Structural Issues – Two Problems; Two Solutions…

At Crown Construction Solutions we love engineering solutions to building problems. Today’s post is all about two recent projects where a problem was solved with our engineering skills.

Problem 1 – An old property in Cheltenham was suffering with a severe structural issues between the end gable wall of the house and the side walls….yes the gable wall was moving away from the rest of the building. This affected many parts of the building especially over the doorways and on the 1st floor and in the loft space significant movement was apparent especially once the wallpaper had been removed. The problem, which is common on older houses, is the gable wall was not attached to the roof structure in any way. The only good news was the gable wall was constructed of brick and 9 inches thick so it has significant strength and was able to cope with the movement to date. However, if it was left to move further there was a risk of collapse.

Solution – Having consulted the structural engineer we proceeded with our design to construct a steel framework that would attach directly to the outside wall and then be braced across the 1st floor ceiling joists to ensure no further movement was possible. We also fitted some lateral bracing within the roof space and some additional wall ties higher up the gable to ensure no further movement was possible. Please see the pictures below.

Problem 2 – We have been appointed to construct a link building between a house and barn. On the forward elevation, a 4 metre triple glazed sliding door will be fitted and the client wanted an oak beam above to ensure the building retained its character. However, the common issue of long timber facing beams is that they twist over time and end up causes issues and most of all it looks badly finished, despite the beautiful ageing of the oak.

Solution – We designed a structural steel beam that would not only bear the load of the building but also incorporate the oak beam firmly across the 4 metre length. With some careful planning, and drawings submitted to our steel fabricators we ended up with the beam you can see below. You will also notice that we have insulated behind the oak beam as well to ensure this void is totally filled.

 

PICTURES FOR PROBLEM 1

DSC_0032 DSC_0037 DSC_0043

 

PICTURES FOR PROBLEM 2

Problem 2 - Beam 1 Problem 2 - Beam 1a Problem 2 - Beam 1b

Cotswold Stone Roof

 

An old South Cerney barn has been given a new Cotswold stone roof to ensure it remains waterproof for the next 100 years.  John, our third generation Cotswold stone roofer, has completely transformed a tired stone roof into a stunning work of art.  Many of the stones have been re-used and, combined with new weathered stones, they form a fantastic match to the original barn.  Looking at the pictures, you can see the stones are aligned across the span of the roof and if you have a keen eye for detail, you’ll notice that there are no lead valleys (which is the typical approach) and instead John’s level of craftsmanship has provided beautiful swept valleys.

Cotswold Stone Roof 1

Cotswold Stone Roof 3Cotswold Stone Roof 4Cotswold Stone Roof 5DSC_0484 (1) DSC_0488 DSC_0489

A Fibreglass Solution…

A Cheltenham house, split into flats and a shop, has suffered years of damp in the upper flat. The solution, recommended by the Crown Construction Solutions team, involved covering the coping stone and parapets with fibreglass to stop further water penetration.

Introduction: The client was very specific about the damp issues within the upper flat and it was easy to see why when we climbed out on to the roof. The coping stones were badly fitted; they had also been fitted flush with the wall allowing for zero overhang; the weather had slowly caused the parapet walls render to fail; cracks had appeared along the entire length of the coping stones; finally, behind the chimney the narrow coping stone had cracked and had been allowing water in for years. You probably now understand why there was an issue

Solution: Fibreglass Roof Repair – the solution was to cover all the coping stones with Fibreglass which would provide many years protection for the exposed coping stones. Also, Fibreglass would cover the exposed parapet walls so that further weather protection was provided. The system used was the Scott Bader fibreglass system which is the market leader in terms of the resins it provides and the quality of the trims supplied. The local roofing outlet did try and provide us with the standard fibreglass system which we refused because it consists of only blended resins; Scott Bader manufactures virgin resins only which means the quality is far superior and will last many more years.

Please see the pictures provided in the Projects section of the website. As you can see we provided full roof protection so that no slates were damaged during fitting.

Kemper System

Kemper System – Liquid Roofing at its Best

The team have been training again this week, this time for a range of liquid roofing system products by Kemper System. This product range is amazing because it allows only trained installers, like ourselves, to create a new roof covering directly over the existing. This has real benefits in terms of cost for the client but also means that no expensive scaffolding is required because the building is not at any stage exposed to the elements. The liquid is self-terminating which means that roof repairs are easy to carry out because the product forms an extremely strong bond with the existing system and thus requires no flashing or outer edge sealant.

This product has a long reputation for quality and durability. It has been used on the VW factory in Germany and since it was installed 38 years ago has not been touched since. It can also be found on the Empire State building, the Liver building in Liverpool and Gherkin building in London. All these buildings present extreme challenges for the product and yet after many years it provides a strong, durable and waterproof covering.

The benefits of this commercial and domestic product are as follows:

  • Installed only by manufacturer trained contractors
  • Tear resistant and covers cracks up to 2mm
  • Water vapour permeable allowing trapped moisture to escape
  • Allows old roof repair without removal
  • UV resistant
  • Permeable to water vapour
  • Root resistant for green roof systems
  • Allows old roof repair without removal
  • Resistant to acids, alkalis, petrol and oil
  • 30-year proven performance
  • High tear-resistance
  • Fully fleece-reinforced
  • Adheres to almost all substrates
  • Can be walked on
  • A seamless, light-weight membrane
  • Resistant to flying sparks and radiated heat
  • Weather resistant after 30 minutes

if you have a project that you feel would benefit from the Kemper System then as approved contractors we are able to offer a free manufacturer roof survey for every roof we install.

We look forward to hearing from you regarding your project.

Tom and Erol

 

 

 

 

Basement Conversions

Basement Conversion Using Triton Systems

Erol is a qualified installer of Triton Systems. He uses the Cavity Drain System especially designed for basement conversions. This system would allow you to convert a dark and damp basement into part of your home. Don’t be put off by limited head room because we can dig down further to provide adequate ceiling height. With the right structural design we can also provide enough room for your underfloor heating.

Cavity Drain Systems

  • Type C Drained Protection in accordance with BS8102 (2009)
  • Suitable for existing, retrofit and new build projects
  • Quick and easy to install with minimal surface preparation required
  • Tough, studded HDPE and PP sheets for internal and external use
  • Sympathetic to heritage buildings and in conservation projects

If you have a potential (damp) project that you would like to discuss then do call to arrange a meeting onsite. At this initial meeting we would like to understand your requirements and discuss how the Triton products would be used in your project.

Triton Systems Fit Out

Triton Systems - Kitchen London

We look forward to hearing from you

http://www.tritonsystems.co.uk/litrat.php – further information is available by following the link.

Tom and Erol

TATA Steel – Crown are now trained installers…

TATA Steel has been offering a zinc roof replacement product for many years and only recently have architects, designers and homeowners become more aware that this cost effective alternative has become available. Here are some details to help you understand more about the product:

Key features

  • Matt colour range specifically designed for the urban fabric
  • Stable colour ensures an aesthetic of consistent, even shade
  • BBA certified in excess of 40 years
  • Quick fit system, for reduced on site fixing times
  • Can be laid vertically down to a pitch of 5 degrees
  • Standard panel widths of 514mm for roofs under 4 storeys in height, encountering wind speeds under 25Vs
  • Narrow 305mm panels used in areas receiving high winds and for roofs pitched 4 storeys or higher
  • Simple integration of renewable technologies, helping achieve forthcoming legislation
  • Short lead-time on all standard orders

 

Short Lead Time Delivery

On standard orders*, Colorcoat Urban® works to a 3 week lead time from receipt of order/payment.

Note:  *Standard colour range, of 0.7 mm gauge material and slit from a 1250mm wide parent coil

Maintenance free

Comprehensive guarantee is available providing peace of mind for your roof, zero maintenance required.

40 year Agrément Certificate

The long-term performance of Colorcoat® has been recognised by the BBA as a “coating and metal treatment that will protect for a period in excess of 40 years in normal urban, suburban and rural environments.”

“Colorcoat Urban® is the sustainable product of choice for the urban building”.

 

Contact Crown Construction Solutions directly or you can talk to Gordon at TATA Steel specifically about this product; the choice is yours.

Gordon Crichton
Business Development Manager
Colorcoat Urban®
United Kingdom

T 01244 892455
E colorcoaturban@tatasteel.com
T Mob 07736 899592