Foundation ideas

[UK4X4]

I have recently purchased a small plot in Colorado- which I have not even seen yet !

Never knew you could buy land remotely over e-mail !

anyway I know the area and had a friend popup and take some photos for me.........

In comunication with the county building office I'm either less than 200sqft or full code and permit- 2 inspections per year ! 110V plumbing etc etc

So in the short term as I work abroad right now I will be building a 12X 16 ATV shed with attic........big enchillada build plans

My question is ...............what in the world do I do for a foundation on this !....

below is another natural clearing on the plot, but I'm pretty sure under that deer mown lawn it will be pretty similar......ROCKS



the is the other natural clearing this is south looking -

The property is somewhere in these aspen groves,shot looking north

The pics are about 1 month appart, major change in the greenry



To the east side the land drops to a small creek and aspen groves with beaver, which I prefer to leave as it and use the existing highground clearings with the views

[TheWire]

If you can get gravel to site and down below the frost line or to rock the Permanent Wood Foundation PWF I used on my cabin might work.  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=4640.0

I build the foundation in pieces at home and trailered it to site.  I used it partly because of the large rocks the gravel footings fit around.  The plywood is glued and nailed to the frame and when tied to the floor diaphragm makes for a solid base with out the need for bracing.  Its also closed in varmints, insects or snow able to get under the cabin. 

Jerry

[John Raabe]

For a small cabin the low-impact pier and beam foundation might work if you are not in expansive clay.

See this project from the Gallery: http://www.countryplans.com/nicolaisen.html
Here's another that might have some ideas: http://www.countryplans.com/12x18.html

[Don_P]

You mentioned that this is a full code area, the PWF is code approved with directions spelled out in the codebook.

[UK4X4]

mmm that wooden one would require a lot of digging !

with the concrete block on top of gravel filled hole, what stops the cabin blowing away ?, ok shifting...

ie could that be addapted to having a hole with gravel lined bottom, the concrete block, with a vertical post and back filled back to surface ?

water drains and there's still some uplift prevention from both frost and wind.....

If the first pic is the best house location then I think i'll have more chance getting X holes in the ground than a straight flat trench !

[davestreck]

My solution was: dig down to bedrock (only a foot or so below grade), fill the hole halfway with compacted beach gravel, then set pre-cast deck blocks in and backfill with gravel to just above grade. Then double 2x10 PT girders sitting on 4x4 PT posts for the floor joists to rest on. Eventually I plan to jack up each corner of the cabin and install poured concrete piers on bedrock. I know it aint code, but my shed at home has lived happily on an identical foundation for 15 years worth of New England winters, and it isn't even sitting on bedrock, just gravel in a shallow hole. In the 2+ years since I put in the cabin foundation, the floor is still flat and dead level.