GET A FREE INSTALLATION TOOL ON ORDERS OVER £300 TODAY!
DIY ground screws are a fast, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to create a strong and stable foundation for your garden room. Installing DIY ground screws for garden rooms is a simple process that can be done by anyone with basic DIY skills. By following the steps in this guide, you can create a strong and stable foundation for your garden room that will last for years to come.
The first step when building a garden room on ground screws is to determine the quantity of ground screws you require. Building a garden room using a SIP panel base typically requires ground screws spaced at maximum 1.2m apart. This is equal to the standard width of the SIP panels, ensuring that rows of ground screws are installed along the timbers that join the SIP panels together. Often SIP manufacturers will provide drawings detailing the quantity and positioning of ground screws. If you do not have the drawings please contact our team for guidance. Building a garden room on a timber frame base requires ground screws spaced at a maximum 1.5m apart. Use our handy ground screw calculator to get a recommended quantity, based on the size and base type of your garden building. If you need assistance please contact us at info@sipsgroundscrews.co.uk.
Once you have chosen the right number of ground screws for your garden room using our Ground Screw Calculator, you can begin the installation process. Here are the steps involved. Please read our Installation Guide & FAQs for more information:
Installing Ground Screws For Decking
The first step in installing DIY ground screws is to mark the area of your garden room base. Use a tape measure to ensure the length and width of the area is correct. It is important to check the diagonals of the area to ensure it is square. You may prefer to build the timber frame first and mark its position using spray paint.
Once you have marked the area of your base, use the SDS drill to create pilot holes for the ground screws. Even in soft ground this is advisable because it will help loosen any tree roots and stones in the ground. The depth of the pilot hole should not exceed the depth that the ground screw is installed to.
Locate the height point of your site. The heigh point is where the ground screw is installed to the greatest depth. A 40mm air gap should be left between the top of the ground screw and ground level to ensure airflow to the structure and reduce the exposure of the timber to moisture. Use the ground screw installation tool to drive the ground screws into the ground until they are at the desired height. Check the verticality of the ground screws at regular intervals during installation using the magnetic spirit level.
Once the ground screws are installed, you will need to level them. Use a level to make sure that the ground screws are all level with each other. Spirit, Dumpi and laser levels are all suitable. Avoid installing ground screws too deep and having to bring them up where possible.
Finally, attach your timber frame or SIP base to the ground screws. Fix the appropriate bracket system onto the ground screws using the carbon steel self tapping screws. Use wood screws to fix the timber frame to the ground screws.