Installing Block & Beam Floors and Concrete Stairs
By Chris Jones in Shawfield Mansion Rebuild Updates on Thursday, August 13, 2009
The ground and first storey floors are constructed of concrete block and beam, and the staircases of precast concrete. These were supplied and fitted by Collier & Henry who, after an initial site visit and a consultation with the architect and engineer during which detailed drawings were... read more
The External Walling Goes in (What a Difference!)
By Chris Jones in Shawfield Mansion Rebuild Updates on Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The dimensions for the apron and walling around the house have been taken in proportion to Colin Campbell’s original plan drawing. No actual specific details of the original designs were available, so we took a typical period design from one of the many reference books used on the... read more
Machinery: Buy or Hire?
By Chris Jones in Shawfield Mansion Rebuild Updates on Friday, June 26, 2009
The two machines that we used throughout the building of our Georgian Country House were the Sumitomo 5 tonne excavator and the Mortimer 5 tonne dumper. As a resource they have been invaluable, and have been used for everything from digging out the foundations and the basement to pouring... read more
Constructing the Basement and Foundations
By Chris Jones in Shawfield Mansion Rebuild Updates on Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The front two thirds of the house has a semi-basement, and this was to be cast out of waterproof concrete, with the rear third of the house built of concrete strip foundations. The house is on top of a hill and the ground is a mixture of layers of clay and shail with outcrops of sandstone in... read more
Securing a Building Warranty
By Chris Jones in Shawfield Mansion Rebuild Updates on Saturday, May 2, 2009
The warranty on the building has been provided by BLP ‘Building LifePlans Ltd’, a company I had not heard of before, suggested by Colin the architect. Having spoken to the inspector who visited the job on several occasions, they seem to be a company who are happier than some others to take on... read more
