Adjustable steel stumps by LevelMaster are the perfect solution to leveling your tiny home or portable building. But timber and concrete footings and foundations are also reliable options when needed – so let’s discuss how to make the right choice.
Tiny home footings are the base supports that transfer the weight of the structure into the ground. They prevent the tiny home from sinking, shifting, or tilting.
Top 5 Considerations for Deciding on Your Tiny Home’s Foundation
- Understand the materials available and how reliable they will be for your needs.
- Decide whether you want the tiny home to be permanent or movable.
- Look at any slopes and how much weight the soil beneath the tiny home can bear.
- See what your local council requirements are.
- Be clear about your budget.
What Kinds of Footings and Foundations Should You Consider for Your Portable Building?
What’s a Tiny Home Foundation System?
A tiny home foundation system provides a stable, load-bearing interface between a small structure and the ground. It prevents moisture damage, secures the home against external forces like high winds, and determines whether the structure is permanent or relocatable. It’s common for concrete footings and foundations to be used, but these can have limits.
What are Non-Concrete Foundations for Tiny Homes?
Your foundations don’t have to be concrete. Non-concrete foundations for tiny homes could look like using a trailer chassis, skids or runners, or installing adjustable steel stumps such as the ones we offer.
What are Traditional Timber or Concrete Footings?
Concrete has traditionally been the standard for permanent, immobile tiny houses. Timber supports and elevates a structure, and it can be impermanent to keep the tiny home portable. Traditional timber or concrete footings were the standard before adjustable steel stumps entered the market.
- Pros: These traditional options can be more affordable, and timber can be eco-friendly with a natural look.
- Cons: Shorter lifespans, more maintenance, and the inability to adjust makes these less appealing to tiny home owners.
- Costs: Timber and concrete cost less in the short term, which may appeal to tiny home owners on a very tight budget.
What are Modular Home Adjustable Foundations?
Modular home adjustable foundations are what we offer here at LevelMaster. Adjustable steel stumps are the superior foundation choice for permanent or semi-permanent tiny homes.
- Pros: Steel stumps offer long-term resistance to rot and termites, require zero restumping, and provide height adjustability to easily re-level your home if the ground shifts.
- Cons: Some steel may rust, which is why ours is hot-dip galvanised for longevity.
- Costs: Adjustable steel stumps generally have a higher upfront cost than timber, but because they are maintenance-free and long lasting, they save money on repairs and replacements in the long run.
What’s an Elevated Foundation System for a Portable Building?
An elevated foundation system lifts a portable building or tiny home off the ground on adjustable supports, rather than resting it directly on a slab. This is where a tiny home pier system comes in – individual point supports (piers) placed under the key structural points, each independently height adjustable.
LevelMaster’s adjustable steel stumps work as a portable building leveling system, letting you fine-tune the height at every support point so the whole structure sits level, even across uneven or sloping ground.
What’s the Best Portable Building Foundation Upgrade?
For a tiny home or portable building foundation upgrade, we recommend LevelMaster Steel Stumps. Portable building foundations and portable building footings are best when they’re reliable, durable, and adaptable. Whether it’s for a tiny home or other portable cabin footings, galvanised steel works best for permanent and impermanent levelling.
Call LevelMaster
We look forward to helping you find the right foundation for your tiny home. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
Dave and all of the staff at LevelMaster are incredibly helpful and go above and beyond. They quote so quickly and always offer a very reasonable price. The ingenious house stump system they have created is an exceptionally easy way to reduce costs and time to create a load bearing layer. We are very grateful to Dave for all of his help, support and kindness throughout our build. – Lisa – Google Reviews
Servicing Tiny Homes and Portable Buildings Australia-Wide
LevelMaster delivers Australia-wide, with local depots in Brisbane and Toowoomba for faster QLD turnaround. Wherever your tiny home or portable building project is based, we can get adjustable steel stumps and stair stringers to your site.
- NSW: Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Armidale, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Maitland
- QLD: Brisbane, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Logan City
- VIC: Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Berwick, Reservoir
- WA: Perth, Bunbury, Mandurah, Rockingham, Busselton, Albany
- SA: Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Mount Barker, Gawler
- TAS: Hobart, Launceston, Devonport
- ACT & NT: Canberra and Darwin
Frequently Asked Questions About Tiny Home Footings
Does my tiny home foundation require council permits or approval?
It’s always best to check with your local council, as they all have different rules. Tiny homes can be permanent or impermanent, so their regulations can exist in a grey space.
Do my tiny home adjustable steel stumps require professional installation?
Our products are designed to be DIY friendly, but always call upon a professional if you don’t feel confident with the task.
