Especially with garden shed kits, you could come up with the idea of simply building the shed on a flat, tamped, vegetation-free area with drainage. But that's not a really good idea, because the lack of anchoring means you might have to look for your arbor on the neighboring property the next time there's a stronger wind. But how can the house be secured to the ground in a weatherproof manner?
How can I anchor my garden house in the ground in a weatherproof manner?
To anchor a garden house in a weatherproof manner, you can choose between point foundations, strip foundations or slab foundations. Alternatively, metal tool sheds can be attached to a substructure made of concrete slabs. Please note that a foundation requires a building permit.
The foundation connects the house to the ground
You have different options here:
- Point foundation
- Strip foundation
- Slab foundation
The point foundation
With this foundation, which is quite easy to build, the concrete is only applied at specific points. These concrete areas, onto which the foundation beams are then attached, should protrude into the ground about 20 centimeters deeper than the frost line.
You can either support the holes with wooden formwork or simply insert PVC drainage pipes (€29.00 on Amazon), which are then filled with concrete. This is also a very cost-effective and practical option that ensures good air circulation and is therefore practical if you have to set up the garden house in a rather damp corner of the garden.
The strip foundation
Here, boarded trenches filled with concrete form the basis on which the arbor can then be attached. The strips run under the outer walls of the house; in larger garden houses, strips placed transversely to the position of the beams provide additional support.
The slab foundation
Here the entire base plate of the arbor is cast from concrete. This is a little more complicated to make:
- First, a sufficiently deep pit is dug.
- Filled and compacted with a drainage layer of sand and gravel.
- The concrete surface is poured onto this.
- It is recommended to also install a steel mat for greater stability.
A base made of terrace slabs
Metal tool sheds are often attached to an easy-to-erect substructure made of concrete slabs that are placed in a bed of gravel. You attach the metal substructure to this, into which the side elements are then inserted.
Tip
Please remember that a foundation requires approval for the arbor in all federal states. Don't hesitate to go to the authorities, as you can almost always get building permission for a standard garden house without any problems.
