Most of our fabric building structures can be installed temporarily or permanently on the surfaces described below. Expensive concrete foundations are not required for Big Top fabric buildings and fabric structures. The price of kit structures includes anchoring attachments for each surface. Certain building codes contain specifications for anchoring. These specified anchoring conditions may increase the price of the shelter. Please specify the surface you will be installing the structure on so that we can accurately quote the price of your fabric building.

Dirt. Many of our fabric structures are installed in vacant lots with little to no site preparation. Our structures conform to the topography up to 7% grade slope differential. We fabricate structures with continuous base beams that support the main arches. This base distributes the building load over a greater area than a small base plate. Earth anchors are included with the kit.

Spiral Anchor

Asphalt. If you have an asphalt lot that you wish to cover, we can help. Our membrane building structures can be installed directly on asphalt. We fabricate the structure with a continuous base beam that distributes the load over the entire base of the frame. We then weld an anchor receiving plate to this base beam. 40 inch spiral anchors are then inserted through the receiving plate and into the ground a minimum of 39 inches (990mm). An electric or pneumatic hammer can assist the process with a special sleeve adapter. This adapter can be purchased or rented for the duration of the assembly period. Ask us for details.

Concrete. Our fabric buildings can be erected on a concrete slab or foundation. We use wedge, epoxy, chem-stud, or j-bolt anchors to secure to the foundation. We calculate the reaction forces that the structure generates at the base to determine the quantity and size of the anchors.

Concrete Anchor

Wood Pilings. Many of our structures are installed over water on wood pilings. We have a design for fastening to wood pilings. We custom design and fabricate a continuous base rail to support the structure depending on the spacing of the pile supports. We can span 20ft. (6m) between supports. Call for a quotation on this special application.

Wood Pilings Foundation Option

Shipping Containers. ISO Containers are an easy, cost effective approach to adding height to a structure. We have installed many different size structures on sea shipping containers. Attachment varies based on the application but generally involves welding or bolting the frame to the edge of the container. Call us for more information. Click Here to view more photos of projects with ISO Containers.

Ballast Blocks. In certain situations anchoring to the ground is not practical or desired by our customers. We can specify temporary ballast to resist the forces generated by the structure. These blocks can anchor our largest span structures easily. Call for details.