Hi everyone. I'm planning a new garage and have already got answers on trench foundations and drainage (thanks for those answers everyone), but now I have a bigger problem I could use some good advice on.
My preference is for a rendered block cavity walled structure, 6m x 6m, with a pitched tiled roof, insulated, DPC/DPM, etc. Because of size and location, this will need planning and BC approval, but I'm hoping I can come to them with a more or less solid plan first.
As there is a clay subsoil and "bedrock" (as seen in test digs and on Geological Survey maps), I was anticipating a 1-1.5m deep, 600mm wide trench foundation, with reinforcement and other precautions customary for clay soil.
That was until I realised that there is a naffing great Weeping Willow approximately 10 metres away (a neighbour's garden), standing a proud 8m tall.
So my question is this: am I better off considering a completely different structure (e.g., wooden garage on a raft foundation; pre-fab concrete on raft)?
I've read another article elsewhere on the horrors of building near Willows and frankly it made me go a bit weak at the knees when it discussed needing to drive piles into the ground. I only want a dry, warm garage, rather than the pre-cast favela shacks that pass for garages, but the potential cost of sinking piles into the ground (around £11K alone) would make it pointless.
As always, any thoughts, comments or criticisms gratefully received.
My preference is for a rendered block cavity walled structure, 6m x 6m, with a pitched tiled roof, insulated, DPC/DPM, etc. Because of size and location, this will need planning and BC approval, but I'm hoping I can come to them with a more or less solid plan first.
As there is a clay subsoil and "bedrock" (as seen in test digs and on Geological Survey maps), I was anticipating a 1-1.5m deep, 600mm wide trench foundation, with reinforcement and other precautions customary for clay soil.
That was until I realised that there is a naffing great Weeping Willow approximately 10 metres away (a neighbour's garden), standing a proud 8m tall.
So my question is this: am I better off considering a completely different structure (e.g., wooden garage on a raft foundation; pre-fab concrete on raft)?
I've read another article elsewhere on the horrors of building near Willows and frankly it made me go a bit weak at the knees when it discussed needing to drive piles into the ground. I only want a dry, warm garage, rather than the pre-cast favela shacks that pass for garages, but the potential cost of sinking piles into the ground (around £11K alone) would make it pointless.
As always, any thoughts, comments or criticisms gratefully received.
