A garden room base is an important part of safe construction, providing a solid foundation system that supports your building. There are different types of garden bases available, each with different benefits.
You should consider whether or not you want your base to be visible and how permanent your garden building will be before choosing the base type. Learn the basics of bases with this guide from garden room experts, so you can make an informed decision best for you.
Why Are Garden Bases Needed?
Any building structure needs a foundation system and base. A garden room will not stay standing for long without a solid base. Though most garden rooms, like those designed by English Heritage Buildings, will be pressure-treated for structural strength, a base is still crucial.
When a building is directly on the ground, it will absorb the moisture there. This will cause the timber of your garden room to deteriorate and rot prematurely. As well as providing a damp-proof foundation, a base will also mean your garden room is built upon a level surface. Uneven surfaces will cause floor and wall warping and will also hinder smooth usage, especially for opening and closing doors. It will also mean water can’t drain properly and ventilation will be unsatisfactory.
Simply put, a proper garden room foundation system is crucial.
What Types of Garden Room Foundations Are There?
Generally, garden room bases will be built on either shallow foundations or deep foundations. The groundwork that supports your garden room base is imperative to get right, in order to ensure a safe, sturdy structure.
Deep Garden Room Foundation Systems
- Piled foundations: These work to transmit loads through soil with a low load-bearing capacity to deeper soil or rock strata with a higher bearing capacity.
- Soleplate at finished floor level: This is a good method to use for buildings of a larger span. A plinth wall will be built higher than the level the concrete is at, using a combination of insulation and screed.
Learn more about garden room groundwork options
Things to Remember When Choosing a Garden Base
- Assess your garden: what material does the ground consist of? Is your garden on a slope? What kind of access do you need? Will you need to protect tree roots or not disturb local wildlife?
- Make sure you measure the area properly and know the measurements of your building: if your base it too small the garden room will not be properly supported, while if it’s too large, surface water could rot the beams
- If pouring concrete, ensure it is completely even and flat by not pouring excessive amounts
Garden Room Base Options & Designs
Generally, garden room bases will be made of concrete, steel, or timber.
Concrete Bases
We recommend a concrete base for your garden room as the most structurally sound design. Concrete bases particularly suit big timber buildings that are especially heavy. For concrete bases, it’s important to install them slightly above ground level. This allows water to drain properly rather than pooling around the base, helping to prevent rotting wood and resulting damp and mould.
Though concrete bases are exceptionally sturdy and reliable, they can be a more expensive option. They also need more groundwork, so they can be very time-consuming to install. Concrete bases are also permanent structures, so are unsuited to smaller builds like storage sheds or summer houses.
Steel Bases
If you’re looking for a cost-effective foundation system, a steel base for a garden room can provide that. Metal bases do not require as much digging as traditional bases, making for a quick and easy installation process at lower costs. Usually, special tradesmen or brick layers will not be needed.
Timber Bases
A timber base for a garden room is a popular choice for those who want a more aesthetically pleasing design and an eco-friendly solution. Timber bases usually consist of ridge decking bases, which are great for preventing damp from developing in your garden room. They do so by providing space for water to drain off the top, while space under the decking lets air circulate freely. A great benefit of a timber base is that it’s easy to install, taking less time than concrete bases, for example.
Timber decking does need more maintenance than other types of garden room bases. While it is strong and durable, it is not as heavy-duty as concrete or metal, so is only suited to smaller projects.
Build Your Own Garden Room With English Heritage Buildings
We specialise in helping clients bring their garden room projects to life. Our talented team of experienced experts can help you design and craft a beautiful timber frame garden room that transforms your property. Everything will be made completely bespoke, creating a structure that is uniquely tailored to you.
As specialists in reliable construction, all of our plans and builds must meet exceptionally high quality assurance standards. We will know exactly what kind of garden room base will best suit your building needs.
To partner with us on your garden room project, speak to our advisors today and you could even get a cost estimation for your build.
