Thinking about building a Log Cabin? This is how your determine your foundationThere are at least three types of foundation that may be used with many of
popular cottage plans available today. These are: a concrete slab on grade; a full foundation wall (or basement) around outside perimeter of building; and a pier type of foundation. Most plan drawings show pier foundations, because they are usually cheapest to build and easiest for amateur craftsman to construct.
If you have a level piece of property on which to build, you may want to use a concrete slab. It is fairly simple to make. After you have selected cottage or camp you wish to build, refer to foundation plan that is shown with it. Get over-all dimensions firmly in mind.
On your site clear away brush and lay out lines of building with strings and batter boards. The next step is to dig a trench about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide around perimeter of building. If you hit some large rode, leave it. Taper inside edge of trench as shown. By cutting outside edge of trench square, you can use it as part of form for beam edge of your slab.
While you're trying to get crimp out of your back, have someone call local supply yard and have them send you enough gravel or crushed rock to lay a 6-inch bed under slab. The following table tells you how to figure how much grave! or crushed rock you will need.
At this point, while you are waiting for delivery of material, you will want to get all rough plumbing in place. This means that all pipes which will be permanently buried in slab should be put in place, connected, and tested.
When rock or gravel has been delivered, borrow neighbors' wheelbarrow and start spreading it. The finished bed, in cross section, will look like picture at side. Don't stop now, you've only begun. Get enough 15-pound roofing felt to cover slab area. Cover gravel area with this, lapping edges about 3 inches. You're doing this, I might add, to keep ground dampness from coming up into your finished slab.
