Raft disaster! Help, advice and likely copious amounts of Gin needed!

[lizzieuk1]

Oh lord, I could cry. 

Sorry its long but please read!

 

So, having thought we'd have no issues with AFT (insulated raft supplier) going out of business we have, according to the law of sod, now got a rather large issue. 

We've, for various reasons (some self influcted, others not) been quite delayed starting laying our insulated raft so, it has been safely stored away in one of our barns for the past (eek!) year.

 

After carefully completing the ground works/drainage over the past few months, with what felt like a ship load of pea gravel! all has been fine, levels all spot on and finally, this week we started laying it all out.

 

So now we are at the issue. 

 

We carefully installed the perimeter L Elements around 3 sides before we realised, oh bu##er, we don't have enough, we are 3 short! 

 

I initially thought it was our fault for not counting them all on delivery (stupid, things were a bit chaotic on the day unloading a huge lorry) but, after cross checking paperwork it looks like AFT didn't actually order enough from Benders!

 

On the original quote from AFT we have 45 detailed but, after double checking the order directly with Benders, there's only 42! 

I hadn't expected to need to check AFT had actually ordered enough, assuming it's their mistake and not Benders as, obviously, I can't see what AFT sent to them!

 

So, here we are up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Falling at the first hurdle, not a great start!

 

So, please, opinions/advice on how to get us moving again. 

 

As we see it options are:

 

1. Contact AFT for help? 

I have a contact number (that works) for Greg, but not sure how far we'll get. Left a voicemail & text yesterday (after speaking to him earlier in the day about a minor corner detail, before we found the big issue!) but no reply yet (not a great sign)

 

2. Try to source from someone else, Benders are Sweden based and don't supply direct but, maybe someone in the UK is getting a delivery from them we could piggy back on. Buildlite/Greenraft i think use similar elements but time likely a big issue here.

 

3. Manufacture our own L shape elements - doesn't look too tricky (am i being naive here?!) Xps base glued to eps upstand then render the exterior. Then, shutter like mad before concrete pour to ensure they don't fail. Hubby keen on this option as likely much quicker.

 

4. No idea what else, all suggestions gratefully received!

 

P.S is it too early for Gin?!

 

[-rick-]

First, don't panic!

 

8 minutes ago, lizzieuk1 said:

3. Manufacture our own L shape elements - doesn't look too tricky (am i being naive here?!) Xps base glued to eps upstand then render the exterior. Then, shutter like mad before concrete pour to ensure they don't fail. Hubby keen on this option as likely much quicker.

 

I think this is an easy option. The AFT forms are just a way to make the concrete laying easy, producing the same shape with standard (correct spec) XPS should be fine. Maybe reinforce with wooden forms on the outside if not sure of the glue strength. If you look at people in Sweden laying these types of foundations they don't necessarily use preformed XPS anyway, just build up from sheet.

[JohnMo]

I would look to make your own bits. As mentioned above once you get your head clear of the initial panic, suitable grades is eps and xps and some bracing and away you go.

[Nestor]

19 minutes ago, lizzieuk1 said:

P.S is it too early for Gin?!

If you are at the Airport, then no otherwise standards must be maintained.

 

As above, great advice to make your own and move on.

[Mr Punter]

Another vote for make your own.

[saveasteading]

Agreed make your own. The priority is strength as insulation can be sorted after.

[ChrisJ]

Make your own as needed, technically not right, but hey, we've all gone over the speed limit more then once and not an issue

 

And yes it's 12pm somewhere in this world - pour away, but make mine Gin and Lemonade

 

 

[Square Feet]

I'm hoping to make my insulated slab entirely myself using sheet materials so I would say No 3 and bash on.

[saveasteading]

If you put up a drawing showing the cross section and location, then we can maybe advise on the method.

[IanR]

1 hour ago, lizzieuk1 said:

1. Contact AFT for help? 

I have a contact number (that works) for Greg, but not sure how far we'll get. Left a voicemail & text yesterday (after speaking to him earlier in the day about a minor corner detail, before we found the big issue!) but no reply yet (not a great sign)

 

2. Try to source from someone else, Benders are Sweden based and don't supply direct but, maybe someone in the UK is getting a delivery from them we could piggy back on. Buildlite/Greenraft i think use similar elements but time likely a big issue here.

 

3. Manufacture our own L shape elements - doesn't look too tricky (am i being naive here?!) Xps base glued to eps upstand then render the exterior. Then, shutter like mad before concrete pour to ensure they don't fail. Hubby keen on this option as likely much quicker.

 

4. No idea what else, all suggestions gratefully received!

AFT used to use Springvale EPS, in the UK for their UK orders. I hadn't realised they'd changed to their Swedish Supplier for the UK orders. I did get extras from Springvale, but needed Olaf to "OK" the order. I assume the AFT <-> Springvale relationship turned sour???

Have you got Olaf's details? He still has the AFT domain, so his email is likely still operating. I believe I have his UK mobile, but he did use it in when in Sweden - have you got that?

If you are not in a rush, I'd try Olaf to supply the correct sections - no question on insurance cover then.

If not then I'd make them up myself, but you need to use the EPS200 or EPS300 spec that L Formers were specified in.

[IanR]

25 minutes ago, Square Feet said:

I'm hoping to make my insulated slab entirely myself using sheet materials so I would say No 3 and bash on.

Interesting... Are you doing the calcs, or a 3rd party SE, and does their insurance cover you for the DIY approach? I couldn't find a way of avoiding being "locked in" to a specific supplier and being charged a premium for the EPS - although I was happy in the end (after a long search and negotiation) the premium wasn't too high.

[-rick-]

18 minutes ago, IanR said:

Interesting... Are you doing the calcs, or a 3rd party SE, and does their insurance cover you for the DIY approach? I couldn't find a way of avoiding being "locked in" to a specific supplier and being charged a premium for the EPS - although I was happy in the end (after a long search and negotiation) the premium wasn't too high.

 

The formwork is really just a short cut/timesaver. It's the engineering that really matters. I had thought that some raft suppliers give you the choice of just using them for the engineering or for both that and the formwork.

 

Where rafts are more common I believe that using the precut XPS formwork is still not the norm with most making it from 100mm sheet.

[IanR]

1 minute ago, -rick- said:

I had thought that some raft suppliers give you the choice of just using them for the engineering or for both that and the formwork.

 

That wasn't my experience in 2016/17. The Engineers doing optimised rafts, like AFT, ie. 100mm thick in the main, with a deeper ring beam and single layer mesh, were all packaging up their calcs with EPS Supply. Some were also packaging concrete, steel and labour for installation.

If there are now Engineers that will sign off an optimised raft from sheet EPS and only charge for the calcs then that is a benefit. Can anyone share some names?