Building control - steps for making a new exterior opening

[kingandy2nd]

Hi guys,

My latest project is going to be a conservatory on the side of the house.

Currently it's just a 2 story brick wall where the conservatory will go so I need to make a new opening to fit a 4ft set of French doors between the existing house and the conservatory.

I've read up about how to actually make the opening and installing the pcc lintels to the opening and I'm happy with how to do that.

I want to be compliant and get building control sign off, but I don't really understand the steps for getting the BC sign-off.

Obviously I need to fill in the forms and pay the fees, but what next?

I want to minimise the time there's a gaping hole in the side of the house. Do I arrange a BC appointment and then schedule my work on the opening to be done the day before or the same day, or do I just do the work and then call BC and hope they turn up the same day or the following one?

I assume they'll want to see the opening before the doors are installed to check the lintel and the cavity is correctly closed....I just don't want a big hole in the side house for too long before I can get the doors installed.

Thanks

 

[^woody^]

Cut the opening, put the lintels in, but the frame in, hang the doors and then call the BCO out. He can see what he needs to see at this stage.

 

[tony1851]

What size p/c conc. lintels are you using?

 

[RonnyRaygun]

What size p/c conc. lintels are you using?

Doesn't matter if you use them in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations

 

[^woody^]

The apprentice is learning

 

[kingandy2nd]

Thanks for the input guys. I was planning on two of these:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/220332


Appreciate it might be one of those 'how long is a piece of string question ' but how long should it roughly take for building control to take a visit. Am I linking at a day or two or a week or two? Thanks

 

[tony1851]

What size p/c conc. lintels are you using?

Doesn't matter if you use them in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations

But will he? He might be going to B&Q to get some of those useless 65x100 lintels!

 

[tony1851]

The apprentice is learning

I learnt all this before you were born.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

What size p/c conc. lintels are you using?

Doesn't matter if you use them in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations

But will he? He might be going to B&Q to get some of those useless 65x100 lintels!

I've got an idea Tony...pair of 152x89s

 

[tony1851]

Thanks for the input guys. I was planning on two of these:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/220332

 

[RonnyRaygun]

Thanks for the input guys. I was planning on two of these:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/220332

Erm yeah, don't use those!

http://www.naylor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/LintelsJune2012PDFversion3.pdf

You need to work out the loads to the lintel though...

 

[RonnyRaygun]

The apprentice is learning

I learnt all this before you were born.

Bloody hell, how old are you??

 

[kingandy2nd]

Ok guys, wickes lintel out. I've got a decent builders merchant down the road so can get something more heavy weight

 

[tony1851]

Ok guys, wickes lintel out. I've got a decent builders merchant down the road so can get something more heavy weight

If you want to use concrete, why not consider a 140 deep lintel? Those small ones can crack and most are not really intended for retro fit.
If it was me, I'd just use a couple of 6x4 timber beams.

 

[kingandy2nd]

Thanks for the advice Tony, it's appreciated.

I had just though about separate lintels as they'd be a bit easier for me to handle an could do one skin at a time.

I'm open to suggestions in the best way to do it...I had assumed that those wickes lintels would have been manufactured to take suitable weights for a standard opening but would rather over engineer than under.