Marlin

Thank you for your comments. Simon. Yes, I have considered timber frame but if done on site that would be very labour intensive and a lot of exposed work before watertight. I have worked on many Building sites where there has been no effective management and the trades were all tripping over each other and deliveries were just being dumped (and generally stolen..).. I hated it.. And the sooner Plastering is made a criminal offence the better.. (Yes, there are alternatives..) After having no success with hiring a designer for Steel Portal frame, I relooked at a Portal made with LVL's and is certainly feasible.. Some concern about the Columns but, labour aside, probably cheaper than Steel. (Prices being all over the place at the moment.) Gus. Hardly a first draft.. I have been on this project for over 10 years and have gone back to square One many times. I started with a Ridge Beam and after looking at others Plans realised it wasn't neccessary with Purlins so close. My limitations is a lack of knowledge about the Topics you mention. My Design has been based on my knowledge of the Building Trade and Building Reg's. I have always wanted a sit down with someone who can advise on issues like 'Architectural Intent' whose meaning I can only guess at.. As to 'Quick sizing of the Sections'.. Welcome to my loop of disappointment.. My guiding principals have been.. As litle concrete as possible.. No Slab. Using Pads or even Ground screws.. (as my potential site may have difficult access for heavyside deliveries). Also Sustainability.. I wanted to get to watertight as quickly as possible. A simple steel frame and composite cladding/roofing I feel could be achieved in a week (with a Spider crane/Hiab & some luck..) Minimum Trades on site. Once the Frame and Covering is erected and secure (by the Fabricators hopefully), then a couple of Competent general Tradesmen could complete the rest over a few weeks. A suspended Ground floor has advantages. By adding weight to the Frame.. Offsetting Uplift. I can run services around in the oversite area. Minimise potential Flooding damage. With a Steel Frame there is a possibilty for future floor level Beam alteration (Subject to SE of course). Potential for using Alternative Materials.. IE.. Industrial Racking Beams as Joists.. ReCycling is encouraged and approved now.. Even used Coldroom Panels for Insulation.. overclad.. I certaily considered Mezzanine framing as it has all the Weight Loadings attached and just needed to extend the columns up.. and hey presto... A mezzanine in a field..yay I thought I might Use Multi-foil as Ground floor Insulation. Just pin it over the joists and add Flooring sheet on top.. Rather than PIR boards which would have to be suspended between joists.. Just an idea.. Whether better for 4 or 5 Frames..? 3m or 4m Bays.. (Build Footprint 100m2 8m x 12m) .. Will take advice there. Liked the idea of 12m long LVL 45 x 200 Joists for ease of installation. I Have not used LVL's so unsure of possible downsides.. So/: Still looking for a Professional to help me.. I wonder what the Queen's next Jubilee will be called.. Mabey something Organic.. Tree jubilee or Seaweed.. Wait and see..

Hi and thank you for your comments. Hi Gus, My initial design for this project was very vague.. intentionally.. thinking the Designer would manipulate it into whatever it needed to be for the permissions. I have a plot in mind but have not approached the landowner until I had some sort of Drawings to show.. I had assumed everything above ground could be designed and within reason be 'signed off' but if I chose a new location this would only affect the Foundation.. I do not intend to build in any kind of extreme environment.. Regular flat(ish) ground probably.. Clay.. Nothing weird.. Probably a knockdown.. In the South east. I refer you to my middle comment.. I cannot find a Professional to do the Design work for me.. I am moderately competent with Basic Sketchup and have tinkered with other 2d CAD programs or even Revit/Tekla but the learning curve is massive and assumes a knowledge level of Maths/formulaes I just do not possess. I cannot design this myself and I had no idea it would prove so difficult to employ somebody.. Saveasteading.. Are you in Construction.. Or the design side.. I am certainly interested in peoples experiences and choices/build details made (and indeed have my own list of preferences which one day I hope to implement). I dont know if Barnhaus succeeded as it was a 'Concept' contest I believe.. I think they are still going in Cardiff. I'll try to attach some jpegs of my Portal Frame with my guesses at Steel sizes. No particular consistency here.. Certainly beefier than Agricultural.

Hi.. Im a newby, attracted by my search for information on Steel Portal Frame for residential use. I am a retired Carpenter/joiner and looking for a way to build a live/work (Hobby use) property for my remaining 40 years. I loved the idea of 4 or 5 Steel portal frames at 8m wide and 3-4m spaced giving me 100m2 workshop+ 1st floor of same for living. Quick to fabricate, minimum footing pads, quick erect + composite panels roof and walls. Much like others here above I believe. As a Carpenter I initialy looked at Timberframe but wanted an idea of Steelframe costs to compare.. and that is where I got stalled.. 10years ago.. As I had Sketchuped my simple designs.. I spent an hour showing it to a Technologist. He never got back to me and screened my calls. Next.. an Architect & Engineer.. same again.. and then again... and again... No one will talk to me... and because they wont talk to me I have no idea.. Why??? Truly exasperating and I learned nothing.. I do still keep trying occasionally, changing my story each time a bit until it's almost total rubbish.. Perhaps, as is mentioned here, Portal Frame is considered only Agri or Commercial and.. well.. different folks for different strokes.. I've been turned away by Steel Fabricators (Show me your Drawings..) and Kit suppliers.. (Not for Residential use).. etc It's been a couple of years in this thread so I am curious if any success has been had and what hoops had to be jumped through.. Particularly PDR in Herefordshire and to enquire whether your services are for hire.. Thanks