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Garden Office Foundations: Ground Screws, a Slab or Pads

A garden office needs a level, solid base, and in Ireland that costs €800 to €2,500. There are three kinds: ground screws, at €90 to €110 a m², a poured concrete slab, and concrete pads under a timber frame. Ground screws suit most gardens and need no digging. A slab suits soft or made-up ground and heavy buildings. The base is often left off the headline price, so ask.

The three bases, which garden each suits, and what goes wrong.

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  • €800 to €2,500the base
  • €90 to €110 a m²ground screws
  • A dayto put in screws, with no concrete
A small dark cabin raised on a frame above a sloping meadow
A small building held clear of sloping ground on a frame. Screws or pads let a base step down a slope without a dig.

The three bases, compared

BaseHow it's doneSuitsWatch
Ground screwsSteel screws wound into the ground, a frame bolted on topMost gardens, slopes, near trees. Done in a day, no concreteRock or rubble under the lawn stops a screw
Concrete slabA dig, hardcore, shuttering and a pour, left to cureSoft ground, heavy buildings, a gym floorSpoil to take away, days to cure, hard to undo
Pads and a timber frameConcrete pads at intervals with a treated frame across themSmall pods on firm, level groundEach pad has to be level with the rest

What a base has to do

  • Stay level. A base that settles at one corner twists the building. Doors stick first.
  • Keep the floor off the ground. Air under the floor keeps the timber dry.
  • Hold it down. In an exposed garden, the building is fixed to the base and the base to the ground.
  • Carry the load. Books, a safe, a kiln or free weights: say what is going in.

Sloping and wet gardens

On a slope, ground screws at different depths give a level frame with no retaining wall. The low side ends up higher off the ground, and that height counts: the 3 m planning limit is easier to pass on a raised base. On wet ground, lift the building well clear and keep the gutter water away from the base.

Before the base goes in

  1. Mark the footprint and stand in it. Check what you see from the desk.
  2. Find the drains, the gas pipe and any cables under the spot.
  3. Decide the route for the power cable, and lay the duct before the base if it has to pass under it.
  4. Leave room behind the building to treat the cladding.

The base and the rest, priced

WhatTypical costWhat moves the price
The base€800 to €2,500Ground screws, a slab or pads. A slope costs more
A one-desk office pod, 6 to 9 m²€6,700 to €10,5003 × 2 m up to 3 × 3 m. Insulated timber, put up. Base and power extra
An office for two desks, 12 to 16 m²€13,390 to €16,7204 × 3 m to 4 × 4 m. The insulation, the doors and the glass
Electrics inside the office€600 to €1,200Sockets, lights and a small fuse board
The power cable from the housefrom €15 a metreDistance to the fuse board, and what the trench crosses

Ground screws are €90 to €110 a m² of building. Ask whether VAT is in the price. Many list prices leave it out.

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Questions people ask

Can a garden office sit on paving slabs?

A small pod can, if the slabs are level and bedded properly. Anything bigger wants screws, pads or a slab.

Do ground screws last?

They are galvanised steel and made for the job. Ask for the maker's guarantee in writing.

Can I pour the slab myself?

Yes, if it is level, square and the size the supplier gives you. Get their base drawing first.

How long before the building goes on a new slab?

A slab needs days to cure before it carries a building. Screws can take one the same day.

Is the base included in the price?

Often not. It is €800 to €2,500 on its own. Ask.

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