The base is the foundation of any garden structure and cannot be overlooked. There are several factors that come into the decision-making process when choosing upon the best base options for the type of garden building you have whether it be a gazebo, a children's playhouse or a garage.

For more information on greenhouse bases please click here

For more information on log cabin bases please click here

Suitable Materials

Garden buildings need a suitable base, one which raises the floor off the ground, that benefits the building in the best way, prolonging its life, maintaining the high-quality condition it first arrived in to ensure it can last for years to come.

Here are the four main types of base materials:

example of concrete base

1. Concrete

Perhaps the most common base due to the reputable material being well known for its strength, offering an easy installation. The most vital part when building a concrete base is to ensure it has fully set before the installation of the building. A concrete base should ideally sit on sharp sand and hardcore to allow adequate water drainage. Ideal for:

  • Log Cabins
  • Children's Playhouses
  • Summerhouses
  • Sheds
  • Greenhouses
  • Garages
Example of concrete slab base

2. Paving Slab

When building a slab base the ground underneath must be level to ensure a sold level base to support the garden building. There must be no broken slabs with no cement filled gaps, to ensure the surface is durable and fit for purpose. Pavings slabs require the same conditions as concrete as mentioned above. Ideal for:

  • Summerhouses
  • Children's Playhouses
  • Log Cabins
  • Greenhouses
  • Sheds
  • Garages
Example of a wooden base

3. Wooden

Possibly considered the most affordable base option, as the timber can be cheap to purchase. Wooden bases can be brought already prepared with decking tiles or spikes to sink into the ground, offering a stable base foundation or you could DIY your own base to suit your specific needs. Ideal for:

  • Sheds
  • Children's Playhouses
  • Small Summerhouses
  • Small Gazebo's
example of eco base

4. Plastic

Plastic bases can not only be used for small sheds but also large garden buildings, with a quick easy installation. Long-lasting, cost-effective, durable and not to mention eco-friendly, as our Swift bases are made with 100% recycled plastic, a highly important factor in today's modern society. Ideal for:

  • Sheds
  • Summerhouses
  • Log Cabins
  • Greenhouses
  • Children's Playhouse
Installer using a spirit level

Importance of a Level Base

We always recommend using a spirit level to double-check the base is level along the width of the base and does not exceed more than 15mm from edge to edge. When constructing larger buildings like log cabins it is imperative that extra consideration for a level base is thought about. For more information on base preparation for log cabins click here

Unsuitable bases

If the base is unsuitable for the construction of a garden building installers will refuse the assembly, the below images demonstrate some examples of unsuitable bases.

Example of poor base preperation.