Tuff Shed Foundation Plans
You can start with a Tuff Shed auxiliary building like the TR-1600 and cabin shells do not include the foundation. You have to come up with that yourself. The website says, “Prices shown on this site for standard cabin shell models are “starting at” prices and include the exterior shell of the building, standard paint colors and $1,000 credit towards Tuff Shed engineering, provided that the customer provides either a monolithic concrete slab foundation or a spread-footing concrete foundation on which Tuff Shed can install the cabin shell structure.
A reinforced concrete foundation is required for all Tuff Shed Cabin Shell Series buildings, and is not included in any Tuff Shed prices on this website. Local building codes may vary and require a specific foundation type, and soil tests may also be required for certain foundation types. Customer is responsible for all costs relating to foundation. $1,000 customer credit for Tuff Shed engineering is valid for monolithic slab foundation or spread-footing foundations only.
Here are some of the foundation options Tuff Shed recommends.
Monolithic Foundation
A monolithic foundation is a slab. Monolithic means “all in one pour.” The slab is a concrete pour that has a thickened area where the footers would be.
A slab is usually the least expensive foundation.
You may be able to mix and pour the slab yourself for a small project. For a larger project, you can have the concrete delivered and finish it yourself.
Before you decide, find out what a professional will charge. You might be surprised. I was. The slab was one of the less expensive parts of my project. And it was done right.
T or Spread-Footing Foundation
If you have solid, stable, compacted soil where you are building, you can use a “T” or spread-footing foundation. A spread footing is a shallow foundation that is shaped like an upside-down T. The wider part of the footing has to be below the frost line. It is wider, to provide more stability. The wide part “spreads” the weight of the building.
The more the foundation is supporting, the wider the base of the foundation needs to be.
Stepped Footing
If you are building on a sloped site, you can use a stepped footing. A stepped footing is a spread-footing that goes up or down in steps. The wider part of the footing is below the frost line, following the elevation of the site in steps.
Concrete Filled CMU Foundation
CMU means concrete masonry unit, a concrete block or cinder block.
Why are concrete blocks called cinder block or breeze block?
Cinders are the by-product of burning coal, the cinders and ashes that are left. The small particles and ashes that are left are mixed with cement to make concrete set consistently and stand up better. Breeze is another word for the very small particles that used to be allowed to go out the chimney. It is captured and used in making concrete.
A concrete filled CMU foundation is a frost footing dug below the frost line. Then a concrete block wall is built up. A CMU foundation can be basement walls, crawlspace walls, stem walls and piers.
Pier and Beam Foundation
A pier and beam or post and beam has wood posts set into the ground. You usually see this on decks.
Simpson Strong-Tie makes Post Bases and Post Caps that simplify a pier and beam foundation. They make 9 different types of bases and 4 post cap variations, each for a slightly different situation.
The Simpson MPBZ Post Base is “specifically designed to provide moment resistance for columns or posts.” Moment is twist or rotational force. “Rotational inertia is also commonly known as moment of inertia.” Khan Academy
