Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions foundations

I would like to build a small garden type shed and wonder what is the minimal foundation for such a structure. Can flat stones be used to support the sill beam. Is frost heave an issue? I live in a cold climate and frost is usually at least 4 ft.
Would stones work for a larger structure as long as the sill is well protected?
Thanks,
Bob

Hi Chichi. Are you the famous golfing Chichi? Anyhow for your shed I would just remove the organics around the perimeter of the shed. Lay down some crushed stone and dry lay your flat stone up to about 8" above grade. The sills sit directly on the stone. The wall sheathing should extend down past the sills a couple of inches to keep them dry. The shed will rise and fall every year but a timber shed will ride it out like a boat and will outlast us both. Cinder blocks laid on patio stones will do the trick also but don't look nearly as good.

Not the same chichi. Thanks for the reply. It was what I hoped.
Bob

Related to this, I have a foundation question I was wondering as well... Foundations are one thing I don't know a whole lot about.

For my project, whose latest design is(and I think I have FINALLY settled on a design) approximately 12x24, story and a half, I was curious as to how to handle the foundation.

My hope is to build the building so that it can be moved at a future date and not leave an irreparable scar on the ground, i.e. no concrete. My thought was a bed of gravel with large field stones to support the sills about a foot or so above grade. The bottom sills are going to be cherry or walnut, so rotting won't be a concern in my lifetime!

IS this plan sufficient? The buildings will probably have a clay brick infill which would make it quite heavy, but it may be all wood.

check out...
rubble trench foundations