The team hit the ground running this week!
On Monday, we had the concrete pour which had been delayed from last week. This amounted to some 5.5m3 to complete the concrete in the top floor walls and around the steel seats and window positions. This went well other than the web of one block right at the start sheared off and had to be quickly covered with 18mm ply. Only a small quality of concrete was spilt but it was a pity to have this on the final pour! As ever, Dave of Insul Hub supervised the pour ably assisted by Sam and Lewis. The concrete pump was supplied by Ramcrete and the concrete came from Ashville.
As soon as the pour was complete, Sam set about fixing the wall plates to the steel beams and attaching the joist hangers. As he has 10 years experience working with timber frame buildings, he worked with speed an accuracy. A perfectionist, he has bought his own level which is millimetre accurate!
On Tuesday, Sam and Lewis, assisted by Martinez and Julius also of Insul Hub, set about completing the wall plates and joist hangers so that the first joists could be fitted to the roof. As these are all 255mm posi-joists, which are made to measure, once the hangers were fixed this was a very quick process. By the end of Tuesday, all of the posi-joists were in position.
On Wednesday, we were due to have a crane on site to lift the ladder racks which form the sides of the roof into position (these are over 7m long and weigh up to 250kg so not an easy lift). Unfortunately, the crane broke down and needed spare parts. Calls around other crane operators could not produce a replacement so this activity has been delayed to next week when the crane will be operational again.
However, Sam and Lewis were able to construct the base of the central valley gutter and place the 18mm external ply sheeting layer across the roof joists while Martinez and Julius tackled the awkward areas where blocks need to be cut to fit around the corners and the slope on the side walls.
Simultaneously, Ray and Adam of local firm Vincent Fencing have spent the week removing a very old and dilapidated fence from the rear garden and replacing it with a new boarded fence which neatly follows the contour of the garden. This has made a huge difference to the look and feel of the back garden.
Hopefully, we will have the crane back on Tuesday so we can complete the roof structure ready for the steel roof.