PCA Consulting Engineers

Award-winning barn projects

On January 30, 2022
by Sophia Darke

PCA has been recognised for its work on two barn projects in Devon.

Willowplatt Barn, near Aveton Gifford in Devon, was an abandoned 230-year-old stone structure and has been transformed into a holiday rental property. PCA worked with BBH Architects and oak-framed building designer and makers Carpenter Oak to advise on drainage,  its structural condition and any adjustments they needed to be made.

Willowplatt Barn was chosen as Regional Winner in the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2021 in the ‘Best conversion to create a single new home’ category and went on to win the grand final later in the year. It also won Build It’s Best Oak Frame Home Award.

PCA was involved in this project from an early stage to give a pre-planning structural appraisal of the building and produce a drainage strategy.

But there was also an incumbent resident whose needs were also taken care of.

PCA director Ross Carpenter said: “I remember my first visit to undertake our survey and the resident barn owl sat happily up in the roof space while I looked around before flying the length of the barn over my head and out of the large south opening. The building work and final design was considered around the resident barn owl with a specific loft space set aside for the owl in the finished building.”

PCA also worked with S Tozer Construction on this project.

Meanwhile, Redhill Barn, also known as The Outfarm, had been a roofless ruined stone and timber barn nestled in the Devon hills. PCA worked with architects TYPE Studio and Carpenter Oak on the new timber frame. PCA advised on the 21-metre single truss that span from gable to gable with a fork at each end to accommodate large windows.

This barn project won three awards from The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): RIBA South West Award 2021, RIBA South West Conservation Award 2021, and RIBA National Award 2021. It also featured on the Grand Designs House of the Year.

Merry Christmas 2021 from PCA

On December 17, 2021
by Sophia Darke

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone we have worked with, in what has been another tricky year, and look forward to working with you again in 2022 and beyond.

As in previous years we will not be sending cards but instead will be making donations to Kingsbridge Area Food Bank and RedR UK.

Kingsbridge Area Food Bank helps and supports our local community by preventing and relieving poverty in Kingsbridge and the surrounding villages. For more information, visit: https://www.kingsbridgefoodbank.org.uk/.

RedR UK is a disaster relief charity which does an amazing job giving NGOs, aid workers and communities the skills to prepare for, respond to and recover from major disasters like earthquakes, floods, conflict and drought. For more information on the life-saving work that RedR undertakes, please visit: https://www.redr.org.uk/.

Our office will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 23rd December and will reopen at 9am on Tuesday 4th January 2022.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas card from PCA

Conservation work wins recognition

On November 19, 2021
by Sophia Darke

PCA is pleased to announce that we have won recognition for our conservation work on two churches in the south-west.

Our conservation expert Paul Carpenter (far left) was invited to attend the UK Church Architecture Awards held at St Mary Magdalene Church in Paddington, London. The event was hosted by The Ecclesiastical Association of Architects & Surveyors (EASA) and the National Churches Trust.

Two church projects PCA had worked on were shortlisted for these awards.

St Peter’s Church hidden paintingSt Peter’s Church in Knowstone, Devon, won the prestigious King of Prussia Gold Medal. PCA had worked with architects AJ Bunning back in 2017 and 2018. The south doorway of this Grade II*-listed church is thought to be Norman with the main church originating from the 15th century and the north aisle from the 16th.

PCA advised and liaised with timber and plaster conservators on the structural repair to the rood screen stone stair shaft and other stonework repairs. Alison Bunning’s (pictured middle right in main photo) work centred on the discovery and conservation of wall paintings and a rood loft stairway during routine repairs to an area of plasterwork.

St Julitta Church roof repairsSt Julitta Church in Lanteglos-by-Camelford, Cornwall, was also shortlisted. PCA worked on this project in 2019 with Chadburn Conservation Architect to advise on the structural repairs and strengthening required to the historic timber roof structure and supporting stonework to accommodate a new slate roof covering.

St Julitta Church repairs PCAPaul said: “These were both challenging and rewarding projects where sensitive structural repairs were required to protect the historic fabric. It was an honour to work with such skilled teams of consultants and specialist contractors, and to have two projects recognised nationally.”

We’re supporting our half marathon man!

On July 6, 2021
by Sophia Darke

Our very own Scott Doswell is training hard to prepare for Britain’s Ocean City Half Marathon in Plymouth in September.

This will be Scott’s first half marathon and he is raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). His wife Jenni had a grandmother who died from the disease along with a close friend’s mother.

You can show your support for Scott by donating anything you can spare via his Just Giving page.

Scott says: “Most people who know me know that I am not a runner. In fact, they probably know that I used to despise running. However, I want to prove that most people can do anything when they put their mind to it.

“I have chosen to run for MNDA because of the amazing work and support the charity gives to the unfortunate people who have motor neurone disease, as well as providing support to their carers and families.”

Well done Scott!

New roof terrace to make the most of the view

On April 26, 2021
by Ross Carpenter

Roof terrace view

Our client wanted to gain some outdoor space in this amazingly located apartment, so Andrew Lethbridge Associates gained planning permission for a rooftop terrace within the existing roof pitch.

This project required a fair amount of structural intervention given that the existing roof was constructed using long-spanning trussed rafters, but the vision is now starting to come together thanks to our structural steel truss designs and great work by WM Construction.

It may seem like a lot of work for a terrace and balcony, but with views like that this, it is so worthwhile.

The wrap-around scaffold provides shelter from weather, but almost more importantly, stops the workforce from just staring at that view all day!

 

Can I convert my loft?

On April 13, 2021
by Ross Carpenter

The quick answer is: “Anything is possible.” However, there are some basic points to establish if a loft conversion is right for your property.

A loft conversion is a fantastic way to add space and valuable floor area to your home for additional bedrooms, a master suite or even a home office, if you are now working from home.

There are many types of roof construction: A traditional truss and purlin arrangement, a cut roof, and manufactured trussed roofs, among others. Each type of roof construction has pros and cons for conversion and PCA has produced successful schemes for all types of existing construction and can advise on the best options for your loft.

However, before we invent the best structural solution, it is important to establish if the roof space you currently have is large enough for conversion and what permissions you might require for converting it.

Loft conversion beforeWhen converting lofts, the existing roof slope and ceiling/loft floor will most likely need to be enhanced to accommodate the additional loads of people, furniture and finishes, such as plasterboard, etc., but to also accommodate the thickness of insulation that will be required. These will all have a knock-on effect on the space and head height remaining in the loft.

Loft conversion beforeIt is important to understand at an early stage how much space you have in your loft, allowing for a tolerance for the work and reduced space. We can advise on the likely structural zones required at a feasibility stage if required.

A good way to get an idea of whether your loft can be converted is to see whether any similar houses on your street have had loft conversions. If you do spot examples, it is more likely to be a possibility.

Secondly, how will the stairs and access from the floor below work and how is the existing floor layout going to be affected? You will normally have to accept some loss of space for the stairs to the loft, but this will be offset against the huge gain of space upstairs. The affected space can in some properties be minimised by siting the new stairs above the stairs below. This all depends on the existing layout and roof arrangement.

Any building work to a property requires building regulations approval, but before this is obtained, planning permission will need to be considered for your conversion. In some cases, planning permission is not required and falls under your permitted development rights, but this depends where you are located and to what extent you are going to alter the external roof works.

We would typically work alongside an architect to assist with the planning elements of the building regulations. Our advice is to do it right and do it once. We have been called into many existing loft conversion projects that did not gain building control consent and, more often than not, corners have been cut, so substantial expensive remedial work is often required to bring it up to standard. Lack of approval for lofts often surfaces in the sale of properties and can affect the value of your home. As noted above, the moral of the story is to plan the work and get proper approval.

Other points to note are that you may require a Party Wall Agreement if we need to work on the dividing wall to your neighbour’s house or roof abutment. This is a formal document designed to protect yourself and your neighbour to ensure any work carried out does not affect their property. PCA can assist with this.

Successful loft conversionLastly, you may need to consider protected species, such as bats.

All of the above may seem like an endless number of hurdles to overcome before building work can even begin! Remember though a loft conversion is an asset to any home and any investment in terms of time, effort and money, is usually worth it for the space and property value you gain.

 

 

Why use insulated concrete forms for your build

On November 3, 2020
by Andrew Horton

Insulated concrete forms or (ICF) is an efficient alternative to traditional build methods, such as timber frame or brick and block, in terms of the time spent on construction and ongoing energy savings.

For the uninitiated, a timber frame build unsurprisingly sees timber used as the framework of a building or extension before affixing stud walls and an external waterproof barrier, and then applying external wall elements. The brick and block method sees internal blockwork and external walls made of brick or stone. The latter method takes longer than a timber frame construction, which can be up in a matter of days.

Quicker still is ICF. This is an insulated concrete building system that is super quick to construct. Hollow, lightweight, expanded polystyrene block components, such as the ones made by NUDURA, lock together to provide a formwork system into which concrete is poured. Basically, its LEGO for builders!

Once set, the concrete structure continues to benefit from the formwork. The 67mm layers of expanded polystyrene encases the concrete to significantly reduce the flow of heat through the wall.

NUDURA celebrates the fact that their ICF walls have “the most useful level of thermal mass,” in that their low thermal conductivity stabilises the internal temperature from day to night fluctuations and provides a largely self-regulating environment to reduce draughts and cold spots.

The result is less energy consumption thereby reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling…which drives down costs too. Such energy efficiency is becoming more and more important as people try to lead their lives a more sustainable way. As a further bonus, the NUDURA unique folding web design is manufactured from 100% recycled polypropylene too.

With the correct detailing, ICF is an effective sound barrier from outdoor noise, is mould resistant, can withstand winds up to 250mph and is flood resistant. Tick, tick, tick and tick!

PCA has worked on multiple projects using ICF. It is particularly efficient when building basements, due to its dry and damp-free properties, but is equally effective above ground. What makes it appealing to construction firms though is that it is deigned to make building easier and faster.

And to complete the job, a whole range of external finishes can be used, including brick, render, stone, timber and cladding or a combination of any of these.

If you are considering a new-build or an extension and want to find out more about ICF, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

You can also contact The Fell Partnership for further information on NUDURA.

What you need to consider before fitting a bifold door – or sliding doors

On September 25, 2020
by Andrew Horton

In the last six months, fresh air has been key when it has come to gatherings of small groups of people. Even when two households were permitted to meet, these get-togethers often took place in the safety of a back garden and these meetings were clearly easier as social distancing measures went into the warmer summer months.

With six months of restrictions still to come and winter on its way, those outdoor gatherings may start to get tricky. While in England we are still allowed to meet indoors, vulnerable people may choose to stay outdoors or, at the very least, let plenty of fresh air in when they are indoors. Similar to schools having to open all the windows in classrooms.

Bifold or sliding doors make an indoor space feel part of the outdoors and certainly let plenty of fresh air in! They have become a popular replacement for French windows as they offer floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall natural lighting and help to bring the outside in, especially if you have a level threshold between your home and your outside space. Perfect for these COVID-19 times!

You can even get bifold or sliding doors that meet at a corner to give you light and space from two sides of your property. However, in the words of UK bifold door manufactures, Origin: “Hiring the services of a structural engineer is imperative if you plan to have a corner set of bi-fold doors installed. A structural engineer will survey your home to ensure it’s structurally sound and suitable for corner bifolds.”

As you would expect, you cannot just knock a hole in the wall and get cracking…even if you just want bifold or sliding doors for single wall and social distancing is making you feel a little hemmed in!

You will undoubtedly need a beam, or suitable lintel, to support the load above the new opening where the bifold doors will fit. External walls are an integral part of a building’s structure. They can be load-bearing walls, so it is important to understand what they are supporting, e.g. roof, floors and walls above, and we can then advise on the correctly sized beam or lintel to use so the load can be transferred adequately into the adjacent walls, as long as these are structural and have sufficient bearing and foundations.

Specialist door installers usually just come and fit the door, so you will need a builder to create the opening. Before you do this though, you may want to seek out our advice to ensure your home is suitable for a bifold or sliding door. Do not worry, most will be, but it is best to check before you buy!

Planning permission is often not required but advice from an architect or the local planning authority should be sought in the first instance before you make any decisions, especially when installing bifold or sliding doors where the house is listed or in a conservation area. You will need building regulation approval, however, and our involvement and design calculations and/or plans will help gain this.

If you are considering bifold or sliding doors, or any other alterations to help keep the fresh air flowing in the next six months as social distancing continues, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

PCA projects shortlisted for awards

On July 10, 2020
by Sophia Darke

We have been shortlisted for three awards in this year’s South West LABC Building Excellence Awards.

PCA projects are finalists in the following categories:

Best Change of Use of an Existing Building – Selworthy Veterinary Group

Best Individual New Home – Eddystone Road

Best Small Commercial Project – Selworthy Veterinary Group

Selworthy Veterinary Group enlisted PCA’s help when they wanted to convert an existing redundant steel framed farmer’s shed, on the outskirts of Kingsbridge, into a new veterinary practice. PCA worked with architects Andrew Lethbridge and main contractor Lilburn & Elliott Construction.

Eddystone Road is a two-storey new-build home in Thurlestone. PCA carried out the structure and drainage design. Again, we worked with Andrew Lethbridge and main contractor, WM Construction.

The awards will be run digitally with the winners announced on September 1, 2020.

Dealing with landslides and collapsed walls

On June 10, 2020
by Andrew Horton

Wet weather earlier this year saw PCA called in to advise on how to rectify various landslides and collapsed walls…some of which have not yet been rectified or repaired due to lockdown.

It is not surprising we have saw so many in 2020 with February being the wettest month in the UK since records began in 1862. The UK received an average of 209.1mm of rainfall, which was 237% above the average for the month compared to Februarys between 1981 and 2010.

Such a volume of water can create hydrostatic pressure or causes surface water run off when the ground is saturated. These conditions contribute to landslides and collapsed walls, and flooding in areas of poor drainage. Erosion can also occur caused by weather, tides, rivers, etc.

Some walls are also at the end of their life with old mortar that simply gives out. Others are boundary walls where the ground has built up behind them overtime to, well, breaking point. Again, poor drainage, or lack of drainage, can contribute to the wall failure.

Whether your wall has already collapsed or an area of your land has started to shift or you are worried how the next bout of heavy rainfall will affect your property, we can help. We will assess the problem and will come up with varying solutions to replace your walls and shore up land.

We can also work within the standards required if your landslide or collapsed wall infringes on a highway and, where appropriate, we can work with loss adjustors if an insurance claim is warranted.

Please do not hesitate to contact us.

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