Garden build\Office - strip foundations or raft?

[shabbaranks]

Hi guys,

We're looking at putting in a garden salon 6 meters by 4.5 in the garden and I've had multiple differences of opinion so I thought Id ask here.

Obviously with it being a salon and pipe work could change we need to bear in mind what the best option is. I'm of an opinion that a solid raft base is the way to go but I like the flexibility of a strip foundation base. Can anyone enlighten me on what they would use in this situation?

Thanks :O)

 

[KenGMac]

shabbaranks, Hi

One thing to consider is the insulation of the floor? easier to get on a raft?

Ken

 

[noseall]

shabbaranks, Hi

One thing to consider is the insulation of the floor? easier to get on a raft?

Ken

There is nothing easy about a raft foundation, insulation or otherwise. Do people discussing this actually know what a raft foundation is and what is involved?

Trench/strip foundations are much simpler.

 

[shabbaranks]

Strip is kind of like a floating floor isn't it? What would you say are the main pro's of a strip foundation? Are they quite springy\spongey?

 

[TonyW2]

Hope not.

 

[Tipper]

Rather depends on the ground conditions and closeness of trees, etc.

 

[r896neo]

There is no floating element in a strip foundation?? I assume you are thinking of a suspended timber floor? This would be very unnecessary in a building like this.

A normal strip footing would be trenches filled with concrete ( or 9'' concrete in the bottom and footings brought up in blocks) The walls are built up and a dpc inserted.

The inside section is then filled with a solid concrete slab (with hardcore dpm insulation etc)

A raft is an engineered solution for dealing with problem ground or other issues, it's more difficult to detail properly than a strip footing building, the wall floor junction in particular can be problematic.

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

What is your "salon" made from?, is it wooden or is it a brick building? Look at its construction and see how the weight on the floor is distributed onto joists and bearers. At work we had a 30' square porta cabin office that stood on concrete blocks at huge centres ( 8'?). So individual "pillars" might do but they have to sit down in the subsoil.
Frank