All,
As mentioned in my introduction thread, I want to build a small storage shed (1.8m x 2.4m) before taking on a far larger project, a small workshop which will be approx 5m x 3m.
This thread will be for the shed, but at the outset I do want to get a bit of advice on the groundwork needed for both buildings as I might do the groundwork for both at the same time (especially if I can find someone to do the hard work for me).
Our garden is bordered by a huge laurel hedge, which is some 4-5m high throughout. The garden is totally overgrown - this was a probate property that was left to rot for decades before we fixed it up last year. It is also covered with ivy, brambles and holly.
Workshop
I plan to put the 5x3m building at the bottom of the garden, next to the garage belonging to the house behind, which forms part of the boundary. Here are some pictures of how this looks currently:
As you can see, it is far from a clean site (and this is after a full weekend of digging out brambles and other weeds) and not very level either. I plan to build the workshop in the corner, which will be close to the laurel hedges. It will sit inside the boundary by a meter so I can get in to maintain it. There is also a large willow tree about 6-7m away from where the workshop will be. There are also at least 2 tree stumps in the area where the workshop will go so I will have to dig those out too. I am going to stay under 2.5m to avoid PP, and as it is a meter from the boundary I am not expecting to involve building control.
I was hoping to dig a number of holes, fill them with concrete, then put down blocks and get them all level and build the workshop off that, having flooded the area underneath with weed killer and put down some sheeting to prevent stuff growing underneath it. I want to avoid having to put down a concrete slab if possible for reasons of cost, effort, and most importantly because the wife just doesn't want a large permanent concrete slab. However, having spent a lot of time reading up on how you guys have been building your sheds and workshops, I cannot find any examples of people doing what I have planned and almost everyone seems to put down a concrete slab. I would obviously have a suspended timber floor, also built off these concrete pads.
Questions: Is my plan workable? Or do I simply have to have a concrete slab? Would a shallow continuous trench foundation be an acceptable middle-ground?
ShedI plan to put the shed about half way down the garden, against the laurel hedge. There is currently a concrete path which I intend to take up when I get time to sort out the garden. The shed will sit in the spot behind the old chairs in this picture. I am going to replace the fence (obviously) - possibly with a wire fence to allow the laurel to grow through it:
I want to avoid having any concrete in the ground for this whatsoever if I can manage it: the shed may well be moved when we come to do the garden because we don't know at this stage how we are going to use the garden. I do need it now though: I've got loads of stuff from the garage sitting in the living room with nowhere to put it, because we have no garage now (it was knocked down to allow access to build a rear extension).
My plan was to dig down about 200mm; compact the ground; put in geotextile; fill with hardcore; compact again; cover with sand; put down a plastic sheet, cover with gravel and put concrete lintels on top of this, get them level and build off that (with a DPC on top of the lintels).
Questions:
I planned on putting the plastic sheet down as some sort of DPM, but does it actually serve any purpose? I would put down a DPC on top of the lintels anyway.
Or is this all just too lightweight?
Comments and suggestions welcome. Just to manage expectations: I work veeeerrrrrrryyyyy slllllooooowwwwwllllly, so please don't expect any exiting progress pics for a while! The shed is a must-have and will be up by the end of the summer because we have a baby on the way and I need to get all of my stuff out of the house; but the workshop is likely to be 2018 (although I would like to get the groundwork done in the summer). I have 4-6 weeks of paid leave in Jan/Feb so I'm leaving it until then to do the fun bit of actually building the thing.