The foundation for the barn is made of bricks. How to build a shed: detailed step-by-step instructions with photos. Covering the frame with boards

The construction of a utility block, auxiliary premises or, more simply, a shed on a summer cottage begins after most of the finishing work has been completed; tools and materials need to be removed and stored in a more suitable room. Building a utility block on your own does not present any particular problem, with the exception of the foundation, in which case you will have to tinker with your conscience. How conscientiously the foundation for a shed is made with your own hands determines its durability, strength and the cost of repairs and alterations.

Which foundation scheme for a shed to choose?

Of course, the design and type of foundation for a shed depends, first of all, on the design of the shed itself, more precisely, on the degree of its “capitalization”; the heavier the construction, the larger and deeper you will have to dig a foundation pit for the shed with your own hands. Typically four construction schemes are used:

• The classic columnar version of the foundation is used for lightweight structures made of boards, plywood, siding with a simple pitched roof. This is the simplest foundation for a barn in the country;
• A pile foundation can be called a universal design; it can be used for light sheds made of timber or a frame house;
• The strip version of the foundation base is used either for a box of blocks and bricks, or when arranging a basement.

Often a shed is erected without any support or anchorage to the ground. For example, if the site has heavy rocky soil with a high content of crushed limestone or limestone, marl-dolomite “tongues” come to the surface. In this case, it is easier and faster to build a foundation with your own hands on one sand bed.

Advice! It is enough to ensure proper drainage of rain flows and compact the sand backfill. On this basis, a shed without a foundation will last longer than on a shallow concrete strip laid on quicksand or loamy soil.

Building a shed without laying a foundation is faster and without major costs. But the results of such construction are difficult to predict, especially if the barn needs to be built on virgin soil, where there are no neighbors and there is no way to clarify the composition of the soil.

Is it possible to build a shed without a foundation?

The best option without a foundation is suitable for a lightweight panel shed made of OSB, plywood or lining. The lightweight structure weighs only a few hundred kilograms, but in any case, the installation of even such a lightweight structure will require the use of a “plastic” shed structure, which, along with its low weight, has good adaptability to the deformation of the top layer of soil. Even though there will be no settlement, the shed box may tilt or simply rot due to the accumulation of moisture under the floor.

Therefore, to build a shed without a foundation, several conditions must be met:

• Low groundwater and surface water levels at this particular point in the summer cottage. To do this, you will need to make good drainage or perform a fairly thick sand and crushed stone fill;
• Good protection of the barn from gusts of wind. The foundation plays the role of an anchor, so most often the building is oriented according to the wind rose and hidden behind the building of a country house;
• Ensuring normal ventilation of the underground space to remove accumulated moisture and condensation.

In addition, to build a shed, you will need to remove the top layer of fertile soil, compact the soil, treat the base with a herbicide or cover it with a geo-textile, lay down a film and cover it with a layer of sand.

Even without a foundation, the sandy base under the shed must be carefully compacted and leveled. The frame of a base made of timber, even treated with protective stains, cannot be laid on sand, so the best option would be to install the beams on a curb stone, paving slabs, or, in extreme cases, a laid out row of rubble or brick.

Even a light frame building without a foundation should not be left simply standing on a bed of gravel or on curb supports. This installation method is used only for open wooden gazebos. The barn has three times the sail capacity. For example, for a structure 2.5 m high and 2 m wide, the transverse area of ​​the silhouette will be almost 5 m 2. With wind gusts up to 15 m/s, the wind flow pressure can reach 100 kg/m2. Even in the most favorable conditions, a shed without a foundation will be subject to an overturning force of up to half a ton. Even if a building without a foundation does not topple, over time the barn will simply be thrown off the curb supports.

Therefore, the shed box must be sewn to the ground using steel rods, pipes or scraps of reinforcement driven into the ground.

Options for making a foundation for a barn with your own hands

Traditionally, a barn is built either in the form of a lightweight panel or plank structure, or from lightweight materials - gas silicate blocks and foam blocks. This option is cheaper, simpler and easier to build. Much less often, a barn is built from timber or brick; such a design is much more expensive. They usually resort to it if a single capital outbuilding is being built, which includes, in addition to the barn, a garage and premises for livestock. In this case, the foundation for the block shed is built exclusively on shallow concrete foundation strips.

The simplest columnar type of foundation

The construction of the foundation begins with leveling the site and removing the fertile layer of soil; as in the previous case, it is necessary to plan a piece of land and hammer in pegs with a cord, marking the outer perimeter of the walls. It is not difficult to determine the dimensions of the boundaries of the future foundation; it is much more difficult to achieve maximum perpendicularity of the adjacent sides of the future building.

Oddly enough, the stage of marking the future columnar foundation has always been and remains the most labor-intensive and patience-requiring operation. To ensure that the shed has clear right angles, special devices in the form of two frames are used when marking.

Using the markings we mark the installation points of the columnar supports. For the foundation of a 2x4 m shed you will need 12 supports. In order for each foundation pillar to have maximum stability, it must be buried 15-20 cm into the ground. We pour a cushion into the dug holes - a layer of gravel, and then sand and compact it thoroughly.

The easiest way to support the foundation is to use ready-made cinder blocks or cast the supports into reusable formwork assembled from plastic lining. The second option is more labor-intensive, since you have to do a fairly large amount of work:

• Assemble the formwork, install it in the hole and level it vertically;
• Fill the formwork with concrete; after preliminary setting, the casting is freed from plastic;
• While the concrete is still damp, the top edge is carefully trimmed horizontally with a knife so that all the supporting planes of the foundation columns are at the same level.

Important! Height adjustment has always been the most difficult operation. Therefore, sometimes, instead of cutting into the thickness of the concrete, an anchor bolt was driven “onto the raw” to fasten the timber frame; the height of the foundation column was adjusted using metal pads or cut wooden planks.

If the foundation needs to be made as quickly as possible, then instead of casting, you can use ready-made cinder blocks. First, each block is tamped or pressed with gentle blows on a sand cushion so that the supporting surface of all pillars is in the same plane. After this, the cinder blocks are fixed by pouring concrete mortar into the pit.

All that remains is to install the pine timber frame. The corners of the beams are connected halfway across the tree and hammered in with nails; it is better not to use screws. Nails allow the joint to play under load, while screws split the wood. After assembling the perimeter of the base in the same way - into half a tree, we saw and cut in the cross beams.

All that remains is to treat the wood with a pickling solution and sew up the trim with a 20 mm edged board.

Arrangement of the foundation for a permanent shed

The warmest and most comfortable for a summer cottage is a barn built from foam blocks. The cost of construction is relatively low; most of the work, for example, the box and foundation for a shed made of blocks, can be done with your own hands.

Unfortunately, lightweight materials such as gas silicate block or foam concrete do not have sufficient rigidity so that walls can be installed on a light foundation. In most cases, the box has to be reinforced with reinforcing belts made of reinforcement, and a shallow concrete strip has to be cast as a foundation for a shed made of foam blocks.

At the first stage, you will need to make a pit for a shallow LF. By marking the contour of the future shed, we dig a trench 20 cm wide and 50 cm deep. There are two ways to build a cast concrete foundation for a shed from blocks:

• Casting into the ground;
• Traditional pouring of concrete into disposable formwork.

In the first case, when constructing a foundation, there is a large excess consumption of concrete; casting into the ground can be used if it is possible to use rubble stone to enhance the strength of concrete. The addition of only 30% of the trench volume with fragments of heavy igneous rocks makes it possible to abandon reinforcement or any other reinforcement of the foundation. In the second case, the construction of a foundation base will require additional costs for the assembly and installation of formwork panels, their dismantling, coating waterproofing and backfilling.

In practice, for a one-story barn, the foundation base is most often poured without formwork; a cushion of gravel and a mixture of screenings and sand is simply laid at the bottom of the trench. The trench will need to be made wider, approximately 25-30 cm. To prevent the foundation under the shed from cracking, it is necessary to carefully level and trim the walls, remove roots and stones. Otherwise, the waterproofing film will not lie flat, and the pressure of the concrete will simply tear it apart. If the soil is dense enough, then the pouring depth can be limited to 30 cm; for sandy loam and loose loam, you will need to increase the height of the tape to 40 cm.

Before pouring concrete, the edges of the trench are expanded using scraps of boards supported at one edge by the soil removed during digging. Thus, it is possible to easily make a foundation plinth for a shed with a height of 15-20 cm. The upper part of the base of the building, protruding above the ground, can be lined with large rubble stones and filled with concrete mortar. After a day or two, the earth and boards need to be removed, and the film should be cleared of soil and glued to the foundation walls.

Ideally, it is necessary to pour the foundation in one go, but doing it alone is quite difficult, since you will need to lay at least one and a half meters of cubic concrete under the shed with a 2x4 m base. For an ordinary 50-liter concrete mixer, this is 30 batches, and they need to be done within one day. If the concrete foundation for a shed is filled with rubble stone, then you can get by with half the volume of mortar. Alternatively, you can rent a 100-liter concrete mixer for a day and make 7-10 batches; buying one and a half cubic meters of concrete for the foundation of a barn is unrealistic, since automixers practically do not work with such portions.

Special cases of foundation construction

A place on a site for the construction of a shed, as a rule, is chosen according to the residual principle, where it is convenient to build a utility block, without taking into account the quality of the soil and the possibility of building a normal, solid foundation. If the barn has to be built on a slope, and even on rich siliceous clay, then the only possible option would be to pour a mixed foundation structure. It is in many ways similar to the strip version, but bored piles are cast in the corners and middles of the long sides of the base of the building.

In this case, before filling the bottom of the trench with a gravel cushion, you will need to drill holes in the corners of the future foundation of the barn with a garden drill. The depth and diameter of the well are 120 cm and 15 cm, respectively. A sheet of roofing material rolled into a roll is placed inside the wells, and a T-shaped frame made of reinforcement or a corner is inserted. The top shelf should be located at a height of 15-20 cm from the bottom of the trench. After this, you can fill the foundation with concrete and level the base of the shed for laying the foam block.

Conclusion

If the walls of the room are supposed to be built of brick or heavy cinder block, then the foundation will need to be reinforced with reinforcement. At a minimum, lay two strands of 8mm steel rod for every 15cm of foundation height. For foam block and gas silicate, the base part of the foundation tape must be reinforced with an additional reinforced belt. Considering the relatively low rigidity of foam blocks, wood concrete and gas silicate, an additional row of reinforcement will help to avoid problems with settlement of the walls of the building.

One of the first buildings on a suburban area is a barn. A necessary and functional structure even before the construction of the house, because you always need to store tools, firewood and other auxiliary utensils somewhere.

It is possible to independently approach the construction of a utility block. The main requirement for the reliability of future construction is a high-quality foundation base.

Features of building a foundation for a barn

For light change houses for equipment, the absence of a base is allowed. If the building is more massive, then the base must be completed.

The foundation gives the building:

• Strength.
• Durability.
• Thermal conductivity.
• Frost resistance.

First of all, you need to correctly determine the location of the future shed. Place it so as not to damage the landscape design of the site, for comfortable use or on soil unsuitable for planting.

Then you can start choosing the type of base.

Reinforcement mesh for foundation

Dependence of the type of foundation on the type of building

The choice of foundation type depends on the design features of the future barn, as well as on the purpose of the utility unit. Will it be a room for keeping livestock or a room for tools along with a workshop. All these functions performed will entail the choice of the type of base. Thus, lightweight buildings do not require powerful foundations, while capital structures will require a reliable, rigid foundation.

If the choice fell on a classic outbuilding made of timber with a gable or pitched roof, any foundation will do. Most often, columnar or screw ones are chosen due to their low cost and relative ease of installation.

A solid structure made of brick or foam blocks will require the installation of a more preferable monolithic tile or block base.

Shed foundation depth

The depth of the base is selected according to the type of foundation, as well as taking into account the local level of soil freezing. Important: trenches are dug 15 cm more than the soil freezing depth.

Since a barn is most often a small-sized building, a shallow foundation will do just fine. Equally well suited for buildings made of wood or timber on clay or sandy soils. In this case, the hole is dug to a depth of about 60 cm.

For a more massive structure, for example, made of brick, as well as under unfavorable soil conditions, it is worth placing the foundation to a depth of up to 100 cm.

Which foundation to choose for a lightweight building?

When choosing any type of plinth, it is worth taking into account the main characteristics of the soil at the construction site.

The following soil properties are taken into account:

• availability of groundwater;
• soil compressibility;
• presence of quicksand;
• type of soil.

Based on the type of soil that predominates on the plot, the following types of plinth are selected:

1. On sandy soil, which can “float” under high humidity conditions, it is more advisable to build a screw or columnar foundation. The freezing characteristic of such soil is usually 40–70 cm, this should be taken into account when deepening the base.
2. The worst option for construction is sandy loam and loam. Such soil has a high degree of freezing (up to 2 meters), the ability to swell and contract, and often forms quicksand. For such soil it is worth choosing a screw base.
3. Gravel soil is much less susceptible to freezing, is not subject to deformation and destruction, and is not subject to erosion. Here it is allowed to use both ribbon, columnar, and block views.
4. The most favorable option for a construction site is rocky soil. It will not sag, will not freeze, and will not float. The only disadvantage of this soil is the labor intensity of processing, so any foundation can be installed except a screw one.

Required materials and tools

To save working time, as well as high-quality construction of the foundation, you should prepare in advance a set of materials and tools from the following list:

• water;
• cement with sand or a specialized building mixture;
• concrete mixer - in a pinch, you can get by with improvised means, but it will significantly save labor and time for mixing the solution;
• bricks;
• metal fittings;
• asbestos pipes;
• waterproofing - polyethylene film or roofing felt;
• metal piles;
• Bulgarian;
• boards or plywood for formwork;
• foam blocks;
• Master OK;
• cord or twine;
• building level;
• pegs;
• rule;
• buckets and shovels (scoop and bayonet);
• roulette;
• tamper

The list may vary depending on the type of base and the preparatory work process.

Construction technology

Construction technology– a set of measures aimed at creating a structure that meets the requirements of the selected type of structure. Construction as a whole consists of several sequential operations.

First of all, this is preparation of the site. The selected area is cleared of grass, small bushes, stumps, and a 10 cm layer of soil and carefully leveled. It is important to place the foundation on a flat surface to avoid further distortion of the structure.

Slab foundation

Detailed step-by-step instructions from marking to finished foundation

The first stage of construction is the same for all types of load-bearing structures - marking and routing. To do this, use a tape measure and wooden pegs to mark the corners of the future utility unit. The stakes are driven into the ground, a rope or cord is pulled between them and leveled to adjust the horizontal. Right angles must be checked.

Column Foundation

Future pillars are marked in each corner of the barn when building a simple structure. If the project is more complex, then it is necessary to install pillars every 1 - 1.5 meters of the perimeter of the structure. Using a garden drill, holes approximately 40x40 cm wide are dug in the designated places. Afterwards, a cushion of sand and crushed stone 20 cm thick is poured onto the bottom of each hole.

• Brick– the pillars are laid out with a standard one and a half brick masonry to the required height.
• concrete blocks– this can be one large block or small blocks held together with cement mortar.
• Asbestos pipes– the required size is installed in holes and later filled with concrete.
• – in this case, concrete is also poured into the prepared cavity. After drying, the formwork is removed.

For strength, reinforcement rods are fixed inside the pillars whenever possible. Upon completion of the work, a layer of waterproofing is laid on top to prevent destruction by moisture.

Screw foundation

This design will not require additional soil preparation, because can be installed even on the most difficult types of soil. Here special metal piles with a sharp tip and cutting blades are used. Installation locations are outlined similarly to the columnar view.

The piles are screwed vertically into the ground by two to three people . To make work easier, there is a hole for crowbar at the top of each pipe. Be sure to check the entire structure vertically. Excess parts in height are cut off with a grinder. To give greater strength, it is recommended to fill the pile cavity with concrete.

Monolithic foundation

The most expensive and labor-intensive, but the most durable and durable type of base. To build it, you need to dig a pit the size of the proposed barn. A layer of sand and a layer of crushed stone, 10–20 cm each, are placed on the bottom. Everything is carefully compacted. Next, you need to build formwork 10–15 cm high above ground level. Connecting reinforcement or mesh is laid, and the space is completely filled with concrete.

Strip foundation

This type is intended for the basis of wall structures. According to the markings, a trench up to 50 cm wide is dug along the perimeter. It is important to maintain right angles. The bottom is covered with sand and compacted. Next, a formwork is constructed, rising 20 cm above the ground. A reinforcement frame is made using reinforcement and wire. Then the entire tape is filled with concrete mortar.

Block foundation

Installation of blocks in this design occurs on a monolithic base. If we are talking about a budget version of the base, then it is allowed to use concrete blocks on a specially prepared pad. In this case, a hole is dug to the size of the utility block, a layer of sand is poured, spilled with water and compacted.

Then a layer of crushed stone is also carefully compacted. Concrete blocks of the required size are installed on the constructed site along the perimeter and leveled horizontally.

Construction of a strip foundation

Before pouring the supporting structure, it is necessary to prepare a good, tenacious mortar from a mixture of cement, water, sand and gravel. The following rules will help you do this correctly:

1. When purchasing dry cement or building mixture, you should definitely pay attention to the production date. Regular Portland cement will work here.
2. To save cement, you should choose gravel of different diameters with large and small stones. In this case, the fine gravel will serve as a connecting link for the coarse gravel and less cement will be needed.
3. Crushed stone should not contain debris or various impurities.
4. Clean water should also be used, preferably drinking water.
5. The sand must be free of clay and silt.
6. The classic recipe for mortar: 3 parts sand, 5 parts crushed stone, 1 part cement - pour everything with water, mix until a thick, homogeneous mass is obtained.

Barn without foundation

Some lightweight buildings will not require a base at all. This includes chest-type sheds or a combined greenhouse. They mainly store equipment, tools, garden supplies, germinate plants, root cuttings and other household needs.

Due to their small area and limited dimensions, such structures have low pressure on the ground, and accordingly they can do without a foundation.

Another modern innovation is the prefabricated plastic shed. Every summer resident can build such a structure. Assembly is carried out like a children's construction set, without the use of special skills and complex fastenings.

This building is a metal frame, the walls, roof and floor of which are made of durable frost-resistant plastic. Thanks to the built-in floor, the structure of the barn is protected from groundwater. It will always be comfortable to work in it, especially if there is well-designed ventilation. This design will withstand even harsh winters and heavy snow.

The undoubted advantages of this type of utility unit are:

• assembly time - if you have no experience, everything will take about three hours;
• such a structure can be moved from place to place;
• does not require routine maintenance - with careful operation it will last up to thirty years;
• Easy to clean with running water from a hose.

A reliable foundation for a shed is half the way to a functional structure that can last for decades. Doing it yourself will not be difficult. It is only important to conduct a soil study to correctly determine the type of foundation, as well as to decide in advance on the design, design and purpose of the future building.

A convenient, practical and comfortable shed made of blocks or timber is an indispensable object on a summer cottage. Here you can place gardening and construction tools, install small equipment, house pets and birds, create a cozy workshop, set up a woodshed, store building materials and feed. For outbuildings, one of the important characteristics is stability and durability, so special attention should be paid to the foundation. Properly made, this structural element will ensure the reliability of the building and extend its service life.

Construction of a shed with a solid foundation is an indispensable object on a summer cottage Source penzainform.ru

Soil types

The foundation for the shed is chosen based on the characteristics of the soil, material capabilities and personal preferences. If there is still a choice on the second and third points, then some types of foundations are categorically not suitable for certain soils. Therefore, first of all, you need to look at what kind of soil the building will be built on. Basically, soils are divided into peat, rocky, sandy, coarse and clayey.

The depth of the foundation for the shed depends on the characteristics of the soil and the depth of soil freezing. The specific features of the area, its characteristics and relief, as well as the properties of the land can be obtained after conducting a geological study of the area.

Types of sheds

Depending on the period of use of the barn, construction of permanent or temporary facilities is practiced in summer cottages.

A permanent shed is designed for intensive use over many years and requires the construction of a solid, reliable foundation. For the construction of a permanent shed, it is best to choose materials whose installation is very simple. Most often, foam blocks, timber or boards, brick, stone, metal or plastic are used for these purposes.

Temporary buildings are most often installed for a short period of use and assembled from any available materials.

A temporary shed can be made for you from scrap materials left over from construction Source buscarfoto.com

Preparation of concrete solution

When constructing foundations for barns and other light buildings, a concrete solution is used, one of the components of which is high-quality Portland cement M400. Concrete mortar has a wide range of applications and has excellent characteristics:

Fine tolerates temperature changes;

Great resists aggressive environments and moisture;

has high performance frost resistance;

provides high strength the buildings.

To prepare a concrete solution you will need:

crushed stone different factions;

water without impurities;

clean sand without additives.

If you plan to build a small shed, then it will be more profitable to use a concrete mixer Source fradeunix.com

When preparing the solution, adhere to certain proportions of sand, crushed stone and cement. Their ratio is 3:5:1. The required amount of water is gradually added to the dry mixture of these components, achieving a homogeneous mass of creamy consistency, without lumps and air bubbles.

On our website you can get acquainted with the most from construction companies presented at the exhibition of houses “Low-Rise Country”.

Barn without foundation

In summer cottages and country houses, it is often practiced to build a shed without forming a foundation. This option is suitable when installing a temporary structure or a metal container. In this case, the container is installed on pre-prepared sleepers or timber, sprinkled with a layer of crushed stone around the entire perimeter.

A household container can be used as a temporary shed Source kazkont.net

Often frame structures are installed without a foundation. However, in regions with cold winters and deep freezing of the soil, after just a few years of use it is easy to end up with an ugly, skewed object on your summer cottage.

Which foundation for a shed is better?

To select the optimal foundation option for the construction of light barns and other similar buildings, you will need to solve two fundamental questions:

soil composition and characteristics;

features of construction and its weight.

They practice the construction of one of the following foundations:

Indispensable when building sheds from heavy materials strip foundation.

Perfect for frame structures columnar base.

On difficult soils it is worth giving preference piles.

Ideal for marshy and loose soils slab foundation.

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer small form design services. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".

Online foundation calculator

To find out the approximate cost of various types of foundations, use the following calculator:

Monolithic foundation for a barn

A monolithic strip foundation for a utility block is most often used for the construction of sheds intended for keeping animals. It is an excellent option for erecting buildings on clay soils and loams.

A monolithic foundation is being installed for permanent buildings that are planned to be used for many years Source metasold.com

The technology itself for constructing a monolithic or strip foundation is quite simple, but the work is hard and dirty. Stages of work here are the following:

Execute marking territories.

Throughout the designated area dig a hole, going 50 cm deep.

Design sand cushion about 20 cm high, with each layer of sand moistened with water and compacted. The sand cushion acts as a reliable base for the slabs.

Lay with a slight slope drainage pipes.

Collect formwork, reinforce it with reinforcing mesh or metal rods, fastened at the intersection points with wire

Foundation pouring. Fresh concrete is compacted with special vibrators - submersible and surface.

Time drying out monolithic foundation is 1-1.5 months. During this period, it is covered with film and periodically moistened with water. This procedure will prevent the formation of cracks on its surface.

The formwork is removed and installed waterproofing layer from roll materials.

Video description

Detailed technology for constructing a concrete foundation can be seen in the following video:

Shallow strip foundation

An excellent solution for building a shed from heavy materials: brick, stone or foam blocks on sandy, rocky, clay soils is a strip foundation.

Wooden shed on a strip foundation Source leaderhomes.ru

To build a strip foundation under a barn, you need to dig a trench to a depth of 50 cm. The width is calculated based on the thickness of the future walls and leaving about 30 cm of reserve. A sand cushion about 15 cm high is formed at the bottom of the trench. The sand is thoroughly moistened with water and compacted. Next, install removable or permanent formwork from any available material to a height of about 30 cm above ground level. Reinforcing mesh or rods are placed inside.

Depending on the size of the foundation, it is best to use a concrete mixer to prepare concrete or immediately order the required quantity at the factory - the concrete will “arrive” in the mixer and can be immediately poured into the formwork. In any case, it is best to fill the entire volume at one time. This will ensure the integrity of the foundation and avoid the appearance of cracks during operation.

Concrete is poured, leveled around the entire perimeter and compacted a little, trying to get rid of accumulated air. The finished concrete is covered around the entire perimeter with a film and left in this form until the solution dries completely. Periodically, the concrete surface is moistened with water. This promotes uniform drying and will save the surface from numerous cracks.

Sectional strip foundation Source ar.aviarydecor.com

After the concrete has dried, the removable formwork is removed, a layer of waterproofing is installed and the construction of walls begins.

Pile-grillage foundations for sheds

A pile foundation for a utility block is a real find on difficult soils. Its construction is especially relevant for deeply frozen soils, the construction of a strip foundation on which is not economically feasible.

The construction of a pile foundation can be carried out at any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions. After installing the piles, you can immediately proceed to the next stages of work.

Arrangement of a pile-screw foundation Source remembar.me

The preliminary stage is leveling the territory and marking the site.

During the construction of sheds often used:

bored;

printed;

screw piles.

The simplest and most quickly erected technology is the construction of screw piles. At the corners of the future barn, as well as at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other, small recesses 30-40 cm deep are formed using a shovel. Screw piles are easily screwed in using a strong metal rod or crowbar. Piles are installed at least 10-15 cm below the freezing point.

After installing the piles, their above-ground part is leveled using a grinder, poured with concrete and the top is welded. That's all. You can begin to form a monolithic or prefabricated grillage made of wood, metal or reinforced concrete.

This is what the head for a pile foundation looks like Source rodogerb.ru

Columnar foundation for a barn

A column foundation is much cheaper than an expensive strip foundation and consists of installing strong pillars in the corners of the barn. Blocks for the foundation for a utility block are made of brick, stone, pipes or reinforced concrete and other materials. However, silicate and ceramic bricks with low frost resistance and high water absorption rates should not be used.

Often, oak or pine posts impregnated with waste oil or tar are used as supports.

A columnar foundation is a good option for the construction of light buildings on non-heaving, slightly heaving and rocky soils, but is not suitable for moving soils. Also, it cannot be used for heavy structures.

Installation of a sand cushion under a columnar foundation Source remontik.org

After marking the corners of the structure, it is necessary to dig holes and form a dense sand cushion. The supports are installed using concrete mortar and a layer of waterproofing is performed.

Conclusion

Reliable is the key to a long service life of a building. Choosing the most suitable option, taking into account the characteristics of the soil and the specifics of the area, will fully solve this problem.

A barn is the most common outbuilding. And this is not surprising, work tools, firewood for heating the stove, and various equipment are stored there. It’s convenient to arrange a workplace in the barn by attaching a workbench or machine. Taking this into account, we can assume that a barn must be built of no less quality than a house. A properly made foundation is the key to a building’s long service life for its owners. Let's look at how to lay a foundation for a shed with your own hands.

Types of soils

Let's figure out which soil is most suitable for laying a foundation. The following types of soil exist:

• Rocky,
• Sandy,
• gravel,
• Sandy loam and loam.

The most desirable option is the first one. Rocky soil does not freeze and does not form quicksand, does not sag or shrink. The only disadvantage we can highlight is that it is difficult to process - it is difficult to dig. However, this compensates for the fact that it is not possible to lay a very deep foundation on such soil.

The worst option is soil consisting of sandy loam and loam. It freezes too deeply, which is why the foundation will have to be dug very deep. In addition, this type of soil, like sandy soil, forms quicksand. Clay soil is also unsuitable for construction, as it is highly susceptible to compression and swelling.

Some people wonder how deep to dig a recess under the foundation. Since the barn is a lightweight structure, a shallow foundation is often ideal for it. It is ideal for buildings made of logs or wooden beams, and is usually laid on clay or sand. The depth of the foundation for a shed depends mainly on the type of soil and the depth of its freezing in winter, but on average it is 60 cm.

Soil properties

It is clear that a barn is a much lighter structure than a house, however, its construction also has its own characteristics. When laying the foundation for a shed, you need to take into account the properties of the soil. Depending on them, it is necessary to select the type of foundation. So, before you start digging a trench, consider the following factors:

• Soil compressibility,
• Groundwater rise level,
• Presence of quicksand, freezing depth in winter,
• Soil type,
• Features of the area.

Mortar for pouring the foundation

Before making a foundation for a shed, you need to prepare a solution consisting of cement, sand, gravel and water. A good tenacious solution is prepared in compliance with the following rules:

1. When buying cement, you need to check the date of its manufacture and prefer the one that is manufactured recently. For the mortar, ordinary Portland cement is suitable.
2. For greater efficiency and reduction of cement costs, it is best to take gravel of various diameters, both large and small. Small grains will serve as a layer between larger pebbles, and less cement will be needed.
3. Crushed stone should not contain debris or impurities.
4. The water should also be clean, preferably potable.
5. There should be no clay or silt mixed with the sand.

Below is a recipe for a classic masonry mortar. Mix sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 3:5, add 1 part of cement and fill everything with water to obtain a thick, homogeneous mass.

Now it’s clear to you how to fill the foundation for the shed.

Strip foundation

For building sheds, strip foundations are the most popular. For it, it is necessary to dig a trench around the perimeter of the future building. The tape type is used in almost any soil and for any building. It will perfectly withstand both light buildings and multi-story brick buildings with heavy concrete floors. This type also allows you to equip a basement.

To begin building a strip foundation for a barn, like most others, you need to dig a trench. The depth of the ditch should be equal to the depth to which the soil freezes in winter plus another 15 cm, and the width should be about 70 cm. In this case, the width of the foundation base itself will be equal to 40 cm. A two-layer cushion is poured onto the bottom of the ditch, consisting of a layer of compacted crushed stone about 10 cm and 5 -th centimeter layer of sand.

Then they make formwork, the height of which should be approximately 20 to 30 cm above ground level. This way you will raise the base of the building, and this will protect it from getting wet. A mesh is made from reinforcement, which serves to strengthen the foundation. The diameter of the reinforcement should be 1.2 cm, and the width of the mesh cells should be 30 cm.

Next, the foundation is poured with concrete, and after it hardens, you can remove the wooden frame and seal the gaps formed with earth. The base should be separated from the foundation by a layer of waterproofing.

Column Foundation

Simple to implement and relatively cheap compared to the strip foundation described above.

A columnar foundation for a barn is made by installing concrete or brick pillars in the corners and at the junctions of walls. They are simply dug into the soil to the depth of its freezing. Unfortunately, this type of foundation cannot be used on moving soils.

First you need to dig holes in the places where the pillars will be located. The depth of the holes should be 15 cm greater than the soil freezing depth for this type of terrain. The bottom of the holes is filled with a mixture of sand and gravel and compacted so that the final result is a 15-centimeter layer.

Now you can mount the pillars, which can be made of concrete blocks, asbestos pipes filled with concrete mortar, or represent ordinary brickwork. An iron rod must be installed inside the pillar; this increases the bearing capacity of the pillars.

If you use the last option - masonry, then it is important to treat it with waterproofing mastic. Insulation from moisture is also necessary for the wooden base of the shed. To do this, the foundation is covered with moisture-proof material and only then the base of the building is placed on top.

Foam block foundation

For this option of making a foundation for an outbuilding, foam blocks are used. This type of foundation is quite common, since its use increases the service life of the entire building. Foam block is a universal material; it can be used to make a foundation for any structure, even a house.

Low cost also contributes to the popularity of this material in construction. In addition, foam blocks are a fairly light material compared to others, so the base does not experience much stress. Based on this, it can be argued that a foam block foundation for a shed is an ideal option. Some people use foam blocks not only for laying the foundation, but also for erecting the walls of the building.

The practical part of performing this type of foundation is very similar to working on a strip foundation. Start by marking the area. Mark and dig in pegs and stretch the cord between them. Now you can dig a pit, the depth of which should be about 60 cm. The width is calculated taking into account the width of the foam blocks themselves plus another 15-20 cm.

A cushion of a mixture of crushed stone and sand is poured into the bottom of the pit, formwork and frame are installed, and everything is filled with concrete. The height of such a base should be about 20 cm. Now you need to wait until the concrete is completely dry and install the blocks.

Block foundation

Block foundations have a number of advantages over other types, including:

1. Low temperature resistance.
2. Resistance to acidic soil masses.
3. Versatility and variety. From the blocks you can build any type of foundation for any building. This is due to their wide range and variety of standard sizes. Small blocks are suitable for a shed.
4. Excellent strength properties and long service life.
5. Ease of installation and reduction of the time required to lay the foundation.

The foundation for the block shed begins to be built from the corners, where the first blocks are installed. The blocks are placed on concrete mortar. If the soil is loose, then for the reliability of the future structure it is necessary to manufacture and install a metal mesh. The laying of the base is controlled using a level, this helps to avoid the occurrence of curvature.

After this, the external seams are expanded and filled with a composition with additives containing moisture protection. Waterproofing is also necessary for the entire outer contour of the base. After this, the trench is buried.

Thus, now you know the methods of building a foundation and its types that are most suitable for making a foundation for a barn with your own hands.

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. In order to last longer and not be 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 important to maintain the proportions for the solution from which the foundation will be made; sand and gravel should be mixed in a small container 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.

for a post-type 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 barn, 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 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 skin is produced, which can have several layers. The joining areas can be additionally treated with sealants, mineral wool and polyurethane foam.