Hi, we are in the process of building a new orangery/conservatory and wanted a green oak look to it but without the cost and potential problems re shrinkage/movement etc. We decided to opt for a steel framed structure and infill the walls with floor to ceiling oak windows and doors, capping any exposed steel with oak.
Our designer and structural engineer have come up with a design for the foundations which are strip foundations with a brick outer and block inner leaf up to damp proof course. The idea is that each steel post will rest on the outer leaf and have a foot which would be bolted down on the inner leaf block work.
This has been passed by building control but the problem is that the steel erectors have said that doing it this way it is very likely to crack the inner block work and crack the mortar joints of the blocks. They have suggested that the posts need to be bolted to a poured/cast concrete pad stone which would be part of the foundation.
The question is, as I have been told that I still need a cavity up to damp proof course is it practical do shuttering to pour the inner leaf along with the strip foundation and then build the outer leaf in brick? Or are there alternatives?
Many thanks.
Our designer and structural engineer have come up with a design for the foundations which are strip foundations with a brick outer and block inner leaf up to damp proof course. The idea is that each steel post will rest on the outer leaf and have a foot which would be bolted down on the inner leaf block work.
This has been passed by building control but the problem is that the steel erectors have said that doing it this way it is very likely to crack the inner block work and crack the mortar joints of the blocks. They have suggested that the posts need to be bolted to a poured/cast concrete pad stone which would be part of the foundation.
The question is, as I have been told that I still need a cavity up to damp proof course is it practical do shuttering to pour the inner leaf along with the strip foundation and then build the outer leaf in brick? Or are there alternatives?
Many thanks.