I plan on building a small cottage (14x30) in Montana.

[ddobson61]

I plan on building a small cottage (14x30) in Montana. Frost line is 5ft. Which foundation would be the best & cheapest, piers, block perimeter or concrete perimeter.

[vince]

Originally Posted by ddobson61

I plan on building a small cottage (14x30) in Montana. Frost line is 5ft. Which foundation would be the best & cheapest, piers, block perimeter or concrete perimeter.

If you go with piers you will have to choose an underpinning material. Animals then find ways to breach, snow/ice contort and repairing in inevitable.

A block or concrete foundation I believe is better and offers more insulating factors. You will want a crawl space of at least two feet. I would suggest that you hire a bull dozer and excavate the footprint of you cabin adding a foot or two a perimeters. Probablyat least 5 feet in depth. Now you can easily form your footing square and pour it hassle free. Lay up block from the inside. This will give you a good storage area although it will cost a little more than piers.

Good luck

[ddobson61]

Thank you for your opinion on a foundation in Montana. Instead of bulldozing out the area I should be able to have a backhoe dig out the perimeter.