Constructing a Timber Base

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Constructing a Timber Base

Not everyone wants the permanency of a concrete slab to use as a base for a garden building.

A timber platform, properly constructed, will provide a suitable environment your garden building to sit on !

This style of platform is also useful when the underlying ground is sloping - it is far easier to provision "stilts" rather than levelling the ground by digging out soil, constructing a retaining wall and then dealing with the drainage issue.

Issues to consider :

Components Required

Support Posts

We like to use these concrete decking support posts. Available in various lengths to accommodate a sloping site, once concreted into the ground, they can be left safe in the knowledge thery won't rot or disintegrate over time.


Post Mix

Although more expensive than buying raw ingredients, PostMix is so convenient and quick to use. We would recommend using this product to secure the concrete support posts. We are showing a Blue Circle product, but there other brands available !


Treated Timber

Most timber merchants will be able to supply either the 100x47 or 150x47 joists in various lengths to suit. Good practice is to treat the ends of the joists that have been cut so that the treatment is not compromised.


Quality Screws

To hold the joists together a good quality wood screw is required. Timberlok produce an excellent fixing for this purpose and there are plenty of other similar products. It isworth spending a few pounds on these to ensure longevity.


Construction

From within your installation guide, you will find a diagram of the base bearer layout. This will show the minimum base size required for your cabin.

Use this as a template for your timber base OR, if planning to insulate under floor, design your base perpendicular to these, using this plan as an example, here is how your timber base joists would work.


Use this as a template for your timber base OR, if planning to insulate under floor, design your base perpendicular to these, using this plan as an example, here is how your timber base joists would work.


Construct the base using a minimum of 2 screws per join. Suggest three if using 150 joists.

Now work out where you need to support the frame.

Let's assume the frame in our example is made using 150x47 joists, in which case, the concrete supports would need to be positioned as follows, indicated by the yellow discs :


Here are a couple of pics of a completed base, all ready for the cabin construction.

Author - Martin Corby
Posted - 12 May 2023

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