{"id":7984,"date":"2014-07-17T00:36:39","date_gmt":"2014-07-17T00:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/?p=7984"},"modified":"2023-08-26T12:30:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T12:30:33","slug":"tuff-shed-foundation-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/tuff-shed-foundation-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuff Shed Foundation Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u201cstarting at\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

www.tuffshed.com\/cabin-price-disclaimer\/<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here are some of the foundation options Tuff Shed recommends.<\/p>\n

Monolithic Foundation<\/h2>\n
\"Monolithic
Monolithic Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A monolithic foundation is a slab. Monolithic means \u201call in one pour.\u201d The slab is a concrete pour that has a thickened area where the footers would be.<\/p>\n

A slab is usually the least expensive foundation.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

T or Spread-Footing Foundation<\/h2>\n
\"Spread-Footing
Spread-Footing Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.\u00a0 The wide part “spreads” the weight of the building.<\/p>\n

The more the foundation is supporting, the wider the base of the foundation needs to be.<\/p>\n

Stepped Footing<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Concrete Filled CMU Foundation<\/h2>\n
\"Concrete
Concrete Filled CMU Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CMU means concrete masonry unit, a concrete block or cinder block.<\/p>\n

Why are concrete blocks called cinder block or breeze block?<\/strong>
\nCinders 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Pier and Beam Foundation<\/h2>\n
\"Pier
Pier and Beam Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A pier and beam or post and beam has wood posts set into the ground. You usually see this on decks.<\/p>\n

\"Pier
Pier and Beam Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 \u201cstarting at\u201d prices …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[26,8,1,11],"tags":[37],"class_list":["post-7984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-small-houses","category-projects","category-research","category-office","tag-foundation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-foundation.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15573,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/the-calumet-576-foot-cabin-shell-from-tuff-shed\/","url_meta":{"origin":7984,"position":0},"title":"The Calumet 576 Foot Cabin Shell from Tuff Shed","author":"Carla","date":"March 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Buy a cabin shell from Tuff Shed and finish the interior yourself! The Calumet 576 Foot Cabin Shell from Tuff Shed is 24 x 24 with a 6-foot deep front porch. The entire 24-foot front is a 6-foot deep porch. The Calumet Tuff Shed Cabin Shell has a 5\/12 roof\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "She-Sheds and Shed House Conversions"","block_context":{"text":"She-Sheds and Shed House Conversions","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/she-shed\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calumet 576 Foot Cabin Shell from Tuff Shed","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/featured-calumet.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/featured-calumet.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/featured-calumet.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/featured-calumet.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7962,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/tuff-shed-small-house-cimarron-720-sq-ft-cabin\/","url_meta":{"origin":7984,"position":1},"title":"Tuff Shed Small House – Cimarron 720 sq ft Cabin","author":"Carla","date":"July 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"You can start with a Tuff Shed auxiliary building like the TR-1600 to make a small house. Tuff Shed also makes cabin shells with floor plans and options for framing the rooms. Tuff Shed puts up the shell and you finish it yourself. The Cimarron is small at 720 square\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House Plans"","block_context":{"text":"House Plans","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/house-plans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tuff Shed Small House - Cimarron 720 sq ft Cabin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-cimarron.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-cimarron.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-cimarron.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-cimarron.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7995,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/2-story-tuff-shed-cabin\/","url_meta":{"origin":7984,"position":2},"title":"2-Story Tuff Shed Cabin","author":"Carla","date":"August 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"With planning, the Tuff Shed TR-1600 2-story farmhouse can be finished to make an economical house. It is available with a foot print of up to 18' x 36' with two full floors. You can see it at many Home Depots. Tuff Shed also makes cabin shells. Tuff Shed puts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House Plans"","block_context":{"text":"House Plans","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/house-plans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"2-Story Tuff Shed Cabin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/featured-yukon.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/featured-yukon.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/featured-yukon.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/featured-yukon.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8029,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/912-sq-ft-2-story-24-x-24-tuff-shed-cabin\/","url_meta":{"origin":7984,"position":3},"title":"912 Sq Ft 2-Story 24 x 24 Tuff Shed Cabin","author":"Carla","date":"August 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Tuff Shed cabins and auxiliary buildings are built on your location. The outside is finished and you complete the inside yourself. With planning, these little houses like the Tuff Shed TR-1600 2-story farmhouse can be finished to make an economical house. The Yellowstone Cabin Shell is 912 square feet, with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House Plans"","block_context":{"text":"House Plans","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/house-plans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tuff Shed Cabin Shell Series The Yellowstone 912 sq ft | 1.5 Story 1 or 2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-yellowstone.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-yellowstone.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-yellowstone.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-yellowstone.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7251,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/tuff-shed-cabin-shells\/","url_meta":{"origin":7984,"position":4},"title":"Tuff Shed Cabin Shells","author":"Carla","date":"March 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"You can use a Tuff Shed auxiliary building to make a small house. Now they have new line of cabin shells make it easier with floor plans and interior framing options. Tuff Shed builds the shell and can add interior framing that you finish yourself. Interior Wall Framing TUFF SHED\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House Plans"","block_context":{"text":"House Plans","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/house-plans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Colorado Cabin Tuff Shed Cabin Shells","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/featured-tuff_shed_cabin_shell.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/featured-tuff_shed_cabin_shell.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/featured-tuff_shed_cabin_shell.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/featured-tuff_shed_cabin_shell.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9235,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/16-x-16-sundance-tr-1600-2-story-building\/","url_meta":{"origin":7984,"position":5},"title":"16 x 16 Sundance TR-1600 2-Story Building","author":"Carla","date":"March 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the Sundance TR-1600 from TuffShed. They are sold at Home Depot. This is the smallest one I've seen, only 16' x 16'. This building is way more than just another shed. The TR-1600 boasts the most usable floor space and cubic square feet of any TUFF SHED Sundance\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garages & Storage"","block_context":{"text":"Garages & Storage","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/garage-storage\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tuff Shed 16 x 16 Sundance Series TR-1600","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/featured-16x16-TuffShed.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/featured-16x16-TuffShed.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/featured-16x16-TuffShed.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/featured-16x16-TuffShed.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7984"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12098,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7984\/revisions\/12098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}