What is the best foundation for a greenhouse. Greenhouse foundation: when is it really needed? The device of the brick part of the foundation
A greenhouse is a structure that weighs several times less than a house. That is, its design is sufficient, light and in many cases it is required to make its base stronger. This allows you to make a foundation. How to build it correctly? What type to choose when building a greenhouse?
The foundation during construction gives the greenhouse reliability, safety and stationarity. The greenhouse belongs to light structures and therefore belongs to temporary structures. Do you need a foundation for a greenhouse?
- It helps the frame of the greenhouse stay in place even with strong winds, rains and other negative weather manifestations.
- The materials from which the greenhouse is built are completely protected from the negative effects of the environment.
- It increases the thermal insulation properties of the greenhouse. Greenhouses with it retain heat 15 percent longer than without it.
- Provides reliable protection against fogs and currents of cold air.
- It is directly involved in the protection of plants and the greenhouse structure itself from pests.
- Now it becomes clear that any greenhouse structure must be durable, resistant to weather conditions, and also comply with design features.
- It makes the structure more stable. This is especially important at the end of winter, as the snow cover becomes heavy, and melt water can break the greenhouse. That is what is called reliability.
- If you save on building materials in its installation and use improvised and low-quality tools, then such a foundation can quickly become unusable. The result is a broken greenhouse.
- It must correspond in size, shape and materials from which the greenhouse structure is built. If the materials have significant differences, then the structure will bend and eventually break completely.
Important!
The choice of the right materials, as well as the type of construction of not only the greenhouse base, but also the foundation, play a huge role in its operation. The productivity and well-being of cultivated plants that grow in it depend on this.
Foundation types
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The foundation is the foundation of any structure. Its choice depends on the material from which the greenhouse will be mounted. For example, polycarbonate is a lightweight building material and requires a less rigid material to install than glass.
The foundation can be of several types:
- From wooden beams.
- On a concrete-brick basis.
- Concrete, tape.
- Block based.
- In the form of a columnar base.
- Monolithic slab.
From wooden beams
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This building material is suitable for building the foundation of that greenhouse, which is operated only in the summer season. In order for it to serve you longer, you should follow a few simple rules:
- before using the bars, carefully inspect them;
- you need to choose a dry, clean, undamaged by insects and rodents wood, no rot;
- before you start building the foundation, treat the bars with protective equipment.
The base of the tree has a low weight and affordable building material. When installing this type of base, window frames can be used, but only after careful processing. The tree has one significant drawback - when interacting with negative environmental factors, the service life is short. To extend its operational period allow various kinds of antiseptics.
On a concrete-brick basis
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It is applicable to greenhouses that are operated from early spring to late autumn. The weight of this type of foundation is small. It's easy to build. Concrete - brick foundation copes well with increased loads and deformations. It is suitable for the construction of a winter, heated version.
The disadvantages include the ability to accumulate moisture. The brick is quickly destroyed. In colder climatic zones, it must be additionally insulated.
Concrete, tape
A concrete-based strip foundation serves as a substitute for a brick foundation. It is especially suitable for the installation of greenhouses that operate in winter. Strip foundation has increased reliability compared to brick, but easy to build and can be made by yourself.
The advantages of this type of foundation are durability, resistance to moisture and other harmful weather conditions.
The negative characteristics include low thermal insulation, high weight. Its cost will be quite high.
Block based
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This type of foundation is suitable for building in places where the soil is very wet. But for construction, additional, special equipment is used. Positive properties - the construction process is simple and inexpensive. The negative effects of weather and environmental conditions do not cause him much damage.
The negative characteristics are that the thermal insulation is very low. It is unstable to mechanical damage and quickly collapses.
columnar base
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This type of foundation is easy to build. Is inexpensive. The pillars are screwed into the ground at a depth of 750-850 millimeters. If the greenhouse is small, you can not bury them in the soil. It is best to install them between themselves in one and a half - two meters from each other.
The main advantages are reliability, strength, durability. The cost is small. The negative characteristics include the fact that additional work is required during installation. They are enclosed in a rigid harness installation, and the basement requires additional insulation.
Monolithic slab
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If the groundwater on the site is close to the surface of the earth or the soil is not stable, then it is best to choose a foundation in the form of a monolithic slab. There are two types of plates:
- She swims. That is, the base of concrete is located on the ground from above.
- Plate with rigid ribs. It is a combined design of concrete strips and only in the upper part a monolithic slab is attached to them.
Important!
The tape-concrete foundation is necessarily closed in a ring, and this is not required when building a monolithic base from a slab.
A monolithic base has a huge number of advantages, for example, durability, strength. Also, the frame of the greenhouse is firmly fixed and can be installed on any type of soil. The interior space is completely isolated from unexpected weather behavior.
The construction of this type of foundation will be quite expensive. After its installation, it is necessary to additionally insulate it. For the well-being of plants, when installing a monolithic base, do not forget about drainage system.
What foundation to choose for a greenhouse
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It does not matter what covering material for the greenhouse will be used, for example, polycarbonate, glass, polyethylene film, the base can be anything. Here you need to look at both the constructive structure and the quality of the soil. But it is best to conduct research in the field of geodesy. They will help determine the quality of the soil on the site. Also remember to consider the climate zone you live in.
In the construction of capital greenhouses, which in the future will operate year-round. An excellent option for the foundation would be a tape-concrete type. It can be used in the construction of any kind of greenhouse structures. If you use a temporary structure on your site that will only be used during holiday season, then feel free to choose a foundation based on pillars.
Base for polycarbonate structure
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The greenhouse structure made of polycarbonate has light weight, but in order to extend its service life, it is best to put it on the foundation. To select the optimal type of foundation for it is worth considering:
- What is the size of the greenhouse. The strength of the base depends on the area of \u200b\u200bthe structure.
- What features does the soil have on your land plot. It should be taken into account - to what depth the earth freezes, whether there is groundwater, what type of soil belongs to.
From the entire article, we can conclude that the foundation should be a strong support that will protect plants from the influence of negative factors. Also it must be:
- resistant to various natural phenomena;
- have increased strength and provide high-quality support for the entire frame of the structure;
- correspond to the parameters of the greenhouse structure.
In the spring, during snowmelt, it will be important that the greenhouse has a solid structure that can withstand snow melt and melt water flows. If the foundation is built with errors, then this will lead to negative consequences. It will also be important that the greenhouse and the foundation must be identical in size - this also affects the strength of the structure. And such a greenhouse looks much nicer and more beautiful.
The right base protects not only the overall structure, but also the plants. Also, thanks to him, a microclimate is formed inside, which has a positive effect on the growth of pets.
What type of foundation did you choose? Whatever building materials your greenhouse is built from. The main task of the whole structure is to completely protect plants from the influence of negative factors. external environment. In the greenhouse, optimal conditions must be maintained for the good growth of cultivated plants, so that at the end of the gardening season they will please you with a good harvest.
Now we can conclude for ourselves: “Where is it better to put the greenhouse on the foundation or in the ground?”
The construction of the foundation is a crucial stage, the strength and stability of the structure largely depends on it. A greenhouse without a foundation is a structure that some summer residents build on their plots of polycarbonate. Let's try to figure out how justified this construction option is.
A solid foundation will be needed finished structure, purchased on the market, and for a building made with your own hands from improvised materials.
The article explains why a foundation is needed. In it you will find a photo of the foundation for the greenhouse.
The article raises the question of what kind of foundation the construction will need, depending on the chosen building material. There is detailed instructions how to make a foundation for a polycarbonate building.
Why is a foundation required to build a greenhouse?
As a rule, a foundation is needed for a permanent building, such as a house. As for light structures in the country, they are erected temporarily. Land owners cannot but be interested in the question of whether a foundation is needed for a greenhouse at all.
Only one answer is possible here - you can’t do without building a base. The foundation performs the following tasks:
- Provides reliable fixation of the frame, which is not afraid of strong gusts of wind or precipitation.
- Does not allow the structure to come into contact with the ground, thereby increasing the service life. The base allows you to save approximately 10% of heat.
- The base does not allow cold air and fog to penetrate inside.
- Protects the building with the crop from pests and rodents.
What are the foundations for greenhouse structures?
There are 4 types of foundations:
- tape;
- pile;
- columnar;
- slab.
Knowing the specific features of the soil, topography, climate, and the dimensions of the building will help the owner of the site decide which foundation to make for the greenhouse.
Tape
The strip base is considered suitable for the vast majority of structures. According to the principle of construction, several types are distinguished:
- Unburied. It lies on a solid layer of soil. To make it, you need to remove the fertile soil. Such a foundation serves as a grillage for the foundation on piles.
- Shallow. They dig a trench to a depth of 70 or 80 cm. A special pillow is prepared in advance for the base. This option is not suitable when groundwater is located close to the site.
- Buried. It is sunk to a considerable depth. On average, the indicator varies from 1.2 m to 1.4 m.
It is necessary that the value of the height of the cross section exceed the value of the thickness or width. The proportional ratio of the length of the structure in relation to the width is 1.5 - 2:1.
The optimal proportion for depth with height is considered to be 0.7: 0.3-0.4 m. Concrete blocks, stone, clay, brick, foam blocks, concrete can serve as materials for the construction of a strip foundation.
If the greenhouse needs a foundation that is cheap, then it should be built from timber. Special protective compounds will help to make the base more durable, to prevent the process of decay.
pile
A stilt foundation is a great option for building a greenhouse in wetlands or uneven areas.
- driving;
- screw.
For installation pile foundation it takes less time than the construction of a tape. The distance between the piles is from 1.5 to 2 m. The grillage of the building can be cast-in-place concrete. It can also be built from beams or sleepers.
Columnar
The columnar base is a budget solution suitable for small buildings. Such a foundation for a greenhouse with your own hands will need to be deepened by 0.7-0.8 m.
For the construction of a columnar base, the following materials may be needed:
- brick;
- rubble stone;
- T-shaped concrete pillars;
- pipes made of metal, asbestos or roofing material;
- foam blocks;
- wooden stumps.
To prevent cold from penetrating inside the structure, the gap between the ground level and the base of the structure is sewn up with boards.
slab
A slab base is a suitable solution for sites with unstable ground or high groundwater levels. There are 2 types of plates:
- floating;
- base with stiffeners.
A trench is dug under the slab to a depth of 0.3-0.7 m. Sand and gravel are poured into the bottom, the pillow is leveled and covered with geotextile and roofing felt.
The thickness of the foundation is calculated depending on the purpose of the building. For a light greenhouse, 100 mm is enough, and for a large stationary type greenhouse, 200 or 250 mm is required.
Building a polycarbonate greenhouse
The building has its own characteristics. So, a strip foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse is the best choice.
- You need to create a project. The drawing indicates the dimensions of the future structure and the main components. At this stage, you need to decide on building materials and their quantity.
- We choose a place for the construction of a greenhouse. Cleanses construction site from stumps and debris.
- We set up the foundation.
- It is recommended that the base rises 1/3 above the ground.
- attached to the base with anchor bolts.
After installing the greenhouse, it is important to seal the gap between the base of the structure and the foundation.
Photo of the foundation for the greenhouse
Despite the fact that the greenhouse is a lightweight structure, it requires a reliable and solid foundation. Indeed, in the absence of a good foundation, there is a risk that it will “walk” around the site, and young plants may die from frost and wind. So, what kind of foundation is needed for a greenhouse and how to build it correctly?
The foundation for the greenhouse is a reliable foundation for the structure, which extends its service life, as well as protecting plantings from negative factors. Many summer residents have a question: is it possible to build a greenhouse without a foundation for the sake of saving money and time?
Of course, this is possible, but arranging the base for a greenhouse has a number of advantages:
- the foundation firmly attaches the greenhouse to the ground, so that even the strongest winds will not be afraid of it;
- the structure will be above ground level - this will save about 10% of the heat inside;
- insects, moles and other pests will not be able to get to the landings;
- plants will be protected from frost, precipitation and other adverse factors.
Among the most important characteristics that a greenhouse base should have are strength, resistance to the environment and compliance with the design features.
- Reliability. The stability of the base plays a special role during the end of winter, as melting snow and water can destroy the entire structure.
- Resistance to negative factors. For the sake of economy, some summer residents build a foundation from improvised means (for example, plastic bottles or old tires) or low-quality material, which can be a big mistake - due to the influence of groundwater and temperature changes, such a foundation can quickly collapse.
- Compliance with the size, shape and material of the greenhouse. If the technical features of the design differ significantly from the features of the foundation, the greenhouse will quickly deform and may even collapse.
Summing up, we can say that not only the appearance and functionality, but also the "health" of plantings and the future harvest depend on the correct choice of the type and material of the base of the greenhouse.
The base for the greenhouse is selected depending on the material from which the structure is made (for example, silicate glass requires a more rigid base than), financial and time costs, as well as the climatic conditions of the region. The types of foundations that are used for arranging greenhouses include tape and surface (small or shallow). The principles of their construction are almost identical, with the only difference being that a deeper pit is needed for the tape base.
As for building materials, in this case, you can take a tree (timber), brick, concrete mix, as well as ready-made concrete slabs or blocks. Each of the options has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when choosing a foundation.
Prices for concrete slabs
concrete slab foundation
Table. Advantages and disadvantages different types foundations.
foundation type | pros | Minuses |
---|---|---|
Wooden | Cheap, light and simple both in work and in operation (the design can be easily transferred to another place). Good thermal insulation characteristics. | Low strength, therefore suitable for polycarbonate greenhouses and other lightweight structures. A short service life compared to other materials, and in conditions of high humidity it will rot even after treatment with special compounds. |
Concrete-brick | It is light in weight, easy to arrange, well resists loads and deformations, therefore it is suitable for heated greenhouses. | The material has the ability to accumulate moisture and quickly collapse. At low temperatures, additional insulation is required. |
Concrete tape | Reliable, durable, well resists high humidity and other negative factors. | Requires considerable investments, has low thermal insulation properties and a large mass. Quite complicated to set up. |
Blocky | Easy to install, relatively inexpensive, environmentally friendly. | It does not hold heat well and has low strength. |
Columnar | Reliable, strong, durable, relatively cheap. | The design features of the foundation require additional work - rigid piping and basement insulation. |
pile | The design is extremely easy to install, if necessary, it can be easily transferred to another place. Work can be carried out in any weather, suitable for moving soils and areas with difficult terrain. | Disadvantages are similar to those columnar foundation. In addition, the metal piles from which the frame is made are prone to corrosion. |
slab | Durable and durable, provides rigid fixation and stability of the structure on any soil. Well isolates the interior of the greenhouse from negative factors and pests. | Expensive to install, has a lot of weight and requires additional insulation. Since the plantings will be isolated from ordinary soil, it will be necessary to equip the greenhouse in the greenhouse and carefully monitor the microclimate. |
In order to choose the right base design for the greenhouse, the following rules must be observed.
- It is not recommended to build a greenhouse on a deep foundation, as it can collapse due to swelling of the soil.
- The base should not be heavier than the entire structure, otherwise the greenhouse will deform or warp over time.
- Foundation insulation is required only for those greenhouses that are planned to be used in winter: for this, expanded polystyrene or expanded clay is used, which fills the gaps between the base structure and the trench.
Important! Another important point is that the reliability and strength of both the foundation and the entire greenhouse depend on strict adherence to the construction instructions and the correct execution of all work.
Step by step instructions for laying the foundation for the greenhouse
Each type of foundation has its own peculiarities of laying, but in any case, you must first make the appropriate calculations (depending on the dimensions and design of the room). After that, the site is cleared of debris, trees and shrubs, and, if necessary, leveled.
Tools and materials
Materials for arranging the foundation are selected in advance, it can be a wooden beam, concrete mix, blocks, etc.
In addition, the following tools will be needed to complete the work:
- rope or fishing line;
- wooden stakes;
- building level;
- roulette;
- hacksaw;
- a hammer;
- nails;
- shovel shovel and bayonet;
- anchors for fixing the main structure.
It should be noted that this is not full list necessary for arranging the foundation of tools and improvised materials. Depending on the type of foundation chosen, you will need to add a hand drill (for a pile foundation), formwork boards (for laying strip base) etc.
A polycarbonate greenhouse, like any other structure, requires regular maintenance and sometimes repairs. He will tell you about the proper care of the greenhouse, as well as techniques and methods of repair.
Laying the foundation from a bar
A timber foundation is the best option for economical summer residents who plan to use the greenhouse exclusively in the warm season.
The beam must be clean and dry (moisture content not more than 20-22%), without signs of decay or damage by pests, and the cross section depends on the size of the greenhouse - logs with a large cross section will be needed for a large-sized structure. The best option is larch material that has been previously treated with antiseptic compounds (otherwise, you will have to do it yourself, because the foundation will quickly rot or be damaged by pests).
The basis of the timber can be made in several ways, and the simplest consists of the following steps.
Step 1. On the selected site, make markings with wooden stakes and ropes, and you should make sure that each corner is 90 degrees.
Step 2 Remove the top layer of soil (later it can be used for beds).
Step 3 Dig a trench along the perimeter of the marking, the depth of which is determined depending on the section of the beam (for example, for a material with a section of 100x100 mm, a trench 150 mm deep will suffice), and the width should be 70-80 mm more than the thickness of the logs.
Step 4 Lay out the bottom and walls of the trench with roofing felt, which will play the role of a waterproofing material. It is necessary to lay the material with an overlap - so that the beam is in a kind of "envelope".
Prices for roofing material
ruberoid
Step 5 Lay the beam on the roofing material and fasten the corners together in any way that is used for construction wooden houses(for example, “in the paw” or “in half a tree”).
Step 6 Fasten the structure with metal corners, which have holes for nails or self-tapping screws.
Step 7 Align the base to the spirit level using wooden wedges or scraps. Minor deviations are eliminated by adding sand or gravel.
This solution is suitable for areas with a simple relief and low groundwater. On wet soils or areas with difficult terrain, it is recommended to install the frame on low point supports. The frame for such a foundation is made as described above, but does not fit into a trench, but is installed on rods previously driven into the ground - one support on the inside of each corner and every 1-1.5 m along the perimeter of the future greenhouse. As a building material, you can use trimmings of reinforcement, screw supports or wooden stakes (length no more than 70 cm). The timber frame is nailed or screwed to the supports.
Brick foundation laying
A brick foundation is much more reliable and durable than a timber foundation, but its laying will require more time and labor, since the frame is installed on a special cushion of concrete and gravel. This cushion protects the foundation from deformation due to heaving of the soil, so that the structure will be reliable and durable. It is better to use not silicate, but ordinary red brick, since it is less susceptible to destruction due to the influence of negative factors. The algorithm for laying a brick foundation is as follows.
Step 1. Make markings on the site of the future greenhouse.
Step 2 Remove the top layer of soil to a depth of 20-25 cm.
Step 3 Pour well-washed gravel into the bottom of the resulting trench and carefully compact it, and the layer should be at least 5 cm. When building a brick foundation on a pillow, you can do without gravel, making the base only of concrete, but the gravel will give the structure more rigidity and stability.
Step 4 Prepare a concrete mixture of cement, gravel and sand, the recommended proportions are one part cement, three parts sand and five parts gravel.
Step 5 Pour the prepared mixture into the trench, and then wait at least two weeks for the concrete to completely harden.
Step 6 To waterproof the foundation, lay a layer of roofing material on the pillow.
Step 7 Lay bricks, and the number of rows depends on the dimensions of the greenhouse - for a small structure, one row will be enough. Strengthen the anchors between the bricks, which will serve as fasteners for the future greenhouse, while focusing on its design features. Bricks should be laid as evenly as possible, using the building level for checking, and the space between them should be well filled with mortar to avoid cold air entering the interior of the greenhouse.
After the solution hardens, you can proceed to the construction of the greenhouse, which is attached to the anchors fixed in the foundation.
Strip foundation laying
The strip foundation is the simplest, but at the same time the cheapest and most reliable option for the basis for the greenhouse, which will provide the structure with all the necessary characteristics and protect the planting from the influence of negative factors. This is optimal solution for structures made of polycarbonate, which today is one of the most popular materials for the construction of greenhouses and hotbeds. The principle of laying such a foundation is similar to laying a brick foundation.
Step 1. At the site of the future foundation, according to the marking, dig a trench 30-50 cm deep and 15-20 cm wide. If the greenhouse is planned to be used in winter, the trench needs to be dug deeper - approximately to the depth of soil freezing.
Step 2 Build formwork (can be made from old boards), if necessary, strengthen with supports and screeds.
Formwork for pouring (example for large greenhouses)
Step 3 Fill the bottom with sand (a layer of about 20 cm) or gravel (at least 5-10 cm), then tamp.
Step 4 Prepare a concrete solution (proportions: one part of cement, three parts of fine gravel, three parts of well-washed river sand) and pour it. It is better to do this in one step, otherwise the concrete will harden unevenly, and in the future cracks will appear in the foundation.
It will take at least 20 days for the mixture to completely solidify, after which you can proceed to the construction of the main structure.
Block foundation laying
Of all types of foundation, block foundation has one of the highest strength indicators and good waterproofing properties, so it is recommended to equip it in places with high humidity and in low-lying areas. For the foundation, you can use FBS blocks, which are reinforced concrete structures, or hollow foam concrete blocks.
Step 1. With the help of a rope and wooden stakes, make markings on the site of the future greenhouse.
Step 2 Dig a trench so that the rope runs in the middle. The width should be approximately 25 cm, and the depth is determined depending on the depth of soil freezing.
Step 3 Pour gravel at the bottom of the trench with a layer of 10 cm thick and compact well.
Step 4 Prepare a concrete solution and fill it with the prepared bottom of the trench.
Step 5 Until the solution has hardened, press the blocks into the corners of the future structure and align them horizontally and vertically. The surface of the masonry should be approximately flush with the ground.
Step 6 Lay blocks in the same way along the entire perimeter of the trench.
Step 7 It is good to fill all the voids between the blocks with mortar, and compact the masonry on the sides, adding earth. Smooth the surface with a trowel to make it as smooth as possible.
Important! To make the structure as reliable as possible, several rows of bricks can be laid out on top of the foundation, having previously laid the waterproofing material, and then let the entire masonry “grab” well.
Laying a columnar (pile) foundation
The column base is an inexpensive and simple solution for light greenhouses that are planned to be used in the warm season.
For large-sized heavy structures, such a basis is not the best way due to the insufficient level of rigidity, therefore it is recommended to additionally make a strong harness. To build a columnar base structure, you will need small concrete or wooden posts - usually 6-8 supports are enough for a medium-sized greenhouse.
Step 1. Mark the future foundation, install the pillars at the corners of the greenhouse and along the perimeter with an interval of 70-90 cm. On peat soils, the supports must be driven into the soil until they reach denser layers and are securely fixed.
Step 2 With a garden drill, make a trench about a meter deep between the supports (it is desirable that its bottom be approximately at the level of the freezing depth of the soil).
Step 3 Lay roofing material on the bottom of the well, which will play the role of formwork and protect the foundation from moisture.
Step 4 To give the base rigidity, you need to make a frame - tie 2-3 reinforcing pins together, and then lay them too.
Step 5 Lay a wooden formwork around each pile, otherwise, after pouring with concrete, they may change their position or warp (it is not required to remove it after the concrete has dried).
Step 6 Prepare the concrete mixture, pour it into the well.
Similarly, you can equip the foundation of special screw piles; Compared to concrete supports, they have a number of advantages:
- installation does not require the use of special tools or equipment;
- the design does not require concrete pouring, due to which the entire greenhouse is assembled in just a few hours;
- screw piles are completed with heads, on which the main structure is easily and quickly installed;
Increasingly, summer residents and gardeners are installing polycarbonate greenhouses on their plots. Some ordinary people mount the structure directly on the ground, but this is not correct. In order for the structure to serve for a long time, you need to build a foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands.
What type of base is suitable for a polycarbonate structure, what material is better to use, and how to do all the work yourself? Do I need a foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse? Let's look at these issues in more detail.
What is the foundation for?
When the owner of a summer cottage decides to install a polycarbonate greenhouse without a foundation, using the usual pins that are included in the kit for the arrangement. The consequences of this decision, the free movement of the structure throughout the site, with every strong gust of wind.
Even if this does not happen, then over time the soil under the greenhouse, which you will dig up every year, may settle and the greenhouse will warp.
In addition, shrinkage of the soil under the greenhouse can form gaps into which insects or mice will penetrate, causing crop damage. Bridges of cold can harm the growth of seedlings.
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the foundation is responsible for the following points:
- Strong fixation of the structure frame;
- Protection of plants from cold air and rodents;
- Isolates metal carcass greenhouses from contact with the soil.
How to make a foundation for a greenhouse with your own hands? Before installation, you need to make an important decision - how stationary the structure will be. If during operation an annual rearrangement of the structure is planned, then a mobile base can be made, which is easy to disassemble and move to another place. The foundation for the greenhouse, which is better, we will consider in more detail.
Capital construction requires a special approach - the installation of a solid foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse.
What foundation is suitable for a greenhouse
The place for the greenhouse has already been determined, it was decided that the construction will be capital and solid. It remains to choose the type of base.
You can build any foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands, for example:
- Block base;
- From brick on cement mortar;
- Wooden beds;
- Monolithic base;
- Tape;
- Spot;
- On screw piles.
Each of these options can be used in the construction of polycarbonate greenhouses on the foundation. Let's take a closer look at each type of foundation.
Block base
The foundation for a greenhouse made of blocks is a durable structure with excellent waterproofing characteristics. This base is perfect for areas with high soil moisture. It is not difficult to make a base with your own hands, it is enough to know the construction technology, so:
- Prepare a place for the location of the greenhouse - remove debris, remove the top, sod layer;
- Install pegs at the corners of the future structure, between which a building cord is stretched around the perimeter;
- To set the inner corners at 90 degrees, you need to pull the lacing diagonally and measure the size;
- Then we repeat the action with the following angles - if the distance is the same in both cases, then the angles are set correctly;
- Next, we begin to dig a trench, strictly along the lacing, which should pass from the outer or inner dimensions of the greenhouse;
The weight of a polycarbonate greenhouse is not very large, so it is enough to equip the foundation for a greenhouse with a depth of 30 to 50 cm and a width of 25 cm.
- As soon as the trench is ready, you need to equip a gravel-sand cushion, which should be at least 10 cm. It must be well tamped, for better shrinkage it can be spilled with water;
- Prepare the concrete mixture and pour into the trench. For high-quality pouring, it is necessary to bayonet concrete well - this way all air cushions in concrete are removed;
- Immediately after pouring, they begin to install blocks, deeply pressing them into the concrete. Installation starts from the corner around the perimeter. Each block after installation is checked by level;
- Once all the blocks are installed, the remaining concrete must be poured and leveled with a spatula;
- As soon as the base is set, we begin to lay bricks to equip the basement. It is better to use a frame material, as it tolerates weathering and moisture.
Bricks are stacked in 5 rows, so you get a rather high base, which will allow you to install a polycarbonate greenhouse on wet soils, without harm to the structure. Do-it-yourself foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse is ready.
Brick base on concrete
How to make a foundation for a greenhouse with your own hands from brick and concrete? This do-it-yourself warping under a polycarbonate greenhouse is not difficult to do. Under it, you do not need to dig a deep trench, just 10-15 cm deep is enough. The rest of the foundation will be built above the ground. The stages of work are as follows:
- The marking of the site for the construction of the foundation is carried out as in the first case;
- Dig a trench 20 cm wide, and mount formwork from boards or plywood in it. It is important to equip the formwork using a level;
- Pour the concrete solution evenly with the soil surface, check the horizon by level;
- Even before the mortar hardens, anchor bolts must be installed in the concrete. Fasteners are installed in accordance with the drawings of the greenhouse. Builders advise using an anchor with a section of 12 mm;
- We leave the foundation for seven days to dry;
If the weather is sultry, then it is worth eliminating the rapid loss of moisture by covering the surface of the foundation with sawdust, or cover it with roofing material. If this is not done, then the foundation may crack.
- The next step is to install brickwork over a concrete base. The laying is done in such a way that the anchors fall just on the seams between the bricks;
- After 3-5 rows of brickwork have been laid (depending on the length of the fasteners), leave the mortar to set.
The frame of the structure is fixed to the finished foundation with bolts, using nuts.
Timber base or wooden beds
This do-it-yourself base for a polycarbonate greenhouse is not difficult to complete, today it is the easiest process. It is often found on summer cottages. Its big plus is mobility and quick construction. So if you approach the installation correctly, the arrangement will take several hours.
When laying wooden beds, you can use round timber, gun carriage or timber, the main requirement is that the surface of the wooden foundation for polycarbonate greenhouses must be perfectly flat. If you neglect this rule, the frame of the greenhouse will not stand up straight, which will make it difficult to sheath with polycarbonate, and the fit to the base will be loose.
For a timber base, I use a material with a section of 100 x 100, but sometimes it is allowed to use a board of leaf wood measuring 50 x 150. Before you start mounting the wooden base, you should measure everything correctly.
First of all, put together a frame that is 100% the same as the dimensions of the greenhouse frame.
Set the frame according to the level, if there are large differences, then you will have to carry out earthworks - dig a level under the beds.
When the perimeter is set to the horizon, check the diagonals. To do this, we measure one and the second diagonal, the permissible deviation is not more than 1.5-2 cm.
This method does not involve burying beds in the ground, but there is another option:
- Dig a trench under the beds;
- Tamp the bottom of the trench well;
- Pour out the sand cushion;
- Lay waterproofing material - it can be roofing material or a film of 200 microns. In two additions;
- Lay down wooden foundation under a polycarbonate greenhouse, and trim the horizon;
- The corners are fixed with brackets or building corners;
- Wooden beds need to be covered with a layer of waterproofing - it can be a painting or pasting material;
- Fill the gaps between the soil and the beam with earth and tamp tightly.
The depth of the trench under the beam 100 x 100 should be 15 cm, the width should be 10 cm more than the beam itself. Wood should be treated with antiseptic impregnations.
Monolithic foundation for a greenhouse
This is the most reliable foundation, which is equipped on soils prone to heaving. Monolithic foundation for a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands will protect plants from the cold and rodents, but it is worth remembering that the cost of arranging the structure will be quite expensive.
Summer residents rarely use this type of foundation, as this is a very laborious and costly process. In addition, you need to strictly monitor the level of the plate - the horizon must be perfect.
The algorithm for performing work is as follows:
- Dig a pit 10 cm larger than the foundation for the greenhouse, 30-40 cm deep;
- Lay a special geofabric on the walls and bottom of the pit, which will not only prevent soil shedding, but will also serve as excellent drainage;
- Equip the formwork and sand and gravel cushion, which should be well compacted;
- This type of foundation requires special reinforcement. To do this, you need to take reinforcement with a cross section of 12 mm, and lay it on a sand cushion by tying it with a knitting wire;
- Pour the concrete mixture, which you can mix yourself, or buy ready-made;
- As soon as the mixture settles for about an hour, you need to install anchor fasteners based on the drawing of the greenhouse.
As soon as the slab foundation for the polycarbonate greenhouse is completely dry, it needs to be waterproofed.
Polycarbonate greenhouse strip base
The foundation for a greenhouse is tape - the most common type of foundation, which is often used by summer residents and gardeners if a capital greenhouse is being equipped. This is due to the fact that it is not difficult to build it, while the cost of this base is much cheaper than tiled.
Installation work begins with preparing the site for installation - clearing the site, removing the sod layer. Further work is carried out in stages:
- Make markup as described in other methods;
- Dig a trench 40-50 cm deep and 25 cm wide;
- Pour out a sand cushion (10 cm), and lay waterproofing material on it;
- Equip the formwork from a board or plywood - it should rise 10-15 cm above the soil level;
- The formwork should be well fixed by placing external supports and lintels between the sides;
- Install rebar to reinforce the structure. In this case, reinforced rods with a cross section of 8-12 mm can be used, since the design of the greenhouse does not have a large specific gravity;
- Pour concrete. If there is no special vibrator to remove air bubbles from the solution, then you can tap the entire base with a hammer on the formwork. This must be done very carefully without effort, otherwise there is a chance of breaking the wood structure;
- On the third day, the formwork can be removed and the foundation left to dry, having previously covered it with a film or roofing material.
As soon as the base is completely dry, after about 10-14 days, depending on weather conditions, it is necessary to equip the waterproofing and backfill. It is not difficult to do the strip foundation of the greenhouse with your own hands if you follow the instructions described above.
Point base
This foundation for a greenhouse with your own hands is not difficult to do. Just follow the step by step instructions:
- Prepare the site and markup, as in the previous options;
- Then dig holes in the corners of the future base with a depth of 30-40 cm. For this, it is better to use a hand drill;
- On the sides of the hole they dig in accordance with the drawing of the greenhouse, in the places of attachments;
- Tamp the bottom of each hole and equip waterproofing;
- Mount the formwork, the aerial part of the future base, 15 cm high;
- Reinforce each hole with rods, and pour concrete;
- Install fasteners.
Important! All pillars must be at the same level, so before arranging the base, you need to stretch the twine, along which the formwork for each pillar will be exposed.
screw foundation
The easiest way to arrange, as ready-made screw piles are screwed into the soil. The process is simplified by the fact that you can bring special equipment to the site, with the help of which the work will be completed in a few hours. The size of the screw foundation for the greenhouse will not matter much, it is enough to deliver a few piles if the greenhouse is rebuilt.
But the screw foundation for the greenhouse, the depth of which is small, can be done independently.
- In this case, it is not necessary to thoroughly prepare the site for the structure, it is enough to remove debris and dry grass;
- Marking is carried out in the same way as with a point foundation;
- Piles purchased in advance are first driven into the ground for stability, then they begin to be screwed into the ground. You need to screw it strictly vertically, so you need to periodically check the vertical level;
- Once all the piles are installed, you need to perform the strapping. For this, construction heels are prepared, to which fasteners are pre-welded under the greenhouse frame;
- Heels should be welded to screw piles, strictly observing the horizon;
- The strapping can be equipped from a bar, or a metal profile corner.
Advice! Performing the strapping, you must first drill holes for the mounting anchors.
It is not difficult to make a base for a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands, if you know the basic nuances of installation. Often summer residents believe that since the structure is not heavy, then it is not necessary to equip the base for it.
But as we have already figured out, in order for the greenhouse to stand reliably and last for a long time, it is necessary to build a foundation under it. It remains only to do such work as to install the greenhouse on the foundation, but this is not difficult.