Foundation ideas for timbered shed

[moonhill]

Dave, I haven't used them personally, but everything adds up, the tapered tube, the bulb base and frost will have a hard time grabbing hold.  I don't see using a post hole digger though.  I like the concept.   Tim

[Dave Shepard]

Nope, not going to use a post hole digger for those. I generally put them so that there was 5' underground. They can be a pain to get them positioned and backfilled without moving them, but worth the effort.


Dave

[shinnlinger]

Dave,

I used the plastic "bigfoot" forms on my barn and they work great.  Mine used somotubes to extend above grade and that made it easy to mark  and pour to a consistent height.

I only used these though because my 24x30 barn is 2+ stories and has the potential for alot of weight.

If I was buiding a small shed I would think they are over kill.

You could alway bury a rock onder your sonotube if you have a hoe.  You will need to dig a hole for the "bigfoots"

[moonhill]

With sona tubes I have heard it it best to keep the tops close to ground level.  This is because they act as a cold sink and aid in the ground around them to freeze even more.  The higher they stick up the more coldness they absorb.  A foam pad around the tube just under the ground surface helps with frost penetration as well.  Tim

[beenthere]

moonhill
That sure makes a lot of sense.
Thanks for the post...as I'll keep that in mind for next time. 

[Dave Shepard]

Shinnlinger, these werern't the real "Bigfoots", which are a base for a cardboard sonotube. I've used that style as well, but the sonotube has no taper. Have you seen the one piece style? They also work well.


I was on the phone with Jack Sobon a couple of weeks ago about a timber order, so I picked his brain about the foundation. He suggested a hand laid stone foundation. I have some marble quarry tailings on my place, and my boss owns the quarry which is a half mile up the road, so I will most likely be building a marble foundation for the shed. ;D


Dave

[shinnlinger]

I like the sound of a marble foundation....especially at the price you are paying!

[Dave Shepard]

I stopped in at a friends place today for a five minute lesson in hand facing marble. It looks very straight forward, just a lot of DanG hard work. :D It only takes five tools. A 4 pound engineers hammer, a 5 pound splitting mash hammer, a 2" hand set, a 1" chisel, and a hand point. He wacked up a chunk of rubble into a nice building block in just a couple minutes. I'm sure there's a learning curve, but I should have the hang of it by the end of the shed foundation. 8)


Dave

[shinnlinger]

and I bet you will be glad it it is only a shed after you point up the marble.

It sounds neat though.  I almost bought a 2" roto drill to play with the hunks of rock I have around here.

I find Stone work very perspiring inspiring.