PART 1 FULL GARDEN ROOM BUILD How to lay a Concrete Base

Here's a video of what a few of you have been waiting for..The full tutorial on how to lay a Concrete Base for a Garden Room. Feel free to ask questions I'll get back to you as quickly as I can...Enjoy, like and please subscribe for more super content!

[@Waynes_Travels]

Is there anything under the DPM like sand to prevent punctures? I noticed a lot of pieces of rubble, are these not a problem? Thanks

[@zubychyle]

Very informative video. I wish I saw this video prior to doing a concrete base for my garden room. I have an issue, which I see as a big issue. My concrete base was poured and I noticed it was way off being perpendicular with my main property. It is angled to the right. The garden tapers towards the rear. Can this be remedied before the garden room is built? Thanks.

[@realdigitalninja]

Great video. Quick questions (a) what timber did you use for shuttering ? Is it 4x2 (b) how do you work out sand / gravel / cement for concrete pad / foundation ? (C) what’s your mix ? Thanks

[@johnthe6629]

It is always necessary to add mesh or rebar for the base slab. It's to strengthen it to prevent crack and breakage in the future.

[@creategardenrooms]

Concrete gets stronger over time so no it doesn't need re bar! Not for the weight of these buildings.

[@andrewhay2000]

Bollocks Not for a shed Always someone thinking they know it all

[@andrewpointon1669]

Another great video, keep up with the great content, really helpful and useful 👍

[@creategardenrooms]

Thanks Andrew, we're really enjoying making them for everybody and appreciate all the kind words!

[@Luke_lw]

Great work so far!

[@mouldingsimulationsplazolo3571]

Hi, how come you didn’t put a MOT sub base on top of the soil seems you went straight into soil?

[@creategardenrooms]

No need it’s a concrete raft, never going anywhere 👍

[@mikeforwarduk]

what does MOT mean?

[@auntie666]

@@mikeforwardukI believe it’s the name for a crushed hardcore sub base, called mot cos it’s the same stuff the ministry of transport has used for the base of roads.

[@markrushton2166]

How far out can the base be? I have an existing slab that isn't totally level will it be a problem? How would it work for the PIR for the floor is there some give? Love the videos very helpful 👍

[@Uchalid]

Love the video thank you. What concrete ratio do you use?

[@creategardenrooms]

C30

[@zafg2505]

Great video 👍

[@robvod]

Watched another video doing this, they put down Type1, then Sand, *then* DPM - is this the correct way or doesn't it matter? Also no wire mesh?

[@TPCider]

great video , quick one from me - how much over hang on the DPM you suggest? half metre min ?

[@creategardenrooms]

It all get trimmed off once we wrap it up the walls so at the end we only have about 100mm going up the wall. Then we lay our breathable membrane over it 👍

[@employtheskinnyboy]

Hey there! I’ve been following your channel for quite some time and was wondering if you’d recommend a similar concrete foundation like this if your ground is London Clay, any help would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work!

[@stevencollins297]

was it fibre cement as no mesh or mot used ?

[@tonybeards2978]

Adding a 90 degree bend to the roding point has made it totally useless to use

[@fiestaturbo1287]

Hi what do you mean by the riding point please as I’m looking to do a base myself thanks.

[@Mauricioel5]

@@fiestaturbo1287he means the orange pipe at the begging game should not be turned like that.

[@fiestaturbo1287]

@@Mauricioel5I see now thank you.

[@diogenes1815]

Yeh I was wondering about that thought maybe they use flexible high pressure hoses nowadays rather than old scho9l rods?

[@paulwoodcock764]

how deep would you say i need for a 10ft by 6 ft greenhouse (onto a 11x7ft) conrete base please ? and a rough idea on cost of the concrete .my wooden base has rotted unfortunatly (did,nt put a downpipe on it 😐) i did concreting on a yts in 1986, but i have sciatica now which isnt fun.

[@Wendy-ij7tp]

Are you one metre from boundary ?

[@scottwalker861]

Im doing an 8mx5m log cabin for a snooker table. Do you think i would need rebar and a thicker pad?

[@creategardenrooms]

Not really, may be worth doing a 150mm concrete slab. Don't need rebar though. Can if you like but it's overkill.

[@samlaw1922]

Yes..

[@markadams1866]

After a year of planning and watching more repeats of your videos the Only Fools I have just ordered timber and bought a Paslode. I have a space 8m wide, I want a 4m wide garden room and 4m for outside seating area, probably tiled floor. Can lay an 8m wide slab so everything at same height? I would worry about base plate sitting in standing water/snow or water getting under DPC etc. I thought about extra DPC at right angles outside or some corner trim, any ideas or avoid siting on larger slab?

[@SebastianUllrich1990]

Angle the outside area away from the house. So water will run away. Could also consider adding drainage grill along where the house meets the patio.

[@markadams1866]

Perfect, thanks.

[@ldwdesign821]

First great videos keep them coming! Question, what depth is this approx. Couldn’t see which size you are using to make your shutter from.

[@creategardenrooms]

Thank you very much. It's about 6 inches.

[@davidgray9639]

How much ballest and cement did you use?

[@UmarKhan-ov3hl]

How does a timber frame attach to the concrete

[@junglist_matty]

You put a DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) directly on top of the concrete slab, then lay the timber on top; securing the timber with fixings such as thunderbolts

[@kiahughesy]

How many barrows and how deep? I am doing a 4.5 x 4.5m base and am interested in how many m3 of concrete I need and how many barrows that equates to. Your help is appreciated.

[@c.m6404]

There's a concrete calculator on line it will tell u how m3 you need

[@ghowlett1159]

Great video , quick question I see you don’t insulate the concrete floor is there a reason for this

[@creategardenrooms]

Thanks! Floor will be insulated later on in the build, we do a floating floor which is great, make sure you keen an eye out for the video!!

[@arfanriaz_bespokeestateagent]

​@creategardenroomsltd9053 I had the same question in mind. Wouldn't it be better to insulate the concrete to add more internal height?

[@creategardenrooms]

@@arfanriaz_bespokeestateagent all would cost more for the customer. I this case the budget suited not doing this.

[@ricardoaraujo3209]

Great vedeo , how to calculate the amount of ciment and ballast will be used? I got 8x10 shed base to do

[@creategardenrooms]

For concrete you would work out the cubic metres of the base, that's how much you need

[@fargarden]

Can I ask what the laser tool you used is called? (Where you have set the datum and get an audio cue for other points after that). When I search I just find normal laser levels. Thanks

[@creategardenrooms]

It’s a ground laser level. You set the datum to the highest point 👍👍

[@micromaxicc8226]

@@creategardenrooms Can you say what make and model you used?

[@RusstafaB]

Some of our friends have had rooms built in their gardens, and they were both installed using ground screws. What is your opinion I know they might be more expensive but concrete is quite toxic to the environment.

[@creategardenrooms]

Rodents will eat the insulation in the timber base if it's on screws that's why we use concrete. 30 Billion tons per year used worldwide, I'm not sure its going to change anytime soon and a small Garden Room isn't a huge impact compared to the ridiculous depths that building regs require for small extensions. I'd always recommend concrete for sustainability and protection from future issues. Thanks, James

[@jonhickmanmusic]

How can you be sure that the pad won't crack with no mot1 sub base? Genuinely interested as I'm getting conflicting advice

[@starsoxx]

That’s exactly why I’ve come to the comments , I’ve got a similar sized project and everything I’ve read and seen say MOT type 1 then DPM then rebar and concrete …. I’m really confused

[@creategardenrooms]

Been doing them for years with help from someone who has had about 3 family generations laying bases. There isn’t enough weight to crack the base even if the ground moved from underneath it. It’s a concrete pad that isn’t moving anywhere. Don’t overthink it too much and don’t believe everything you read online from non professionals. If your worries, then just lay MOT down wacker it and put concrete ontop, it’s really not a big job either way 👍

[@jasonwright1753]

​@@starsoxxme too, no mot compacted sub base, no sand below the dpm to stop punctures, no rebar, expected more to be honest, why go to the trouble and expense of this building and not do the foundations right??

[@davidison7124]

I'm building an 8m x 3.5m slab. Would you use rebar or mesh for added support? It's going to be out building.. cheers

[@hewhorocketh]

I’d like to know this too. Planning to build either 7x4m or similar to get the max 30m2

[@creategardenrooms]

You can if you like but a nice 6inch slab will be plenty strong enough 👍 Got to always remember it doesn’t matter how big the room is as the height always stays the same which means the weight in any given part of the concrete will be the same for any size garden room. Hope this helps 👍

[@keithwells2253]

Hi can I ask how many mixer loads was that. I'm doing a 6 x 5 and wondering whether to pump it instead. Lol.

[@alppatuk]

What depth and concrete grade would you recommend for a 6x4m log cabin to be used as a gym?

[@creategardenrooms]

Go with 6inches that will be fine.

[@wjm1676]

What rotary laser are you using mate?

[@creategardenrooms]

It's an IMEX E60

[@wjm1676]

@@creategardenrooms 👍🏻

[@jamesalderman4586]

My shed is 8mtr by 3 mtr.. I was going to skin it with featheredge boards, I saw you said it had to be metal, why is this?

[@creategardenrooms]

If its within 1 of the boundary and over 15m2 then the sides closest to the boundary have to be made from non combustable materials 👍

[@nickfraser1259]

Hi, do u guys leave the shuttering in place or lift it off at some point? Thanks

[@junglist_matty]

You remove shuttering ;)

[@tomscase]

Hey, first of all great video. A question about the size. I thought you could only build up to 15m2 if less than 1m from the boundary. Happy to be corrected. Thanks

[@creategardenrooms]

If over 15m2 and within 1m then it needs to be made of non combustable materials closest to the boundaries. Such as metal sheets 👍

[@whotookben]

@@creategardenrooms with this building being 20m2 and within 1m of boundry what is the walls of the shed made of?

[@zafg2505]

Did u put any rebars in the concrete?

[@junglist_matty]

You 100% need them in a concrete slab base, if you don't you can be guaranteed the base will crack over time.

[@zafg2505]

@@junglist_matty thanks buddy

[@agg25gga]

@@junglist_matty apparently not from the other comments

[@junglist_matty]

Well it depends... If the ground is solid "virgin" earth then you can get away with it... In a new build estate like this it is likely to crack in years to come as the ground settles.... I laid bars round the edge of my base but it's been laid on virgin ground.

[@lhfloors]

Good effort guys but please mot and mesh next time

[@junglist_matty]

A little worrying they poured directly onto a soil base (the section of old patio base should be fine); it's a recipie for disaster in years to come.

[@creategardenrooms]

No it’s absolutely not. What knowledge do you have on laying concrete bases and seeing how they are in years to come?

[@noodles8203]

Still waiting for the pro part must have missed it.

[@creategardenrooms]

Watch again you’ll see it!

[@philparrish8892]

Why didn't you use hardcore?

[@creategardenrooms]

No need for a pad of this size, it's never going anywhere. If customers request this I'm happy to do it but in 40 years family building experience we've never seen one move.

[@philparrish8892]

@@creategardenrooms Thanks. Would you come to Wiltshire for a build. Maybe 5m x 3/3.5m?

[@plummetplum]

​@creategardenrooms I want to build a garden room workshop base on soil. What thickness of concrete would you recommend for a 3mx4m room? Everywhere I read it says use MOT but I think maybe a myth busters episode is required to confirm thar for sure.

[@johnmardles8870]

That shovel is a spade mate.

[@creategardenrooms]

Well noticed 👍

[@garyhollywell2112]

Did you put any Mesh in the Concrete?

[@creategardenrooms]

Hi Garry, thanks for your question. No mesh or rebar, totally unnecessary as there is little weight on the slab.

[@raypeasley]

@@creategardenrooms Little weight?? If a garden room is converted to a gym or a workshop with very heavy weights etc this will not be sufficient.

[@creategardenrooms]

@@raypeasley Sure will Ray. Tried and tested many times 👍

[@steviemaclennan1292]

​@@creategardenrooms totally agree that steel is not needed for this application.

[@richmiller540]

I thought the maximum size allowed under permitted development was 15m2 ?

[@RobertWoolford]

No need for any subbase?

[@creategardenrooms]

C30 Concrete is not going anywhere 👍

[@RobertWoolford]

@@creategardenrooms No worries. Not being a troll, was just curious. I guess I’ll be using some C30 for my shed base.

[@creategardenrooms]

@@RobertWoolford Oh for sure, it’s not really needed and is complete overkill, especially for a shed! We see sheds on 10inch concrete bases all the time and we often wonder why!

[@katiewalker8773]

Hello.. How thick is the base?

[@creategardenrooms]

@@katiewalker8773 around 6 inches perhaps thicker where the shuttering was raised.

[@mikestockman7881]

Rebar needed

[@DavidBrown-pr6kj]

Totally agree. The base will crack over time...without doubt.

[@jonhickmanmusic]

​@@DavidBrown-pr6kj can I ask your qualifications? I'm planning my own pad

[@samlaw1922]

Not the way to do it mate..

[@vortrewilliams296]

Presented nicely but it’s typical landscape gardening lack of proper building knowledge , it needed to be 250 deep , with 100mm of mot wacked down, then 50 mm of grit sand wacked down then the Dpm placed in , then some 40 mm concrete blocks around 50 to 100 mm squared placed here n there for mesh to sit on, then 100 mm of concrete . Build it properly lads 🤛