From above, along the formwork, it is leveled and left to harden.
• While the columns are hardening, if desired, you can carry out the following work, which will reduce the penetration of moisture into the barn room. To do this, 50–70 mm of the fertile layer is removed throughout the entire site, around the columns, and in its place sand is poured and compacted, and fine crushed stone is poured on top of it.
• After the concrete has hardened, the formwork is removed from the posts, and then it would be advisable to cover them with a waterproofing material, for example, bitumen mastic or liquid rubber.

Prices for bitumen mastic

Bitumen mastic

Video: barn on a columnar foundation

Concrete block foundation

This one is only suitable for frame construction, and its installation is the simplest of all those described above.

• First, the marked area is cleared, and the fertile soil layer is removed from it by 50 ÷ 70 mm.
• Instead of the extracted soil, a layer of sand is poured, watered and compacted.
• Placed on top of it a layer of fine crushed stone, which also needs to be compacted.
• Next, concrete blocks of the required height are laid on the prepared site along the perimeter. The distance between them should be no more than one and a half meters. The blocks must be leveled using a level.

After the foundation of any type is ready, waterproofing from roofing felt in 2-3 layers must be laid on its surface.

Video: building a shed on a base of concrete blocks

Installation of frame, roofing and wall covering

Since the most common The method of building a shed is a frame structure, it is worth considering this. This design is popular because its installation is quick and quite simple. The main thing is to keep under constant control the evenness of the installed and laid bars. A properly assembled and processed structure will reliably last 10 ÷ 15 years. The work is being carried out in stages.

• The support beams are fastened together at the corners using metal corners. Next, they need to be secured to the foundation with a through fastener or a metal corner.

• The construction of the wall frame can be carried out in two ways:

- each of the walls, taking into account windows and doors, is assembled in a horizontal position and installed vertically in finished form. But in this case you cannot do without assistants;

- in the second option, each of the bars is installed separately according to a pre-developed drawing, and then they are fastened together at the installation site. This method of connecting frame elements is much more complicated.

• The entire structure must be rigid, therefore, if necessary, perpendicular jumpers are installed in the frames of the walls, floor and ceiling.

• All parts are connected to each other with a quarter or half-wood sample, and are fastened with special metal corners.

It must be remembered that the front wall of the barn must be 200 ÷ 300 mm higher than the back wall in order for the roof to have a slope.

• After erecting the frame of the walls and connecting them together, the roof sheathing is installed.
• The sheathing bars are attached at a certain distance - it will depend on what material is chosen for the roof. For example, plywood sheets will have to be laid under a soft roof or tiles. But, basically, corrugated sheeting, metal tiles or slate are used to cover outbuildings. The sheets of these materials are wide enough, so they are attached directly to the roof sheathing. In this case, the step of laying parallel bars in a horizontal orientation (perpendicular to the direction of the slope) should be about 500 — 600 mm.

• When the frame structure is covered with a roof, you can begin covering the floor and walls. The floorboards (if a wooden floor is planned) are laid on the joists and attached to them with self-tapping screws.
• Walls can be sheathed in two ways: only from the outside or both from the outside and from the inside.

1. If you want the building to look neat and fit well into the landscape design, it is sheathed on top with modern vinyl clapboard. Inside, plywood is used for cladding.

Prices for lining, imitation timber, block house

Lining, imitation timber, block house

If the barn will serve as a workshop in which you plan to work until the coldest weather, the walls of the building can be additionally insulated with mineral wool. To do this, insulation mats are placed in the frame of the wall sheathing between the clapboard and plywood.

2. If it was not planned to sheath the inside of the shed, then the outside can be decorated with denser plywood or thick enough boards with grooves so that there are no gaps in the sheathing. However, cladding with boards with the upper elements overlapping the lower ones (like shingles) also looks quite original.

• When the building is sheathed, window frames are installed in it, if windows are provided, a door frame and the door itself.
• If the barn was installed on a columnar foundation or concrete slabs, the lower through part of the structure (subfloor) must also be sheathed. The sheathing is secured to poles or concrete slabs. Flat slate, ordinary boards or vinyl lining can be used as cladding.
• A gutter is fixed to the back of the roof to drain rainwater, otherwise water may leak under the shed, and this is undesirable for any building.
• Then you need to look through the entire room from the inside; if cracks are found somewhere, they are sealed with polyurethane foam.
• If the barn is raised on a high foundation, then it is necessary to make a staircase of several steps. It can be made of wood or made of brick and then plastered with cement mortar.

Video: erecting a wooden shed on a solid foundation

There are many different options for building a shed, and they use different materials. But if the building is being built for more than one year, and you want it to serve for a long time, you need to choose high-quality materials for the work, and also approach each stage of the process with care.

5 types of timber for construction

This type of timber has the simplest manufacturing technology. To obtain it, four sides of the edge of the log are cut off. The most common cross-section of such timber is 150x150 mm or 150x200 mm. The production of solid timber does not require complex woodworking equipment, therefore, in terms of the number of offers on the market, this timber occupies a leading position.

• availability. Since the process of manufacturing solid timber is not complicated, it can be purchased almost anywhere, with minimal waiting time from order to delivery of products;
• the low cost of this material is due to the simplicity of its manufacture and the absence of costs for drying wood;
• environmental friendliness. This timber is able to regulate the level of humidity in the house, absorbing excess moisture that accumulates in the premises during human activity.

• complexity of laying a log frame;
• increase in construction time;
• cracking of non-profiled timber;
• significant costs for finishing and thermal insulation work;
• susceptibility to fungus.

Solid profiled timber

Profiled timber can be sold dry or naturally moist. It is best to use dry profiled timber for building a house, as it is less susceptible to shrinkage and deformation. Many companies produce ready-made house kits from profiled timber, which allows construction to be carried out in a very short time.

A shed is necessary and irreplaceable on a personal plot, in a country house. A wide selection of tools and materials in the retail network allows you to build an outbuilding yourself without the help of a professional builder. And you need to start with a strong foundation. There are quite a few interesting options for making a foundation for a barn with your own hands.

When laying a foundation for a shed, it is necessary to take into account the type and properties of the soil on which it will stand. A correct soil analysis will allow you to choose the best option for the foundation itself.

Types of soils for placing light barn-type buildings:

• rocky;
• sandy;
• clayey;
• gravel;
• loams;
• sandy loam.

A shed is needed on the site

Despite the fact that a barn is considered a lightweight building, the most preferable for its construction is rocky soil in the form of a solid mass without cracks or voids. Such properties of rocky soil as the absence of subsidence, freezing in winter, and quicksand ensure the rigid stability of the foundation and the entire structure as a whole.

However, modern technologies for laying foundations make it possible to carry out construction no less successfully on sandy, clay, gravel soils, as well as on loam and sandy loam. The problem with these places is that frost heaving, quicksand, and significant compression and subsidence of the soil can occur here.

Attention! In regions with frosty winters, clay soil saturated with groundwater freezes and significantly increases in volume (swells). This leads to a rupture of the foundation!

Heaving appears both under the base of the foundation and on the sides. There are several options for protecting the foundation for a shed on heaving soils:

• excavation of heaving soil at the site of the future building and replacing it with coarse sand and crushed stone;
• laying the foundation for the shed to a depth below the freezing point;
• insulation and waterproofing of the foundation base and sides;
• solidity of the foundation.

Quicksand, soils with organic impurities and bulk soils are considered unsuitable for all types of construction.

Mortar for pouring the foundation for a shed

A solid foundation for a shed ensures longevity and reliable operation of the outbuilding. Therefore, it is necessary to select the components of the solution for pouring the foundation as carefully and scrupulously as possible:

• you can purchase ordinary Portland cement, but be sure to have a fresh production date;
• It is better to purchase crushed stone in a mixture with a finer fraction - the solution is laid more densely, when hardened it will become more monolithic, and cement consumption will be reduced;
• sand and crushed stone must be free of debris and impurities;
• It is better to use fresh, clean water.

Important! For the solution, cement is mixed with sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 1:3:5, water is poured in portions until a thick, well-mixed mass is formed.

Types of foundations for a barn

Modern technologies allow you to choose the type of foundation depending on the type of soil, resistance to various influences (groundwater, acidic soils, soil freezing), and financial capabilities. This section presents the five most commonly used options for constructing a foundation for a barn with your own hands, available to owners of middle-income land plots both in terms of the list of necessary materials and their cost.

Strip foundation for a barn

This type of foundation is the most universal in relation to the type of soil, characterized by strength and the possibility of constructing a basement. The first stage is digging a trench. They start by marking the area and installing pegs around the perimeter of the future barn, with twine stretched between them.

Strip foundation for a barn

Calculation of trench parameters: the depth of the ditch is the sum of the freezing depth of the soil layer in the given area and an additional 15 cm (for example, 70 cm + 15 cm = 85 cm), the width is taken to be about 70 cm, while the width of the finished foundation is recommended to be 40 cm. Bottom the trenches are filled with a layer of crushed stone of about 10 cm and a layer of sand of about 5 cm. This cushion must be compacted. If groundwater comes out when laying a trench, it is necessary to carry out additional work on drainage and waterproofing of the future foundation. The next stage is the installation of wooden formwork, protruding 20-30 cm above the ground level. The most common wooden formwork is made from 15x4 cm boards. The foundation is strengthened with reinforcing mesh with a cell diameter of 30 cm and a reinforcement cross-section of 1.2 cm. The mesh is installed in the formwork in the form of a frame . The process is completed by pouring concrete mortar.

Important! To give the foundation under the shed the necessary solidity and strength, you need to fill it in one day without interruptions and compact it well.

It is also important to remember that concrete hardens within several days and during the hottest part of the day it must be periodically watered to prevent cracking.

After final hardening, the formwork is removed, the gaps between the foundation and the walls of the trench are filled with soil, and if necessary, waterproofing and insulating materials are laid.

Columnar foundation for a barn

This is a simple foundation for a shed, a more economical option, and its implementation is accessible to the ordinary owner of a household with virtually no outside help or the use of equipment. There is no need to dig a trench, since the foundation rests only on a few pillars dug into the ground. The columnar foundation option must be carefully chosen for use on moving soils, but it will fit perfectly with the not very flat surface of the area chosen for the shed. The site for construction must be cleared and, if possible, leveled.

Columnar foundation for a barn

It is better to fill clay soil with gravel. The calculation of the depth of digging of support pillars is also made taking into account the depth of soil freezing in the given area plus an additional 15 cm. Concrete or brick supports are placed at the corners of the future foundation for the barn and at the points where the walls are joined. As in the first option, a two-layer cushion of crushed stone and sand is placed at the bottom of each hole with mandatory compaction; a metal rod is placed in the center to strengthen the structure.

If the soil is mobile and loose, you can lay a reinforced concrete foundation at the bottom to prevent subsidence of the shed. The rest of the space in the holes will be taken up by laying pillars. You can use brick, concrete blocks, asbestos pipes filled with concrete inside. The brickwork must be coated with waterproofing mastic, for example, bitumen. The junction of the foundation and the walls of the shed is also laid with waterproofing materials, especially if a shed is planned from boards.

By the way, for a wooden light outbuilding, the support posts can also be made of wood. To protect them from moisture, they need to be burned or impregnated with special means. Such a shed will be inexpensive and environmentally friendly. It is convenient to keep poultry or store light gardening tools.

Foundation for a shed made of foam blocks

Foam blocks are a durable, lightweight and relatively inexpensive material. It is easy to install and does not require special knowledge when building on your own. It is used not only for the foundation, but also for walls, providing less load on the ground from the erected structure. The construction of a foundation for a barn begins with laying a trench or foundation pit if necessary, equipping a basement.

The depth calculation is the same, and the width will be the thickness of the foam block and an additional 15-20 cm. The bottom of the trench (pit) is covered with a two-layer cushion of crushed stone and sand, on which formwork with a reinforcement frame is placed. Concrete is poured on top with a layer of 20 cm. After it hardens, foam blocks are installed.

Block foundation

The foundation for a shed made of blocks is distinguished by a long service life, resistance to freezing and the effects of acidic soils, affordability and range, ease of installation and reduction of time for constructing a foundation for a shed with your own hands.

The technique of laying blocks in a trench differs from installing foam blocks in that the blocks are laid directly on the concrete mortar. It is better to be on the safe side by installing a frame made of reinforcement. It is also very important to control the level of block placement from the first moment. Installation begins from the corner points of the future structure. External seams are filled with a solution with the addition of moisture-proofing agents. The outer surfaces of the foundation are wrapped in waterproofing materials, after which the trench can be buried. The foundation for the block shed is ready!

Monolithic foundation

Monolithic foundation for a barn

A monolithic foundation will require several large financial investments, but this fact is compensated by a number of advantages. Since its entire surface rests on the ground and can withstand significant loads, you can get by with a shallow pit. The foundation will also serve as a floor in the barn, on which it is convenient to lay any covering. A monolithic foundation, due to its strength and stability, will last so long that it will be possible to build the next barn on it. Such a foundation is impregnable to attack from frost heaving or moving soils.

Attention! A monolithic foundation requires high grade cement and high quality consumables.

It is better to remove the soil under the foundation and fill it with sand or crushed stone in a layer of 20 cm. The pillow is moistened and thoroughly compacted. The next stage is laying waterproofing and, if necessary, insulation. Then 10 cm of mortar with coarse gravel. Reinforcement with a cross section of 16 mm is laid out on it in the form of a grid with 20 cm cells and another 10 cm of concrete on top.

It is much easier to build a foundation for a barn than for a house, because its weight and area are much smaller, and it is often not heated. However, even here you need to know some points so that the outbuilding does not collapse and rot in a few years. What kind of foundation can you put a barn on and in what cases can you do without a foundation?

Barn without foundation

You can do without a foundation if the building is very light, made of wood or OSB, or is a metal container. For a small shed, the construction of a powerful foundation is not justified either economically or in terms of strength.

You can make a barn without a foundation with your own hands from a metal container. This option is attractive for many reasons. Such a shed can simply be placed on sleepers, wooden beams or concrete blocks, between which crushed stone is poured.

You can make a frame barn without a foundation. Before construction, the land at the site of the future utility block is cleared and covered with gravel. Then the racks, pre-treated to prevent rotting, are buried 60-80 cm into the ground and concreted. In this way, you can build a barn from boards with a pitched or gable roof. To do this, four wooden pillars 3 m long are dug into the ground. For a lean-to barn, two of the pillars are made 10-20 cm lower.

Types of foundation for a barn

The shed can be placed on the same type of foundation as the house. But due to the small weight and size of the building, you can also find more exotic options, for example, from tires or sleepers, they also have their advantages.

The type of foundation should be selected based on the type of soil, as well as the design and purpose of the building. A barn in which animals or poultry are kept requires a different foundation than a woodshed. The cost of materials also matters: there is no point in making a foundation for a shed, which is several times more expensive than the outbuilding itself.

Strip foundation

It is suitable for solid structures such as brick and foam block sheds, for example, in which livestock are kept. Wood is not suitable for the construction of such sheds: it rots, is destroyed during cleaning, and such a structure cannot be called durable. For frame and plank sheds, such a foundation is not economically justified; it will be much more expensive than the building itself and will have excessive strength, which is not necessary in these cases.

The trench is dug no deeper than half a meter. It can be either prefabricated from blocks or monolithic. The second option is suitable for more powerful designs. The advantage of this type is its versatility. A shallow strip foundation can be made on sand, clay, or rocky soil. How to make such a foundation for a shed with your own hands?

1. Dig a trench about 50 cm deep, 30 cm wide than the width of the future tape.
2. A layer of crushed stone (10 cm) and sand (5 cm) is poured onto the bottom. Each layer is compacted well.
3. A formwork made of boards 30 cm high above ground level is installed in the trench.
4. Reinforcement is placed inside - mesh or rods.
5. Concrete is poured into the formwork. After it hardens, the formwork is removed, the tape is coated with waterproofing and the gaps between the tape and the walls of the trench are filled with earth.

Monolithic belt belt

This is a cheaper option for a strip foundation, suitable for a poultry house or barn. It allows you to make a floor on the ground, suitable for non-heaving or clayey soils. In the first case, only with high groundwater will it be necessary to do waterproofing and drainage. On clay soils, concrete waterproofing, insulation of blind areas and the perimeter of the building, and wall drainage are needed.

After marking the site, the fertile layer of soil is removed, then a gravel, sand or mixed cushion is poured 0.2 m larger than the foundation on each side. Drainage pipes are placed in trenches dug around the perimeter in the form of a closed loop with a slope of 4 degrees.

If the soil is clayey, then the perimeter must be lined with polystyrene foam, and the blind area must also be insulated at a depth of 40 cm.

Next, formwork is made from boards, and reinforcement from rods 6-10 mm thick is placed in it. Then the concrete is poured and compacted with a vibrator. After removing the formwork, the concrete is coated with bitumen, mastic or waterproofed with rolled materials.

The floor is poured into the finished base along the ground, it is separated from the foundation using a damper tape.

Block foundation

Such a foundation for a shed is made by laying blocks in a trench. They are placed on a concrete mortar, the external seams are made with a mortar with moisture-proof additives. The laid foundation is waterproofed on all sides. After this, the trench is buried.

You can use cinder blocks. Their disadvantage is their porous structure, due to which they are quickly destroyed by moisture. Therefore, such a base must be carefully waterproofed.

Foam block foundation

The foundation for the shed can be made from foam blocks. They are placed in a trench or pit, but a concrete pad is first made. To do this, a cushion of crushed stone and sand is poured onto the bottom of the trench. A formwork is installed on top, into which the reinforcement is placed, and a concrete pad 20 cm thick is poured. Foam concrete blocks are laid on the hardened concrete.

The width of the trench is the width of the block plus 15-20 cm, the depth is equal to the depth of soil freezing plus 15 cm.

Columnar

A simple foundation for a barn is made from concrete, brick or wooden posts. It does not require equalization of small differences in height; it requires less material than tape. It should not be installed on moving soils - over time, the posts may tilt or move apart, which will lead to the collapse of the entire structure.

For a columnar foundation, it is necessary to dig holes in which the columns will be placed. The holes need to be dug 15 cm deeper than the freezing level of the soil. A cushion of crushed stone and sand is poured onto the bottom and compacted well. A metal rod is placed in the middle. The foundation columns for the barn are laid out from concrete blocks, bricks, you can use asbestos-cement pipes, into which concrete is poured. On loose soils, a reinforced concrete foundation is poured into the bottom of the holes so that the building does not sag over time. For brick columns, a thickness of one and a half bricks is sufficient. The internal cavity is filled with concrete. Brick pillars must be waterproofed - coated with bitumen or mastic. The joints between the foundation and the barn itself must also be waterproofed, especially if the outbuilding is wooden.

If pipes are used as formwork for the posts, they should be reinforced from the inside with reinforcement. You need to add small crushed stone or pebbles to the concrete. After the concrete has hardened, the columns are coated with waterproofing materials.

If concrete blocks are used, their laying directly depends on the size. A large block can act as a whole pillar.

If the soil is rocky or is coarse, gravelly sand, then the posts do not need to be deepened too much - deepening them by 2 rows of bricks or 1 row of blocks will be enough. Then the first beam of the structure will play the role of a grillage.

From wall blocks 20*40*40 you can make a type of columnar base on non-heaving soil. On clay soil, you will have to insulate the entire perimeter of the building and make wall drainage or bury the pillars below the freezing level. In this case, the cost of the foundation will increase significantly, so it is better to do it on rocky or gravelly soil.

1. The fertile layer (about 40 cm) is removed under each column.
2. A pillow is poured, sandy (for dry soils) or crushed stone (for wet soils), its thickness should be 20-40 cm. After pouring every 10 cm, the pillow is compacted.
3. Drainage is made from perforated pipes along the perimeter of the base.
4. Next, lay out the columns of blocks.

A foundation made of screw piles has proven itself well on heaving, loose and other difficult soils. It is quite easy to do it yourself, you just need to buy piles and screw them into the ground using a crowbar or a pipe inserted into a special hole at the top of the pile. Two people are enough to drive the pile; no equipment is required. It is advisable that the third participant monitor the verticality of the support.

Another option is bored piles. Such a foundation can be built by drilling the required number of wells in the ground and inserting asbestos-cement or polyethylene pipes into them. Also, formwork for pipes can be made from roofing felt rolled into a tube, and the seam is glued with bitumen mastic. The pipes are filled one-third with concrete solution, the reinforcement is lowered and filled to the end. The reinforcement for bored piles is knitted from 4 corrugated rods connected by round or rectangular clamps, as in the figure. This foundation is good on clay or sandy loam soil.

Tire foundation

A foundation based on used tires (preferably large ones from trucks) can be quite reliable. Tire columns are filled with soil or poured with concrete.

On heaving soil, tires are placed in holes dug below the freezing level at corners and along walls in increments of 1.5-2 m, filled with crushed stone, which is compacted, then covered with sand.

The disadvantage of a tire base is the large size of the wheels, which makes it difficult to make a fence to protect it from moisture and rodents, so an imitation base is usually made for a barn. The advantage of tires is their elasticity, which decreases after the concrete hardens, so the first method (with crushed stone) is more preferable. The video shows the process of building a frame shed on a base made of tires.

Sleeper foundation

Concrete or wooden railway sleepers act as a grillage during the construction of the foundation. The disadvantage of this type of base is that sleepers are not always available, so it can be recommended to those who already have this material. You can also build a strip foundation from reinforced concrete sleepers by placing them in a trench prepared, as for a conventional strip foundation. The sleepers are laid in several layers with bandaging (the joint of each next row should be above the whole sleeper in the previous one).

Conclusion

The light weight of outbuildings makes it possible to make different types of foundations for them, including using unusual materials. However, to obtain a high-quality foundation, it is necessary to follow the same construction technology as when building a foundation for a house.

• Foundation "Swedish plate"
• Types of foundation piles
• How to calculate the amount of concrete for a foundation
• Construction of a foundation made of driven piles

The construction of the foundation is one of the most critical construction stages. The supporting platform largely determines the durability of both large-scale capital projects and small outbuildings. A barn cannot be classified as a demanding object in terms of foundation characteristics, however, there are many important nuances in the technique of its construction. Moreover, this operation in most cases is carried out with a modest set of materials and technical means, which in itself forces performers to look for ways to optimize work activities. To build a high-quality foundation for a shed, it would be a good idea to use proven technologies for solving such problems at minimal cost.

Preparation for work activities

Before starting construction of the foundation, it is necessary to carefully calculate the work plan. It is important to determine the location of the facility, the area and orientation of the technological points. An approximate layout of the barn will allow for the correct positioning of the supporting platform, regardless of what technology it will be used. To ensure that the foundation for the shed lasts longer and is not damaged during the first stages of operation due to defects in the ground surface, it is important to clear the soil. The layer of vegetation must be eliminated and, if possible, the rough coating must be made not only even, but also hard. This may also require removing loose soil or using a tamping tool. The method of achieving the desired characteristics of the base surface will depend on the quality of the soil itself.

Preparation of the solution

Almost all shed foundation methods require the use of concrete. To prepare the solution you will need a basic set of water, sand and cement, but with the addition of gravel. The fraction of its elements can be any, but it is advisable to correlate it with the volume of the planned mass - the larger the pouring area, the larger the fraction. For example, gravel for a columnar foundation will have a minimum size, but for a strip foundation it is advisable to select a large fraction. It is also important to maintain the proportions for the mortar from which the foundation for the barn will be made. With your own hands, in a small container, mix sand and gravel in a ratio of 3:5, then add 1 part of Portland cement. Water is added with the expectation of obtaining a thick but tenacious mass.

Construction of a monolithic foundation

This is a simple technique, but quite a voluminous method of making a foundation. Its use is justified when it comes to the construction of a brick outbuilding. The essence of the technology is the construction of a durable sand cushion with the inclusion of the same gravel. At approximately 10-15 cm, a base should be laid on which the cement screed will subsequently be organized. But before this, a continuous formwork is formed around the perimeter of the working area, on which it is planned to install the foundation for the barn. We make restrictive barriers with our own hands, within which the cement mortar will be poured. They can be made from plastic or wooden slats with panels - the main thing is that they can hold the poured mass. After this, you can proceed to the installation of reinforcing bars and the direct installation of the screed. It should be borne in mind that such a foundation may take about 2-3 weeks to fully gain strength, depending on the working area.

How to make a foundation for a columnar barn?

A columnar foundation requires less materials in volume, but its implementation requires more careful calculations. Usually a load-bearing base is formed, fixed on racks fixed in the ground. If we are talking about a small shed, then four pillars with a diameter of about 15 cm will be enough. For each of them, a hole is initially dug into which a cushion of gravel and sand is poured. Next, the pillar rod is installed and filled with cement. If necessary, you can use special equipment to drive piles. After this, the columnar foundation for the barn is covered with logs. The basis for the flooring will be formed by fastening structures, including grillage strapping, channel and profile elements.

Technique for installing strip foundations

This type of foundation is one of the most common in the construction of residential private houses, but for outbuildings it is considered too troublesome and unreasonably expensive. To implement this technique, it is necessary to make excavation lines around the perimeter of the work site. You will get trenches that are filled with sand and crushed stone. For greater reliability, a reinforcing base is also placed in earthen niches. If you are planning a strip foundation for a large barn, then trenches should be made in the central part. Next, the prepared niches with fittings are filled with the same solution. After the concrete has hardened, you can begin work on laying out the flooring, which can also serve as the floor covering for the future barn.

How to make a foundation for a shed from foam blocks?

There are two common methods for constructing a platform for a foam block shed. In the first case, it is assumed that contour support lines will be created like a strip foundation. That is, a trench is made around the perimeter, which is filled with a combination of sand and gravel, after which blocks are laid on the cement mortar. Next, a connecting structure is formed for the flooring made of metal or durable joists. The second method is used when working with objects that are demanding in terms of resistance to high loads. In this scheme, the contractor lays the foundation in blocks all over the entire site. The foam block itself is characterized by low thermal conductivity, insulating qualities, ease of processing and low price. Therefore, from the point of view of obtaining high performance qualities of a barn as a storage facility for demanding materials, this foundation option may be the best.

How to choose the best foundation option?

Before analyzing possible options for a suitable foundation, you should decide on the tasks that the shed will perform and the conditions of its operation. For a small building in a warm region, a pile foundation with several load-bearing rods will be sufficient. It is advisable to construct large-area objects on a monolithic basis - for example, from a solid concrete screed or in the form of a block platform. These techniques will allow you to build a durable and well-protected foundation for the shed in the lower part. A monolith can be made with your own hands using a standard set of tools, but requires more physical effort. For example, laying a block may require the help of at least one partner.

Is it possible to build a shed without a foundation?

Of course, you won’t be able to do without a load-bearing base completely, but optimizing this structural part of the barn in some cases justifies itself. So, if there are no strict requirements for thermal insulation, then it is quite possible to confine ourselves to installing the frame on four concrete blocks distributed in the corners of the future building. You can make a barn without a foundation and on cleared soil. Such projects are typically constructed using prefabricated structures that provide a rigid wood or metal platform to replace the foundation. But it is important not to forget that the classic foundation also guarantees a horizontal surface. Therefore, it is important to initially adjust the rough coating so that it does not have serious deviations in heights over the entire area.

Conclusion

It would be incorrect to consider the foundation as a part separate from the main frame of the barn. Even high-quality implementation of the base without taking into account the nuances of further construction can cause many problems during operation. The main thing you should pay attention to when matching the foundation for a shed and its structural base is the technique of forming an airtight bond. The transition is usually made from concrete or wooden joists to a metal profile. Next, the main cladding is made along the frame of the barn, which can have several layers. The joining areas can be additionally treated with sealants, mineral wool and polyurethane foam.

Building a good-quality shed is not as simple a task as it might seem at first glance. If you want the structure to serve you for decades, approach the issue with all seriousness! We will look at which foundation for a do-it-yourself shed is best suited for such structures.

1 Foundation for a shed - savings and practicality

Light wooden structures that will be designed to store light gardening tools, or will be reserved for poultry, for example, a barn for geese or small livestock, do not need a monolithic foundation. For such structures, a columnar foundation made from different materials is quite suitable. The most important advantage of such a foundation is its low cost compared to the monolithic version, and even a beginner in construction can build it! At the same time, such a foundation retains high performance characteristics.

Pillar foundations can be installed on any landscape, even on moving soils. Carrying out hydro- and thermal insulation work when arranging such a foundation is not a necessary measure; installation is carried out even without outside help. As a load-bearing base, pillars are most often made of concrete, brick, natural stone, foam blocks, and sometimes wooden pillars are also used. True, in the latter case, the columns must be burned and treated with special solutions that will reduce the degree of decay, otherwise the structure on such a foundation will not stand for long.

2 How to make a foundation from pillars - step by step process

The process of constructing a foundation on pillars should be carried out in several simple steps. The first stage is preparing the area, which includes clearing the area of ​​debris, leveling uneven areas and adding gravel beds if the soil on the site is clayey. Then you need to make markings, noting where each column will be located. Depending on how soft and mobile the soil is in your area, it is recommended to dig the posts from half a meter to a meter deep.

On hard soils, the depressions do not need to be strengthened, but on soft soils, a layer of reinforced concrete should be made at the bottom of each hole to protect the structure from possible subsidence. After this, we proceed to the second step - making the formwork. For this purpose, boards 15 cm wide and 4 cm thick are best suited. If you do not want to spend a long time fiddling with the formwork, make it from asbestos-cement or iron pipes, but these options cannot be removed after pouring. After installing the formwork, provide reinforcement from iron rods installed longitudinally.

When fiddling with the reinforcement is completed, fill the future columns with concrete mortar with fine crushed stone. Try to compact the solution as tightly as possible.

Then we proceed to the construction of the grillage - that part of the foundation on pillars that distributes the load evenly between all parts. Again, using wire and reinforcement we connect the lintels, make a frame from the same reinforcement and install the formwork. Fill everything with concrete and wait until it hardens completely. If everything is done carefully and evenly, then on the resulting foundation you can build a structure for a barn.

3 DIY foundation for a shed made of foam blocks - features

Building a strong and insulated utility block right away is much easier and cheaper than strengthening and insulating the structure during operation. In this regard, a garden shed made of foam blocks is the most successful option, since foam blocks themselves are an excellent insulation material, and at the same time hard enough to act as a masonry material. Although foam blocks are a lightweight material, a shed made of foam blocks also needs a solid foundation, and you can do it yourself, without the involvement of specialists. It is best to make a strip foundation, under which trenches no more than half a meter deep are dug - there is no point in making the foundation deeper, the structure will be quite light in weight.

After the trenches have been dug, sand and fine gravel are poured onto their bottom in a layer no thicker than 20 cm. The reinforcement frame can be made from fairly thin rods with a cross-section of 10 mm. After installing the frame, formwork is made from boards and concrete is poured. It is extremely important to fill the entire foundation in one go, therefore, if you are doing the work without special equipment, then you will need at least 3 assistants to quickly mix the solution and deliver it to the trenches. It will take several days for the concrete to completely harden - remember to water it with plenty of water in hot weather to prevent it from cracking.