Base construction for garden structures is usually undertaken by two material means, either by paving or concrete.
Most customers choose to use a local firm to create a concrete slab on to which your garden structure is installed, we can provide working drawings and this option is a great way to keep your budget low.
There are however, alternative options to traditional concrete foundations that are not only cheaper, but more environmentally friendly and easy to install.
The Eco Base creates the perfect base for timber garden structures up to 30 sq m. The bases are very easy to lay, extremely strong and very durable. These good quality bases will support your building against stress caused by ground movement. It will deter rot at the base and increase the life span of your structure and investment.
This revolutionary foundation system which overcomes all the problems associated with a concrete slab, and it is quick and cost effective to install. There is a foundation solution for every type of garden building from small shed to large multi roomed buildings.
The Swift Plinth comprises of a grid work block which sits in the ground (there are three depths depending on soil conditions) and is then backfilled with gravel, this block evenly distributes the load above. On top of the grid work block an interlocking concrete base stone and top stone are centred, fixed into the top stone is a heavy gauge steel bracket which is attached to the timber floor framework. The steel bracket is adjustable (up to 50mm) to make levelling of the timber floor frame easy. The Swift Plinth can easily be used on a sloping site, with the addition of a timber post between the top stone and the steel bracket.
Many garden room suppliers have adopted the Swift Plinth as the foundation system for their buildings, but a Swift Plinth can be used on any garden room, from any supplier and on any site.
Swift Plinths are an environmentally friendly type of foundation, a typical installation uses 95% less concrete than a concrete slab, the foundation can easily be removed from the site if the building is ever removed and the product is fully recyclable at the end of its life. In addition the Swift Plinth allows air to flow freely under the garden room which prevents condensation.
The manufacturers offer a free service to discuss the options with clients and we will design a foundation solution that is suitable for their unit and their ground conditions. Each unit and each site differs, so each foundation solution is bespoke. They also have 20 years experience in building with timber and can offer expert advice on i.e. how to strengthen the floor of a unit for a gym, how to create a raised floor application, decking solutions, providing calculations for building control acceptance, structural engineer services etc.”
So, how many Swift Plinths does a garden room need? An example a 3000mm x 3600mm lightweight garden room positioned on good soil conditions would use 9 Swift Mini Plinths where as a 6000mm x 5000mm 70mm log cabin on poor soil conditions would require 12
