Category: 19 Support for steel #3

Friday 9th March 2012 / 10:10

To support the end of steel #3 the structural engineers have asked for a pier to be built at the intersection of two walls.

The first thing to do is to support the lintel that currently bears on the wall, fold back the carpet, cut some floor boards and joists out and then knock out enough brick work at the base of the walls to gain access to where the hole needs to be dug for the foundation concrete.

The foundation is to be a piece of concrete 750 square and set 1 metre into the ground.

Friday 9th March 2012 / 10:43

The quarry tiles I laid in the kitchen eleven years ago are pretty hard wearing, but they’re no match for this breaker.

Friday 9th March 2012 / 12:19

Ben is a little way into the dig. The DeWalt breaker is a great tool.

Friday 9th March 2012 / 13:06

Heavy, sticky, sucking clay. It has to be scraped off the spade into the bucket.

Friday 9th March 2012 / 14:00

The hole is nearly down to the right depth now. About two tonnes of clay have been removed and carried one bucket at a time out into the skip.

Sunday 18th March 2012 / 18:00

The hole was filled with concrete a few days ago and has now set. The surface has an almost glassy character.

Monday 19th March 2012 / 20:45

More concrete has been added today.

Friday 23rd March 2012 / 16:28

The pier is built using a combination of large concrete blocks and engineering bricks. A damp proof membrane is inserted at the base.

Friday 23rd March 2012 / 17:58

The new blocks and bricks are keyed into the existing walls. Mesh is inserted to tie the bricks together and prevent spread.

Monday 26th March 2012 / 19:54

The finished pier with the padstone on the top.