Conservatory base what do I do !!!!!!

[123essex]

Now re-written

 

[tony1851]

Could you re-write your post to make it understandable??

 

[123essex]

Trying to upload some photos

 

[123essex]

Hi it seems I'm in a similar situation to another person on another forum about a conservatory base, I've got a local conservatory company to take my old conservatory down and replace with a larger one.I explained I wanted the old base taken up as I didn't know how it was originally constructed eg if insulation was used.The base construction has been subcontracted out to a local builder.
First of all, the depth of the footings as I understand should be 600mm deep and 450mm wide,I would say at max it's about 400mm in depth and 330mm in width that he has done, is this ample? or should the depth be deeper especially as the roof is glass also?
Secondly...The concrete that has been put in comes up to the level of patio that is staying, so there is no brick work below this point,after reading conservatorysurveyor reply in another forum on this site this is wrong as he has said there should be at least two layers of engineering brick below ground level.does anyone else have an opinion on this? Should there be?
Thirdly... There was originally 3 air bricks two of which were under the old base which had a small pipe similar to a small drainpipe in diameter, this went from the house and under the floor to the front of the old conservatory wall.This builder has cut the old pipe into 2 x 2ft lengths and chiseled out one of the old air bricks from the house and cut it in half, and he has then put the two halves one on each side of the new wall then attached the small pipe which then runs slightly downwards towards the house to where the original air brick was (so the new pipe from air brick to air brick is lain across the corner) so if water gets into the pipe it will run into the void under the living room, when confronted with this he said it doesn't matter that its only half an air brick on each side as the pipe is only small. So what do you think? originally there was 3 air bricks now only 2 half air bricks is this adequate or will we end up with damp issues?
Fourth issue...Is there some reason why the DPC levels are different? the outside wall the DPC level is 3 bricks up from the base and the inside wall it is only 2 bricks up from the base, why is this?
Fifth issue... Can anyone advise how much depth you would need from the DPC level to the hardcore level with the insulation being 100mm.

I saw the conservatory company manager yesterday and he is coming round tomorrow morning to see for himself so I would much appreciate any help and advice.I hope all this make sense now lol

 

[123essex]

Hi it seems I'm in a similar situation to another person on another forum about a conservatory base, I've got a local conservatory company to take my old conservatory down and replace with a larger one.I explained I wanted the old base taken up as I didn't know how it was originally constructed eg if insulation was used.The base construction has been subcontracted out to a local builder.
First of all, the depth of the footings as I understand should be 600mm deep and 450mm wide,I would say at max it's about 400mm in depth and 330mm in width that he has done, is this ample? or should the depth be deeper especially as the roof is glass also?
Secondly...The concrete that has been put in comes up to the level of patio that is staying, so there is no brick work below this point,after reading conservatorysurveyor reply in another forum on this site this is wrong as he has said there should be at least two layers of engineering brick below ground level.does anyone else have an opinion on this? Should there be?
Thirdly... There was originally 3 air bricks two of which were under the old base which had a small pipe similar to a small drainpipe in diameter, this went from the house and under the floor to the front of the old conservatory wall.This builder has cut the old pipe into 2 x 2ft lengths and chiseled out one of the old air bricks from the house and cut it in half, and he has then put the two halves one on each side of the new wall then attached the small pipe which then runs slightly downwards towards the house to where the original air brick was (so the new pipe from air brick to air brick is lain across the corner) so if water gets into the pipe it will run into the void under the living room, when confronted with this he said it doesn't matter that its only half an air brick on each side as the pipe is only small. So what do you think? originally there was 3 air bricks now only 2 half air bricks is this adequate or will we end up with damp issues?
Fourth issue...Is there some reason why the DPC levels are different? the outside wall the DPC level is 3 bricks up from the base and the inside wall it is only 2 bricks up from the base, why is this?
Fifth issue... Can anyone advise how much depth you would need from the DPC level to the hardcore level with the insulation being 100mm.

I saw the conservatory company manager yesterday and he is coming round tomorrow morning to see for himself so I would much appreciate any help and advice.I hope all this make sense now lol

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• 123essex
• 12 Apr 2015
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[Nige F]

[quote="123essex";p=".

I saw the conservatory company manager yesterday and he is coming round tomorrow morning to see for himself so I would much appreciate any help and advice.Il

Give him some abuse

 

[123essex]

Photos

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• 123essex
• 12 Apr 2015
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• 123essex
• 12 Apr 2015
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• 123essex
• 12 Apr 2015
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• 123essex
• 12 Apr 2015
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[tony1851]

If there were three air bricks originally, there should be three opposite those in the new work, preferably with something like 100mm ducting between them, not bits of rainwater pipe.
Sorry, but the pics make this guy look a real cowboy.

 

[123essex]

Yeah I totally agree with you, just need to know exactly what to tell him so need to know what the builder should be doing.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

First of all, the depth of the footings as I understand should be 600mm deep and 450mm wide,I would say at max it's about 400mm in depth and 330mm in width that he has done, is this ample? or should the depth be deeper especially as the roof is glass also?

Conservatory foundations are often less deep than house foundations, despite the fact that the soil under them is subject to the same potential problems as house foundations, as conservatories are not subject to building regulations.
I would certainly be tempted to go to a similar depth as my house foundations if I was putting an expensive conservatory on top.
The required depth according to the NHBC technical guidance for houses depends on the soil type, and proximity to trees and drains. If you are in a granular soil with no drain runs nearby then a founding depth of 450mm below ground level is sufficient.
The width is governed by the load on the foundation and the bearing capacity of the soil. Chances are that 330mm is wide enough as conservatories are generally lightweight structures compared with houses, especially if the floor is ground bearing.

Secondly...The concrete that has been put in comes up to the level of patio that is staying, so there is no brick work below this point,after reading conservatorysurveyor reply in another forum on this site this is wrong as he has said there should be at least two layers of engineering brick below ground level.does anyone else have an opinion on this? Should there be?

It's good practice to allow at least a couple of courses of masonry below ground level, but I believe that this is just for aesthetics (so that the foundation does become exposed), so as long as you don't intend to alter the patio I don't think it will cause you any problems.

Thirdly... There was originally 3 air bricks two of which were under the old base which had a small pipe similar to a small drainpipe in diameter, this went from the house and under the floor to the front of the old conservatory wall.This builder has cut the old pipe into 2 x 2ft lengths and chiseled out one of the old air bricks from the house and cut it in half, and he has then put the two halves one on each side of the new wall then attached the small pipe which then runs slightly downwards towards the house to where the original air brick was (so the new pipe from air brick to air brick is lain across the corner) so if water gets into the pipe it will run into the void under the living room, when confronted with this he said it doesn't matter that its only half an air brick on each side as the pipe is only small. So what do you think? originally there was 3 air bricks now only 2 half air bricks is this adequate or will we end up with damp issues?

It is possible to calculate the actual requirement for airflow. It's possible (although unlikely) that two half airbricks are sufficient. Having said that, the builder shouldn't have altered the number of airbricks.

Fourth issue...Is there some reason why the DPC levels are different? the outside wall the DPC level is 3 bricks up from the base and the inside wall it is only 2 bricks up from the base, why is this?

It's reasonably common to see this - can depend on things such as relative levels of floor and external gorund.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

If there were three air bricks originally, there should be three opposite those in the new work, preferably with something like 100mm ducting between them, not bits of rainwater pipe.
Sorry, but the pics make this guy look a real cowboy.

Like this: http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=171482