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I am needing to build the base for my new loft to be erected upon. I was planning to use 9 x 3 inch timbers screwed to post sunken into the ground. The sourcing of the 9 x 3s is seeming hard and i need to do this asap. Can anyone reccomend any other ways or what thewy have done as a base for their loft to be erected upon?

Thanks in advance  

concrete block walls

Josh, I think 9x3 s' are over the top.  4x2 s' should be ok as long as you have enough of them adequately spaced.  If I were doing a base again, I would do the same as many Belgians, ie sink plastic drainage pipes into concrete, and filled with concrete, and lay the cross joints on these.  Of course if time is short this may not be an option.  Worth taking your time over though cos' once the loft's up it's up!

i think the posts which i was going to sink into the ground maybe a similar idea. I may take this idea and just use a smaller spec of timber instead of the 9 x 3s.

Thanks  

railway sleepers

Breeze blocks with 3" x 3" x 7ft posts lying on top. I,ve just done it this way and it was done quickly as the loft was coming earlier than planned. As long as you spread the wait all over, and its firm, you cant go wrong.

i am planning on driving posts into the ground to make a level base as the ground isnt completely flat. I will make enquiries into 7 x 2 or something similar tomorrow. does everyone think this will be suitable?

Like the idea of the posts ,but if I was doing it I would do it this way. For a 16foot x 8 foot base I would have 3 posts front and 3 posts at the back. Use a 7x2 along the length front and back , and then use 4x2 joist at 16 inch centres front to back, hold an elephant.
Hope this helps Surfer.

Quoted from joshdonlan

I am needing to build the base for my new loft to be erected upon. I was planning to use 9 x 3 inch timbers screwed to post sunken into the ground. The sourcing of the 9 x 3s is seeming hard and i need to do this asap. Can anyone reccomend any other ways or what thewy have done as a base for their loft to be erected upon?

Thanks in advance  

9x3 is way too heavy, that would do a single span, you could use 4x2 if supported every 2 or 3 feet or 6x2 every 3 or 4 feet,
I used 8x2 because it was as cheap as 6x2 at the time, get the support foundations right and the rest is easy, I like the idea of the tube pillars as it would be really easy to level your foundations, just watch the height compared to the width. The higher the pillar the wider the tube

Chickadee's

thanks for the help guys  

Quoted from shadow

railway sleepers

that is what we used on the new loft we recently erected

Quoted from TAMMY_1

that is what we used on the new loft we recently erected

theres one thing about these ,,,theyll last

Quoted from jimmy white

theres one thing about these ,,,theyll last

well they will  certainly see you and I out    

Thanks for the help. I have decided to go with 7 x 2 timbers to build my loft frame from. The loft is 16 x 6 so should i build a 16 x 6 frame or should this be smallet say 15 x 5 or something?

Any help is appreciated

i make my base 6 inch smaller so water running off loft dont rot it

Quoted from joshdonlan

Thanks for the help. I have decided to go with 7 x 2 timbers to build my loft frame from. The loft is 16 x 6 so should i build a 16 x 6 frame or should this be smallet say 15 x 5 or something?

Any help is appreciated

Build the base frame 16 x 6 and make your framing the same size, then lip your sheeting or weather boarding over the joint between framing and base by about 25 mm this stops any dampness if you are ling it do the inside first, make the roof as least 6" overhang all the way round

your loft looks cracking mate  

Quoted from joshdonlan

your loft looks cracking mate  

Cheers, I made the mistake of making it one big aviary, splitting in three sections this week  

DOVEScot where would you say the cheapest place for timber would be

well it does grown on trees Damian lol , plenty of timberyards Damian i use MKM GOOGLE TIMBERYARDS/ builders merchants or saw mills depends what your looking for

I would say your local timber yard as price variations are usually negated with transport costs. Just look in the yellow pages under timber merchants and call round the local ones.

ask any of your mates who work on building sites they will get it cheep and it will be best of gear

Damian  ask any mates you have who work in the building trade they will get what you want fo next to nothing that is if they are mates

Quoted from Grasshopper Lofts

DOVEScot where would you say the cheapest place for timber would be

I use both Jewson and MKM as I get good deals through my account and using them a lot, they are merchants so will profit and loss products, they may give great deals on some things to keep you sweet and get you on other things to balance it up. Also look for deals or special offers if you can, Wicks have great deals from time to time

I always make pillars from concrete blocks and use 4x2 timbers accross them then sit the floor on top.
They are always high enough of the ground to allow the dogs to get underneath that way nothing can live under the loft, mice, rats etc.

Phil

we do the same as phil,, what we do is build breeze block pillers and then buy railway sleepers.. the loft sits on them.. the sleepers are normally 8ft,, so the loft is 6ft and then we add a 3ft aviery to it.We do need some small timber to support the end of the aviery.. . the railway sleepers will last forever and don't cost the earth.. I think we paid �9 each  for ours,, but a bit more now I expect..

this loft is on 5 railway sleepers.. been there for 6 years and many more we hope..You can see the thickness of the sleeper behind the well and wheel barrow..



goodluck

ant

Thanks for the input everyone. Good practical looking lofts Ant, you also seem to have some quality birds on your site.