01
What is a ground anchor?
A ground anchor fixes something to the ground so it cannot lift, tip or move. The term covers everything from small garden anchors to heavier structural products, so always check what the anchor is designed to hold.
Ground anchors UK
Ground anchors
vs ground screws.
Ground anchors and ground screws can look similar but do different jobs. Work out whether you need to hold something down or actually support a building before comparing price or size.
Restraint / tie-down anchor
Stops something moving.
A tie-down anchor is mainly there to stop something lifting, tipping or moving. Its rated load still needs to suit the object and the ground.
Foundation ground screw
Supports the structure.
A foundation ground screw carries building loads into the ground. The screw size, positions and fixings need to match the building and site.
Choose by function
What are you trying to achieve?
01
Hold down a lightweight object
Check what the anchor is designed for and the load it is rated to resist.
02
Support a shed or cabin
Work out whether you only need to hold it down or whether the product must carry the building weight.
03
Support a building
Treat it as a foundation and check the building loads, ground, screw layout and fixings.
04
Compare “heavy duty” products
Ignore the label and compare the actual size, product data and load direction.
The common mistake
Do not buy by the word “anchor”.
Search results mix screw-in anchors, swing anchors, shed anchors, earth anchors and structural foundation screws. They can look similar in a thumbnail while being intended for very different loads.
If the product is carrying a building, choose it as a foundation product rather than from a generic ground-anchor buying guide.
What to compare in the specification Ground anchor FAQs
Ground anchor questions, answered.
Straight answers on how anchors work, heavy-duty anchors, building support and the difference between anchors and structural ground screws.
02
What is the difference between a ground anchor and a ground screw?
A lightweight ground anchor is usually there to stop something moving or lifting. A structural ground screw is part of a building foundation and carries the weight and other forces from the structure above. They should not be treated as the same product.
Understand foundation ground screws03
How do ground anchors work?
Ground anchors grip or bear against the surrounding ground. How much force they can resist depends on their shape, how deep they are installed, the ground and whether the force is pulling up, sideways or in another direction.
04
Can a ground anchor support a building?
Do not assume a general tie-down anchor can support a building. If the product is carrying building loads, it needs the right structural rating, screw or anchor size, fixings and installation method. For buildings, Forti Nova treats the job as a foundation rather than a simple tie-down.
Read the load guide05
What are heavy-duty ground anchors used for?
Heavy-duty anchors can resist higher forces, but “heavy duty” is only a label. Check the actual load data, the direction of the force, the ground and what the product is designed to hold.
06
Can ground anchors be used for sheds or cabins?
Small anchors can help hold down lightweight sheds, but larger sheds, workshops and cabins may need a proper foundation. The key question is whether the product is only stopping movement or actually carrying the weight of the building.
Shed & cabin foundation guideStructural support
Need an anchor, or an actual foundation?
Tell us what the product needs to support and the project location.