Preparing your site

If you are commissioning a garden building from Timber and Black, please read this carefully. You’ll be well prepared for your project and make us all very happy. 

Planning permission - Please read carefully and seek professional advice if required

Planning permission shouldn’t normally be needed if you order a garden building or structure from us, but it is your responsibility to check that your project doesn’t contravene any rules. Planning permission will depend on where you wish to position your structure and whether you live in an area which has a special designation, such as a national park, have a listed property or one with special covenants.  As long as the building is considered to be permitted development, you should be able to proceed without permission if it is situated within the rules.  Please note that you are solely responsible for choosing the site of your build and while we will install it in your choice of position, we cannot be held responsible for any issues that may arise.  

The Planning Portal is a great resource and has guides to all types of domestic planning:

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/interactive-guidance

The main factors for a garden building at the rear or your property are as follows:

· Less than 2.0m from your property boundary, the total maximum permitted building height is 2.5m from ground level. 

· More than 2.0m from your boundary, the maximum eave height needs to be 2.5m and this means the overall height for a dual-pitched roof can be 4.0m.

· No more than 50% of the area around your original dwelling should be taken up by garden buildings.

Preparing the base for your garden building or shepherd hut

There are several options for a correctly prepared base.  Please contact us if you need advice - we are always here to help you.  

We do offer a service to install the QuickJack foundation system (or a similar product) and this is suitable for any shed or cabin.  This method is flexible, very sturdy and can accommodate even the largest cabin.  Please contact us for a quote.

As we supply throughout the UK, we cannot supply concrete or paved foundations as they need to be prepared in advance of delivery & assembly and are best laid by a local, professional grounds team.  We will of course provide your team with the dimensions and load specifications.

Garden buildings: Concrete & ProBase

 All Timber and Black buildings have a sturdy timber base but this needs to sit on a very firm, level foundation.  Doors and windows may stick if the building shifts over time.

· Poured Concrete.  This is a good option as it won’t shift. 

· Concrete slabs.  They need to be laid as a continuous base, with no large gaps.

· ProBase.  This is an eco-friendly DIY option (but we'd recommend a grounds team if you're not confident), made from 100% recycled plastic.  It's lightweight but its interlocking design makes it very strong and durable.  Visit www.shedbase.com for details of how to install a ProBase and to find stockists.

Shepherd huts require either a concrete base or two heavy-duty oak sleepers laid over compacted hardcore or concrete.  The base will depend on the land itself so this must be contracted by a local ground team.  The huts are very heavy, often in excess of 3 tonnes and the foundations need to be sturdy and level.  Doors and windows may stick if the building shifts over time.

How to check that your base is level

Place a straight edged piece of timber across the length of the base and place a spirit level on top of it, near the centre.  The bubble should sit happily within the two centre lines.  Now repeat this process across the width of the base.  The level mustn’t deviate by any more than 6mm from edge to edge.  If it does, your building will twist, causing gaps and making doors and windows stick. 

Bases which may delay your project

Unfortunately, building your shed or cabin on any of the following bases will cause real problems (if you haven't arranged for proper foundations): soil, uneven slabs on a lawn or a mix of broken slabs. If the base isn't suitable we may not be able to start work and/or your building may not be covered by our guarantee.  There may also be a second delivery/installation charge. 

Preparing the site for your gazebo or pergola

Patio base

If your structure is going onto your patio, we either use visible steel brackets to hold the post in position or we fit a steel bar into the post that locates into a hole drilled into the patio.  This will depend on the position of the pergola posts in relation to the paving as we cannot drill holes close to the edge of a paver or in the mortar joints.  

If the patio has not been laid well or the concrete mortar base below it is not thick enough, there is potential for a paver to come loose or to crack.  We cannot be held responsible for pavers becoming loose, cracking or shifting in these cases and your structure may not be covered by our guarantee.  

Lawn or gravel base

We need cleared, level ground and we use a steel spike system so that the posts will remain fixed in position but sit level with the ground.  We never fit posts directly into the ground, as they will rot over time, even if treated.  

We are here to help.  Give us a call or drop us a line with any questions.