Adding a foundation to an already built barn

What type of foundation is typical in your area? You could jack it up and put a foundation under it or put treated timbers under it.

How many feet of wall is like this?

It depends on you how far you want to go with a new foundation. The proper way IMHO would be to first cut the osb board close to the ground where you can later install a 1X12 concrete siding board with a drip cap on top.

Dig out and pour a concrete footing, install at least one row of blocks or form the concrete footing to include a curb. After footing and curb installed, install 1X12 concrete board with drip cap flashing (Z flashing) on top of concrete board and there ya go.

After thought: when you cut the bottom of the osb board to install the Z flashing, be sure to seal the bottom edge of the osb board really well. That will prevent any water from wicking into the bottom edge and later on down the road rotting the osb board edge.

thanks for the suggestions.

The house itself is on concrete slab. No basements in Houston, so everything is slab or pier and beam.

There is about 40 feet of unprotected OSB touching the ground

Since this structure is attached to the deck, I wouldnt be able to jack it up.

I'm just guessing but it sounds like the surrounding structure was not permitted as what you have most likely would not have been approved. Always best to get your local building department involved before you add more improvements to avoid you being blamed for all of it.

They can also advise what needs to be done to bring it into compliance.

Bud

david_12 said:

thanks for the suggestions.

The house itself is on concrete slab. No basements in Houston, so everything is slab or pier and beam.

There is about 40 feet of unprotected OSB touching the ground

Since this structure is attached to the deck, I wouldnt be able to jack it up.

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A concrete foundation will cost more than the walls are worth.
How far is the bottom 2x4 off the ground, is it about the same all around?

Nealtw said:

A concrete foundation will cost more than the walls are worth.
How far is the bottom 2x4 off the ground, is it about the same all around?

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it varies a bit, but the majority is 4 to 6 inches off the ground.

Nealtw said:

Try this,

Cut the OSB 1 1/2" below the bottom 2x4
add a Z flashing to a treated 2x4 and put the 2x4 behind the OSB and screw down thru the bottom 2x4 or ground treated 4x4

Add a PVC trim down to the ground.

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Would it make sense to lay down some 4x8 concrete block under the perimeter to keep animals from burrowing in?

david_12 said:

Would it make sense to lay down some 4x8 concrete block under the perimeter to keep animals from burrowing in?

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They don't like treated lumber, you could just do the same with 4x6 so it goes right to the ground dig out some dirt below and replace it with gravel.
Do you get much frost down there. Gravel does help with that problem.

it hardly ever freezes down here.

I think the 2x6 with gravel would work great. worst case I can attach some chicken wire to the base and bury it a foot or 2 out.

thank you so much for all the help!

david_12 said:

it hardly ever freezes down here.

I think the 2x6 with gravel would work great. worst case I can attach some chicken wire to the base and bury it a foot or 2 out.

thank you so much for all the help!

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If you are going right to the ground, you want ground contact treated wood, not likely going to find that in 2x? stock but 4x4s and 4x6s usually are. :wink2:

stadry said:

apron/vest stores stock p/t'd 2x's from 2x4's up to 2/12's + 4x's

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ground contact?