New home for the herd

[Pullstart 62,783]

Mick, you’re a good man.  Looking out for the fellow people around you and caring for the ones lost.  Who knows if any descendants of yours were in such a tragic disaster, but if you’ve grown up in the area I’m sure your descendants knew someone lost in the event.

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Thanks pullstart.

 

All my family were in mining so in the dim and distant past who knows? 

I will post a new thread on the subject.

Back to the build....

 

Cut out the slot for the steel angle and will be cementing it in place tomorrow with any luck. 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Pads cemented into place this morning so I can put the steel lintel in later today.

Pouring with rain so good to be indoors again.

I will be glad when I can stand up straight again.

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

The inside lintel is in!  Lots of pointing the brickwork back in but it looks ok.

 

I have been looking at how to support the outer brickwork while I cut the slot out for the lintel.

Seen a new product called Brick brace that self supports masonry without the need for props.

Worth giving a different method a go.

 

Mick 

[Stormin 9,981]

Just Googled them, Mick. For a one off job, anywhere near you, you can hire some?

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

No Norm, they dont do hire of the units, but the kit I need is only 80 pounds so worth a go. That is only a bit more expensive than hiring acrow props and strong boys. 

They are couriering them over for free and they will be here monday. 

Might cut out the inner opening now that the lintel is in place. Get all the mess out of the way as the boss is getting a bit fed up of the dust.

[ebinmaine 67,265]

24 minutes ago, Mickwhitt said:

fed up of the dust

A box fan with a furnace filter on it would do excellent things for reducing your dust while you're working

[Stormin 9,981]

Eric! I wouldn't mind seeing some dust. Fed up with the rain and mud we're getting and got.

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

so there we are,  inner leaf removed to reveal the inside of the outer wall. 

With luck my new brick brace gadget will be here monday so we can start on the outside.

Yes Eric the dust is a problem, but once I break through to outdoors it should be less so.

Then it will be designing and building a steel security door for it.

Mick

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Plumbing day today, moved those pesky heating pipes from across the doorway and tidied up the pipes feeding a radiator above the new door.

I hate plumbing, but it saves a bit of cash if I do it myself. 

I will do a bit of tidying up down there later but that can wait till the door opening is cut, then I can shovel it straight into a skip.

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Well, the brick brace tools arrived and it looks straightforward to use them.

Basically lock them into the vertical joints and hook over a scaffold tube bolted to the brickwork above. Self supporting rather than using props from below. 

Busy with meetings tomorrow so wednesday looks like D-day for doing the cutting for the lintel.

I've had a chop at the concrete floor and it is just "oversite" which was spread on the soil to prevent weed growth during building. It breaks up easily and will be no problem to lift up ready to excavate a bit more depth.

All looking good so far...

Mick 

 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Ok been busy again, managed to fit the brick brace and cut out the slot for the steel lintel to go in.

The brace tool was fairly easy to set up and it held the course of brick in place without the need for props which get in the way.

 

 

I put in the pad stones for the steel to sit on and tomorrow I will point the steel in ready to remove the support system. 

 

Mick 

 

 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

 

Couple of support bricks holding the steel lintel up while the pad stones are setting in place.

My builder was not available so I decided to just get on with it and see how things turn out.

So far so good.

Mick 

 

[Stormin 9,981]

I'm just a little puzzled there, Mick.  Is that lintel flat, angle or H section going in there?

Edited February 26, 2020 by Stormin

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Hi Norm,  

 

It's a length of 100mm x 100mm equal angle 8mm thick webs. 

 

Or rather two lengths, one inside leaf one outside. The upstand of each goes up into the cavity.

 

So each leaf of the wall is supported independently. 

 

Both leaves have to be tied together when I cut out the doorway to replace the three wall ties that were in the centre section.

 

I will be fabricating a steel door frame that will also offer some support.

 

Building regulations officer coming out to see it next week.

 

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

So,  our second building control inspector came out today.

The lintels and doorway are fine, no issues at all.

But he was concerned about the possibility of fire spreading from stored materials. He suggested plaster boarding the whole area, but then realised the whole under floor area was one big room and it wasn't feasible to do that.

So he compromised by requesting a mains smoke alarm be fitted in the space in case of fire.

No issues with that so I will sort that out in due course.

Concrete saw tomorrow to cut out the door and make up a temporary door the secure the area till I make the steel door to fit.

All looks set fair to continue.

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Houston we have a doorway!

 

Not too bad a job to saw the brick out. Took longer to drive to the hire shop than to do the job.

 

Made a gash wooden door to keep out the weather while I can measure up for the steel door.

 

I'll order the steel to be delivered later in the week so I can make a start on it.

 

Just thinking about the best design for security.

 

Mick 

 

[Stormin 9,981]

I used 2x2 for the frame and 1x2 box section for the doors, Mick. Then ganv sheet to finish. I'll take a photo or two tomorrow.

[Stormin 9,981]

 Here's my doors, Mick. Bigger  than you require,  but may give you an idea or two.

 

 

 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Hi Norm.

Looks very well done.

On going to collect the steel tomorrow and build the frame first before I start on the door.

Got some steel weld on bullet hinges already and I will look at a decent locking system.

I'm thinking of making it lockable from indoors only so there is no lock to attack. 

Once I'm secure I can start to dig out for the new floor level.

Just a thin concrete base as there will be no real weight on it.

Mick 

[Stormin 9,981]

 For security there are bolts on the inside, non on outside. Those you can see are ideal. I just put a hook through where a padlock would go.

One day I'll make a new service door. This time a steel one and wire it to the mains.  

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Lol, the mains electrickery looks inviting.

I do have a couple of 12 bore perimeter mines I'm considering fitting!

All steel bought today so I'm off to fabricate ne a door.

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

I got the door frame welded up this afternoon in a rare window of fine, warm weather.

I will fabricate the door tomorrow and then decide on a covering for it.

I'm leaning towards 3mm steel plate rather than thin galvanized sheet.

There will be less noise from it flexing in the wind and it will be more secure. 

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Door made today and the hinges set so it actually works lol.

Ordered the steel plate for the door and that will arrive next week.

Just got to sort out some locking bars for it now. 

 

Fred is champing at the bit to get in there. 

Mick 

[Stormin 9,981]

  I see the sun is shining on the doorway. Hope you've allowed for expansion. Mine don't get any sun, unless they are open during the afternoon. In summer I hade to let them cool or they wouldn't shut.

Edited March 9, 2020 by Stormin