A barn on a country plot is vital. Otherwise, you will have to store gardening tools and equipment in the house itself. Naturally, this will not contribute to comfortable living. A barn is a simple, lightweight structure. Making it with your own hands is quite possible for most skilled men.

Why do you need a frame shed?

An outbuilding in the form of a barn on a country plot is vital. It is intended for storing gardening and gardening equipment, ranging from a simple shovel or hoe to a walk-behind tractor, watering pump and other expensive equipment. In addition, storing pesticides, fertilizers or a small supply of gasoline in other rooms is simply unsafe.

Thanks to the frame shed, it will be possible to store all garden tools

Advantages of frame construction

The main advantage of a frame structure is its rapid erection and low labor intensity of construction. The benefits are as follows:

1. Possibility of using second or third grade lumber.
2. Ease of design.
3. The ability to quickly move to another place, if provided for by the design of the building. To do this, the support frame is made with a small protrusion and an undercut at an angle of 45 degrees, forming something like runners.
4. Fast construction.

If we talk about the shortcomings of structures of this kind, they arise only in connection with design or execution errors.

A frame shed is built quickly and easily

Preparation for construction, design and calculations

Preparation for building a shed consists of the following activities:

1. Determining the location. Since this building is intended for storing items and materials needed for use in the garden, the shed should be placed in an area adjacent to the front garden. To save space, it is better to build it closer to the boundary. The rules state that the shed should not be located closer than one meter to the neighboring plot.
2. It is better to choose the dimensions of the building in terms of the rational use of materials. So, the optimal size option would be 6x4 meters. In this case, the length corresponds to the dimensions of the standard length of lumber - 6 meters, and the width assumes a two-meter long waste, which can be used for racks on the low (rear) side of the building. For the front part, you can cut the timber in half and take it completely onto the racks.
3. Thus, the main dimensions of the barn with a pitched roof, the angle of inclination of which will be about 14 degrees, have been determined. This is an ideal building option in terms of rational use of materials.
4. The distance between the frame posts should be no more than one and a half meters. At the extreme openings, jibs must be installed to counteract wind loads. The size of the timber for them should be the same as the size of the supporting support posts. If a beam of 100x100 millimeters is used, then the jib can be made from a beam of 50x100. A total of 8 such parts will be needed.
5. The upper frame frame must be made of timber of the same size as the lower one, in our case it is 100x100 mm.
6. For rafters, you can use 50x150 mm timber, installed vertically in width.
7. External wall cladding should be made from any waterproof sheet material: plywood, OSB boards, plasterboard. A common material for walls is unedged board. The board must be sanded before installation.

Let's look at the supporting structure. The barn does not need a massive foundation. It can be installed on small concrete blocks, using them in the corners and in the middle of the walls. However, in areas with high wind loads, it is better to use screw anchors. This is a miniature version of a screw pile. It is enough to install them at a distance of two meters from each other, the total need for such parts will be 8 pieces.

If you use the frame diagram, you can make a durable shed with your own hands

Preparing the shed site

The site for this building is prepared as follows:

1. It is necessary to free up space from the fertile layer, which will require removing the soil to a depth of 30 centimeters. Carefully level and compact the surface.
2. After this, it is necessary to arrange a drainage layer by pouring sand 12–15 centimeters thick into the recess. Fill the rest with medium grade gravel and compact the entire surface.

Thus, the likelihood of stagnant water under the shed is reduced, which will easily drain through the drainage.

Calculation of material requirements

The amount of materials needed to build a shed can be conveniently calculated in tabular form.

Table: example of calculating materials for building a shed

In addition to the above, you will need a plastic film for moisture protection. With a width of three meters, it requires 20 linear meters for the outer protective layer and the same amount for the inner one. Depending on price indicators, it can be replaced with roofing felt.

The final roof covering is taken for the simplest of financial reasons. Regular slate or fiberglass, galvanized or painted corrugated sheeting will do. When calculating the need, you need to take into account overhangs with a width of 0.3–0.5 meters.

It is better to make the interior decoration from sheet material. Leftovers from finishing the house will also come in handy.

Thermal insulation in an unheated barn room has the opposite meaning. In hot weather, it is important to maintain the temperature from overheating in the sun. In such a situation, without thermal insulation, it will be very uncomfortable to be in it. It is also important to perform high-quality waterproofing of the walls.

A frame shed can also be built on poles

Tools for building a shed

For such a simple structure, the need for tools is small.

Table: Tools for building a shed

Step-by-step instructions for building a frame shed

To build a shed you need to perform a series of sequential steps:

How to make a foundation

To build a shed you do not need a strong foundation. Often it is simply installed on brick stands. This directly depends on the nature of the soil at the location. If the subsoil layer consists of clay or heavy loam, this can lead to significant soil movements, as a result of which the structure can be warped, damaging the walls and jamming the doors. In such a situation, you need a fairly deep foundation, the supporting part of which will be below the freezing level of the soil.

The following types of support foundations meet these conditions:

1. Pile-screw. Screw piles are screwed into the ground to the required depth, their upper ends must be aligned horizontally along a stretched cord. Then the heads are installed on them to secure the support beam. In addition to the quality of the soil, this choice can be made when building a barn on a slope.
2. Columnar. For the device, you need to dig (or drill) holes below the freezing level of the soil. At the bottom, make drainage from sand (12–15 centimeters) and gravel in approximately the same layer, compact the backfill. Reinforcement is made with a frame of steel rods in the amount of 4–6 pieces vertically, fastened with cross members. The reinforcement support must be assembled on the surface and immersed in the pit. Install formwork of the required height on top of the ground. Concrete is poured into the ground. After seven days, the formwork can be removed and work can continue.

It makes no sense to consider other foundation designs. They are heavier and more expensive to construct: strip, grillage and other types of support bases, and they are inappropriate for a structure weighing several hundred kilograms.

Photo gallery: types of lightweight foundations for lightweight buildings

A columnar foundation with a concrete grillage serves as a reliable support Lightweight foundation on piles will withstand loads on unfavorable soils A pile-screw foundation with a wooden grillage for installing a shed does not require excavation work Strip foundation - a lightweight option for installing a light structure

Frame structure

The base for the shed is ready for further installation when the timber frame is installed and secured over the supports. It should represent a regular rectangle, the diagonals of which are equal to each other. The check is carried out by measuring with a long tape measure or cord.

Frame assembly:

1. Installation of floor joists. A timber measuring 50x150 mm is used. The distance between the logs should be 75 cm. Each of them cuts into the strapping beam to a depth of 50 mm. The corresponding insert is also performed. It needs to be secured with a nail in the middle and two corners to the body of the strapping beam.
2. Installation of corner posts. Three-meter high racks are installed on the front wall, and two-meter high ones on the rear wall. The distance between them is 1.5 meters. Corner posts are placed vertically with plumb control. They need to be fixed with temporary jibs, check the verticality again and secure them to the harness with two corners and two flat plates each. Fastening is done with self-tapping screws.
3. A cord is stretched between the corner posts and the rest are installed at the specified distance along it. Fastening is done with angles and plates.
4. Installation of the top trim made of 100x100 mm timber. For inclined beams, the supports are cut with the required slope.
5. Installation of transfers for roofing made of 50x150 mm timber. When connecting parts, a cut-in is made on the support beams. The transfers are fastened with screws or M12 studs with wide washers, two screws per joint.
6. Jib fastening. They need to be placed from the top of the corner posts to the bottom trim. The material for them is a 50x100 mm block. Fastening is done with self-tapping screws.
7. Lathing on the walls. It is made from a 50x100 mm bar. The parts are placed in openings formed by racks at a distance of a meter from each other, parallel to the frames. Fastening is done using flat plates with self-tapping screws.

As an option, you can consider making a shed frame from a profile pipe measuring 60x60x3 mm. The dimensions of the building are the same; the distance from the base of the lower frame to the top should be two meters.

The profile pipe for the frame will ensure long-term operation of the shed

The work is performed in the following order:

1. Preparation of parts: racks and sheathing. Metal cutting is done with a grinder. In addition to pipe parts, you need to prepare metal corners that are installed at each pipe connection. The size of a triangular part made of steel 3 mm thick is 200x200 mm.
2. The frame is welded by electric welding with angle control. The face welds are cleaned and the reinforcement is removed.
3. Before further assembly, the metal frame is treated with a primer and then coated with metal paint.
4. With a metal base, sheet materials are used for wall cladding: flat slate, fiberglass, OSB boards or moisture-resistant plywood.
5. Moisture protection in this option is necessary. The film is pre-fixed with construction tape.
6. Translations and logs are made from the same timber as for a wooden frame.

Video: building a metal frame for a barn

Floor and wall cladding

Further work on a wooden or steel frame is carried out almost identically:

1. Wall covering. It can be made using various sheet materials. For economic reasons, we will opt for unedged boards. Before filling the boards onto the posts and sheathing, it is necessary to install a moisture barrier made of 200 micron thick polyethylene film or roofing felt. You can fasten it with a construction stapler to metal brackets.

   Unedged boards are perfect for finishing the walls of a barn.

2. Cover the back wall with boards in two-meter long sections, that is, three parts each. Fill the first row of boards, on top of which install the second, bridging the gaps. Similarly, sheath the front wall with boards three meters long, as well as the sides of the barn. Trimming the end of the side walls should be done in place after finishing the wall cladding.
3. Before laying the roof, install a ceiling covering, which is best made from sheet material. First, make an internal sheathing from a board 25 mm thick, then stretch the moisture protection film, and attach the facing material to it with self-tapping screws.

   For the ceiling in a barn it is better to use sheet material

4. The ceiling insulation should be covered with any slab or roll material. A popular solution is to use expanded clay with a fraction of 5–10 millimeters. Fill it up between transfers and level it out. Install moisture protection on top, then finish the roof.
5. To insulate the walls of the shed, you can lay one layer of insulation from the inside.
6. Then sew the support strips along the bottom of the lag plane, and arrange a sheathing of 25 mm thick edged boards on them.
7. Install moisture protection.
8. Insulate the floor in the same way as the ceiling.
9. Lay the floor covering over the joists. First you need to make a subfloor. You can use edged or unedged boards for it. A finishing coating is placed on top of the finished floor. In operating conditions of the barn, it is better to lay the floor with flat slate or cement-bonded particle board.

   The subfloor in the barn is made of boards

10. The last thing to do is cover the walls from the inside with any sheet material.

Calculation of the need for insulating materials

Thermal insulation of the floor is made with expanded clay. It is advisable to use a fraction of 5–10 millimeters. To insulate walls, it is better to take rolled or slab materials, using leftovers from building a house.

How much expanded clay do you need?

The volume of this bulk material is determined by the area of ​​the backfill and the thickness of the layer. The floor area is: 6 x 4 = 24 square meters, the backfill layer taking into account the layer thickness of 0.1 meters will be 24 x 0.1 = 2.4 cubic meters For the ceiling you will need the following amount: 24 x 1.16 = 28 meters, 2, 4 + 2.8 = 5.2 cubic meters. The coefficient of 1.16 takes into account the angle of inclination of the side walls.

How much slab or roll insulation is needed?

The need for this material is determined by the area of ​​the walls:

1. The front wall has an area of ​​6 x 2 = 12 square meters.
2. The total surface of the side walls will be: 4 x 2.5 x 2 = 20 sq. m.
3. Front wall area: 3 x 8 = 18 sq. m.

Thus, the total area of ​​insulation for covering the walls will be: 12 + 20 + 18 = 50 sq. m.

Photo gallery: finishing work of the barn

Sheathing the walls of a barn with planks is inexpensive and lasts a long time. Glass wool reliably maintains the temperature in the barn Laying OSB boards on the floor is a practical option for a barn Material with low thermal conductivity will protect the shed from overheating in the summer Plywood is an excellent material for finishing the ceiling in a barn

All wooden parts must be treated with fire-resistant impregnation and antiseptic. Otherwise, the barn will not last long.

Video: building a shed with a pitched roof yourself

The apparent simplicity of construction should not have a relaxing effect on the owner of the site. One way or another, you need to take into account the characteristics of the soil. If the movements lead to the structure being skewed, the door may jam or the window frames may break. And also the slightest inaccuracy or error in the choice of materials for construction will lead to the loss of incurred costs.

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. Formwork is installed on top, into which 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 of 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 you don’t have to deepen the posts 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.

Pile

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. 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 base made of tires is the large size of the wheels, which makes it difficult to make a fence to protect against 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 we can recommend it 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.

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.

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 a block post is sunk into the ground, then the pillars are also lateral waterproofed, 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.

In contact with

A barn is an irreplaceable and important attribute of a personal plot. Thanks to the extensive selection of materials and tools, it is possible to create a building yourself without the help of specialists. And all work begins from the foundation.

What you need to pay attention to before starting construction

Foundations for sheds should be selected taking into account the properties and type of soil available. Thanks to the right one, it is possible to select the optimal base option.

Soil types:

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

Despite the ease and simplicity of construction, rock-type soil in the form of a dense massif without voids and cracks is considered the most suitable for its construction. It is distinguished by the absence of quicksand, freezing in the cold season, subsidence, and the ability to give the foundation and the entire structure sufficient stability.

New technologies

Thanks to the development of the field of laying such foundations, it becomes possible to carry out high-quality construction on gravel, as well as on sandy loam and loam. This makes soil subsidence, its significant compression, as well as the presence of quicksand and frost heaving less important.

It can occur both on the sides of the structure and under it. Shed foundations can be protected from this in the following ways:

• removing heaving soil at the construction site and replacing it with crushed stone and coarse sand;
• creation of a monolithic foundation;
• waterproofing and insulation of the base on all sides;
• deepening the foundation below the freezing level.

Pouring solution

High-quality ones ensure the reliability and strength of buildings. Particular attention should be paid to the components of the solution. Standard Portland cement has sufficient characteristics, but it must have a recent production date. It is advisable to purchase crushed stone of a fine fraction, due to this, the consumption of materials is reduced, the solution becomes denser when laid and more monolithic when hardened. It is important that there are no impurities or debris in all components, including water. To obtain a solution, mix cement, crushed stone and sand in the established ratio, then pour water in portions to form a uniform thick mass.

What to build on

The type of foundation is selected depending on financial capabilities, resistance to negative impacts (freezing, groundwater) and the soil available on the site.

Strip foundations for sheds are more versatile and durable. Their construction begins with digging a trench. Before this, the site is marked out, and stakes with twine stretched between them are installed along the perimeter of the future building.

The base will gain additional strength and solidity if it is poured within one day and thoroughly compacted. It is worth remembering that concrete takes several days to harden, and during hot weather, it is periodically doused with water to prevent cracking.

Columnar foundation for a barn

This is a more budget-friendly and easier arrangement option, which does not require the use of special equipment or contacting specialists. Since the base rests on several pillars dug into the ground, there is no need to dig a full-fledged trench. Care should be taken when choosing this option for moving soil, but it is optimal for uneven areas.

Columnar foundation technology

It is advisable to sprinkle clay soil with gravel. The depth of digging of pillars for support is calculated taking into account the level of freezing; another 15 cm must be added to this value. Brick or concrete supports are installed at the junctions of the walls and at the corners of the base. The bottom of each recess is filled with sand and crushed stone, followed by compaction. To increase strength, a steel rod is located in the center.

To prevent subsidence of the building, a reinforced concrete foundation is laid at the bottom. Laying pillars will take up the remaining space in the recesses. It is possible to use pipes filled with concrete, blocks, bricks. When using the latter, coating with a waterproofing compound is necessary. A columnar foundation for a barn requires protection from moisture also at the junction of the walls and the base, especially if construction is planned from wood.

For light wooden buildings they can be made of similar material. For waterproofing, impregnation with special mastics or firing is used. Due to this, the barn turns out to be environmentally friendly and budget-friendly.

Foundation for a barn made of blocks

Foam block is a lightweight and durable material with an affordable cost. It is quite easy to install even for those who have never done such work. They can be used for both the base and walls, allowing you to reduce the overall load on the soil. Construction begins with digging a trench or pit, if a basement is required.

The depth calculation indicated above is used, the width in this case is made up by the thickness of the block and an additional 20 cm. A cushion of sand and crushed stone is poured onto the bottom of the pit (trench), then formwork with a reinforcement frame is installed. Concrete is poured from above, its layer should be about 20 cm. Installation of foam blocks is possible only after complete hardening.

The foundation for a shed made of foam blocks is characterized by ease of installation, affordable cost, resistance to the effects of acidic soil and freezing, a long period of operation and low time costs for its arrangement.

The installation of foam blocks begins from corner points. External seams are filled with the addition of moisture protection agents. The base is wrapped from the outside with the selected waterproofing material, then the trench is buried.

at the base of buildings

Foundations for sheds are formed from the type, installed in drilled wells and filled with a mixture of concrete. Used to increase reliability and strength. But, like any other design, it has its advantages and disadvantages.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the fragility of use. The maximum service life is about 70 years, taking into account the fact that a reinforced concrete foundation can last several hundred years; foundations made of stone and brick also have a long service life.

A columnar structure made of pipes cannot be used on soft soils, wetlands and areas with large differences in relief.

Despite this, this type of foundation has many advantages:

• It takes about a week to gain strength, after which further work can begin.
• There is no need to purchase lumber to create formwork.
• Low cost. Asbestos-cement pipes are much cheaper than concrete blocks or reinforced concrete piles.
• There is no need to dig a trench, level the bottom and fill in a sand and gravel mixture, as some types of foundation require.
• Installation does not require lifting equipment or specialist assistance.