ToughButterCup Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Things have slowed down a bit for various reasons too boring to relate. So, I've decided to finish the Piggery myself, and let the main builder finish the house (when he decides to come back on site). In @Construction Channel's words, "How hard can it be?" The main aim is to rebuild the piggery to look (outwardly) exactly the same as it looked before, but to turn it into a useful storage and utility space. This is what the piggery used to look like but now it looks like this Just in case anyone thinks that a forum Admin is an expert, let's be clear, I haven't built anything in my life before. (Failed Woodwork at school, got thrown out of Metalwork too). But I did spend years watching my dad build bridges. (M5, M50) There are a series of challenges here Design and build the roof Make the connections for water and sparks Clad it Build and fit the doors Connect the Piggery to the house (water and sparks) Fit it out: washing machine, storage racking, sink I have never done any of this before. So, I'd be glad of your help. I'll try and keep a detailed record of what I plan to do and then compare it with what really happens. I would not have considered doing this without the experience of the generosity of BuildHub. The aim of this post is to give something back, especially to all those who do not post, to those who worry that by posting, they will be making a fool of themselves , or who are maybe a bit shy about 'getting-it-wrong'. For me and many others that's normal. Starting on the roof today. Sorting out the gables. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 (edited) Good job it is not being built out of straw or sticks , and they haven't reintroduced wolves yet. I really look forward to seeing how it develops. I am sure it will be great. F Edited July 18, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 17 minutes ago, recoveringacademic said: to those who worry that by posting, they will be making a fool of themselves , Only a fool thinks they won't make mistakes. It's learning from them that's the trick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." - William Shakespeare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Is the roof designed yet...? I'd consider an 8x2 purlin on that last but one block and then its going to be either 4x2 or 6x2 rafter depending on span. Set the purlin at the roof angle so you're not cutting birdsmouths and then its a seat cut at the bottom and a plumb cut at the top... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Buy one of these first. Stanley Tools ZSTA-4-60-053 170 mm Adjustable Quick Square https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00002X2HO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iAEBzbX2ZV0T1 the rest is easy ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 3 hours ago, PeterW said: Is the roof designed yet...? [...] No. I intend to knock something up in Sketchup and put it in this thread for review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 Progress thus far: trimming the gable - a bit fiddly Durisol is hard to mark with a pencil: it's too rough for a carpenter's pencil. I found that a normal white-board marker works best and working on your own, cutting blocks you need one of those Jaws Thingies After a bit (morning) this was the result And looking at it, my heart sank. There's more than the hint of a droop in the middle of the span. I'm not fussed about it, but I am sure that I will spend the rest of my life noticing, and then wincing at it. Tooth sucking....... resulted in this From three spots in the span, this....Hmm, don't believe it. Liar, liar pants on fire. My eyes tell me to do something about it. Bearing in mind the blocks are currently empty, and will soon be filled with concrete, it's only going to get worse. Here's where the concrete goes..... We'll be putting a bit of rebar in there in line with the Technical Guidance from Durisol And this is where are up to just before lunch. Theres a bit of 3 by 3 propping up the span and a couple of battens making sure that the blocks stay where they are. What have I learned so far? Cutting individual blocks is fiddly and, on your own, quite difficult. There are two gables, so tomorrow, or whenever, on the other gable, I'm going to bolt the blocks together (with battens front and back), and make a simple wooden guide set at the correct angle for the gable. And then use a chainsaw to cut the whole lot in one go. Might just ask Debbie to standby when I do that. Durisol dust gets in yer eyes. Always use eye protection. If you get a cut from a Durisol block it takes ages to heal. The cement gets in your skin. It's just an irritant, not serious. What's next? Shuttering such that the concrete (I'll be making) doesn't leak out of the blocks too much. That means the odd bit of foam, and judicious use of shuttering where the gaps are too big. What's too big? I'll show you in a post later in this thread. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 (edited) Can you not leverage that droop properly level with an Acrow until you pour it? Edited July 18, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 That frame needs propping before you pour as otherwise it will bend more with the concrete. Stack of spare blocks and some timber packers..?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 Good idea @PeterW. I'll do that rather than spend more money on Acrows. Standing in the shower, rinsing the concrete dust out of my hair, I had a flash of inspiration . I could easily have made up the gable end on a flat bit of ground by my workshop - prefabbed it in other words. And then lift it into place with the digger. Hey, wait a minnit, there's nowt to stop me trying that out tomorrow is there? Just take it all down, reassemble it on a piece of board, shutter it, pour it, and replace it..... I love it when a plan comes together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 If you shutter it on the floor and pour it and then lift up. What is tying it to the walls below? Wont it just be a big triangle free standing on top of the other walls. I personally would build a dummy roof truss or a proper one if that's the sort of roof structure you want, and use this truss as a template to cut your blocks to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiehamy Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 On your droopy thing...! We had the same on our biggest window - quite simply I didn't put enough vertical supports on it (3.2m span). I made the window slightly smaller and it all sorted itself when it came to lining it out. You have the chance now to sort it of course but it will never be seen. As Peter said, regardless that frame will need a centre prop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stones Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 +1 on lots of bracing for the openings. You can see in my blog various images of our window / door openings: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now