Foundations for a double skin brick built shed/games room

[ajmetro]

Hi all

I have researched about how deep foundations would need to be in relation to a brick built structure and seem to be getting very conflicting results. I plan on building a 5x5m games room at the back of the garden some 50 feet away from the house but around 5m to a well established apple tree (about 4m tall). My research has led me to believe that a 1m depth is required and 600mm width for a trench foundation strip. I live in Essex and the ground is London clay type. I plan on using light weight blocks and then waterproofing/weather proofing them. Would these estimates be correct or could I get away with a shorter depth foundation or is there an alternative foundation type that would serve my purpose and be easier on my back and wallet?

 

[Dansom]

1m deep hole at 600mm wide with 250mm concrete will suffice. Check that the leaders on the roots from the tree don't have penetration capabilities at that depth. Other alternatives could be a raft or piled raft.

IMO lightweight blocks with weather proofing will be unsightly, consider cladding in timber, tiling or rendering them, this is aesthetics though as long as the blocks you use can with stand UK weather.

 

[ajmetro]

Great thanks