The story of my extension being built
Tuesday, 20th September 2011
This is the drawing that shows the dimensions and layout of the concrete beams for the floors. The beams are manufactured to the right size and arranged according to the plan. Concrete blocks are then inserted between the beams to create the floor. Block and beam flooring is slightly cheaper than solid concrete and has the advantage that the loading is through the foundations, so there’s no chance that the floor will settle after it’s laid.
Tuesday, 20th September 2011 / 07:23
These holes have been made in the existing kitchen wall to accommodate the concrete floor beams. The ends will rest on the remains of the original wall.
The round hole is an initial inspection hole.
Wednesday 21st September 2011 / 07:25
More holes for beams.
Wednesday, 21st September 2011 / 19:06
The tarmac and concrete under the floors is broken up. Not sure why. Perhaps it was at the request of the building inspector. Any spare rubble that fits is used as back fill for the foundation trenches.
I’m not sure where the steps have gone from outside the back door, they must have taken a bit of smashing up.
Friday, 23rd September 2011 / 09:29
A lovely sunny Friday, so I’m off work.
The concrete beams are delivered. The longest ones are 5.4 m and they’re bloody heavy. Apparently they weigh 34 kg per metre, which means that the 5.4 m ones are over 180 kg. Health and safety regs allow one person to carry up to 25 kg, so it would need eight people to move one of these.
Luckily William sent me a text while I was in bed this morning to get me to move my car before it was trapped in the garden.
Friday, 23rd September 2011 / 09:30
Beams being lowered into place. The crane has a special attachment for gripping five beams at once. Neil and Orien on the Left.
Friday, 23rd September 2011 / 14:00
A conflab.
Tuesday, 27th September 2011 / 07:27
The concrete beams are so heavy that Ben’s made this trolley to help move them into position. I like it.
Tuesday, 27th September 2011 / 07:27
Partially constructed conservatory floor.
Tuesday, 27th September 2011 / 07:27
Lounge and kitchen floors. I love being able to walk about on these new floors. Real progress, it seems.
For the long spans, which are over 5 m, the beams go close together and the concrete blocks are inserted lengthways, and for the short spans they can be further apart, so the blocks go in widthways.
The ends of the beams are wrapped in damp proof membrane.
Thursday, 29th September 2011 / 07:27
The gaps at the ends of the beams are now filled with brickwork and there’s a thin slurry over the top. The slurry goes down into the gaps between the blocks and beams and sets, locking the whole thing together.
The air bricks are of a sort of telescopic periscope design. The inner ends are built in under the bricks which have been put between the beam ends and the outer ends are left to be built round when the outer skin is worked on.
Saturday, 1st October 2011 / 16:30
An aerial shot. The camera is strapped to the end of a long plank of wood and set to auto shutter after 10 seconds.
7th October 2011
The custom built trolley in use.
October 2011
Levering the last of the beams into position.