Preparing a Foundation
This section is intended to give you an overview of the need for a foundation for your metal or wood garage. Regardless of the style of garage that you order, a foundation is always recommended. It’s also very important to do the foundation properly as it literally forms the base for the building. Proper foundations help insure a level floor and will help to lengthen the sustainable life of the building. Your choice of foundation largely depends on what the building will be used for.
There are many foundation options and some aren’t suited to garage applications. Other factors that can impact your foundation choice are drainage issues, community bylaws and covenants, and special design considerations (like stairs). This is not guesswork; if you can’t build a proper foundation yourself then a professional contractor needs to be hired to do it for you. In most instances for a garage, a concrete pad or footings is required because of support requirements. If the garage structure is mounted on a concrete pad, a floor won’t be required.
There are a number of foundation choices to select from for a structure. Some, for garages, are not sound enough and include patio stones, cinder block, and super spikes. Two that remain, and are recommended, include concrete footings and a concrete pad.
Concrete Footings - Concrete footings can be chosen where a substantial foundation is required or it is necessary for the structure to be raised off the ground. This can be a challenging endeavor for do-it-yourself builders. Footings may also be a good choice for a foundation, especially for larger structures, when a building permit is required and the building codes in your particular area will determine this. Footings go below the frost line in the ground and a concrete pour is used until the ground is level. The garage is then attached to the tubes once they are cut. A professional contractor is highly recommended if you opt for this type of system.
Concrete Pad - A concrete pad is an excellent choice as a base for building a garage. The concrete base foundation allows walls to become mounted into the cement, which eliminates the need for a floor. An experienced contractor should also be employed if you are using this preference.
