PCA supports Salcombe’s gig rowers

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by Sophia Darke

The World Gig Championships 2019 took place during the bank holiday weekend on the Isles of Scilly.

Now in its 30th year, a record 165 gigs took part.

PCA was pleased to sponsor Salcombe Estuary Rowing Club and their men’s B crew, including Director Andrew Horton (in cap below).

The B crew came a respectable 66th out of 160 gigs in this section.

Huge thanks to the crew, including, Tim Jones, of Start Point Finance, Chris Spencer Chapman, Ross Thompson, of Thompson Carpentry, Finn Timmis, Petrus Lindeque and our superb cox, Anna Johnstone, from The Crab Shed.

Well done to all crews and for full results, including Salcombe’s ladies supervets silver medallists, check out the SERC website

PCA's Andrew Horton at the World Gig Championships 2019

 

Unobstructed corner window for South Pool home

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by Ross Carpenter

Floating window externalPCA was called into this project when the client requested a seamless view from their converted stone built outbuilding, which now serves as a home office. The client requested a corner window without any corner posts, frames or visible structure.

We designed a bespoke steel frame around the proposed opening. We used structural design and CAD software Tekla and Revit to produce the design and details in 3D ahead of construction.

This helped towards creating a seamless product whereby the structure is completely concealed by the stonework and internal finishes.

Work nears completion on The Yealm

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by Sophia Darke

The Yealm is one of the most significant boutique developments along the southern coast. Overlooking the natural harbour of the twin villages of Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo, The Yealm is located in a popular yachting destination

The Yealm main houseRed Earth Developments Ltd assisted by Devon Contractors, have been restoring this elegant former hotel to its former glory with six spacious lateral apartments, eight other contemporary apartments and one stunning house.

PCA has been working closely with Devon Contractors as the structural alterations to the former hotel have been very extensive. We have undertaking periodic structural inspections to ensure that our requirements are being fulfilled.

Yealm WoodAll works are progressing in parallel, so PCA has had a site-wide interest in all elements of the build. While the new build apartments are relatively straightforward, much of our work has been on the former hotel as this is by far the most complex element of the project.

The new balconies are a dramatic feature of the building conversion and, as such, have been constructed to support the floor along with elements of the roof structure, all of which has required considerable skill by Devon Contractors.

Completion is due in summer 2019.

Please feel free to join The Yealm mailing list to stay in touch with development updates.

Photo by Guy Harrop – info@guyharrop.com – 07866 464282

PCA supports Wear Red for RedR UK

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by Sophia Darke

PCA staff wore red shirts, ties and socks to support Wear Red for RedR UK day on February 28th. Wear Red for RedR UK at PCAFundraising for Wear Red for RedR UKThe event helps raise money for PCA’s company charity, RedR UK, which trains humanitarian workers around the world, giving them the skills to prepare for, and respond to, major disasters like earthquakes, floods, conflict and drought.

The staff raised £150 through a raffle, bake sale and an enthusiastic game with the aim of building a pyramid of six cups using only an elastic band and string – no touching the cups with hands!

Meanwhile, PCA’s Andrew Horton and Paul Carpenter attended RedR UK’s annual reception attended by the charity’s President HRH The Princess Royal. The event was a chance to thank those present and update them on RedR UK’s work over the past year.RedR’s Royal Event

Guests enjoyed speeches from HRH The Princess Royal and RedR UK CEO Martin McCann. In her speech, Her Royal Highness emphasised the need for training for humanitarian workers to ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to respond effectively to disasters. The Princess also highlighted the scope of RedR UK’s work and commented on the broad reach and impact of the training programme.

Annual reception photo credit: Photo by Chris Andreou for RedR UK www.redr.org.uk

Pitched roof for a garage conversion

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by Andrew Horton

Garage conversion beforeWhen our customer bought a split-level bungalow in Kingsbridge, it was always their intention to convert their integral garage to create a larger space for a kitchen-diner, but they did not want it to look like an obvious garage conversion.

Working with PCA, Simon French (RSL Surveyors) and local builder Tristan Couch, from TJ Couch Building, a pitched roof was added to the conversion to help it blend in with the rest of the property.

Garage conversion steelThe extra load of the roof and new 3-metre window meant a new steel beam was required to support the timber-framed extension and new-look roof line.

Existing composite trussed rafters had to be cut back with strengthened ends that could be supported off the new steel and maintain a level ceiling from the old section of house into the new extension. PCA helped progress with ad-hoc site visits as required to ensure the builder was not delayed at any point.

Garage conversion internalOur customer John Moore said: “PCA helped us realise our plans for our home. It is very easy to imagine what you want to achieve but there is always more to it than the building work. We are grateful for Andrew Horton’s advice and used PCA again when we extended the back of the house too.”

If you have a building project in mind, you may require advice on ensuring your plans are structurally sound. Your architect, surveyor or builder should advise you to seek out a structural engineer. If you have any doubts, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Newton’s Place starts to take shape

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by Sophia Darke

Work has begun on a £2.2 million conversion of a Grade II-listed former 19th Century church in Newton Abbot.

Part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Newton’s Place project will provide a new accessible museum, community space and council offices.

Newton's Place conservationPCA’s structural and conservation engineering expert Paul Carpenter has been working on this interesting project for more than two years and was initially called in to survey the former St Leonard’s Church in Wolborough Street, on behalf of Newton Abbot Town Council in August 2016.

He has been working with the architect, Jeremy Newcombe of LSN Architects, advising on the conservation and conversion works, which will include the insertion of two new floor structures, a lift and staircases within part of the building.
Newton's Place external damage
Paul said: “The church had been unused for many years before the council purchased it, but although it has suffered some deterioration, it is in very fair condition and was originally well built. Once sensitively repaired and converted to its new use, it will provide a valuable community facility for the town.”

South West construction firm Pollard have been appointed to carry out the building work, with the proposed opening of Newton’s Place in the winter of 2019/20.

Sturdy Salcombe jetty

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by Sophia Darke

This private jetty in the Salcombe Estuary was designed by PCA Consulting Engineers.

It incorporates ODEX piled foundations and reinforced concrete to withstand wave loads.

PCA worked closely with Harrison Sutton Partnership and Arcadis to design a structure capable of withstanding pragmatic wave loads yet incorporating reclaimed granite steps and landing platform to create a robust yet attractive jetty.

Final handrails and lighting are yet to be attached, but the scale of structure and the commitment from the contractors, who had to work around the tides and difficult access, has delivered a fabulous piece of engineering that is blending in well to its environment.

You can see some of the work in progress in this earlier news item.

Coastal path support

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by Sophia Darke

PCA Consulting Engineers Director Andrew Horton was called in when a section of a coastal access path collapsed in the grounds of a private home in Salcombe.

Working with Garry Elliott, of groundwork contractors Elliott Hire Ltd, we have designed a hollow block wall and reinforced soil slope.

The access path has now been re-opened and support for the bank has been maintained.

 

Double fireplace removal

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by Sophia Darke

This is a typical example of a fireplace removal and beam installation.

Our client’s requirement was for the wall and chimney breasts on both sides of the wall to be completely removed to turn two rooms into one large one.

The remaining stonework chimney and wall above, including the stack, totalled nearly 20 tonnes, which required careful temporary works, considerations and steel beam designs.

The beams are space-bolted apart and have linking beams around the main stack location with precast concrete lintels and dry pack mortars to ensure full load-bearing support to the existing structure above.

Norman Brooking Builders did a textbook job and we hope the clients enjoy their new room and house when finished.

New management structure for PCA Consulting Engineers

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by Sophia Darke

Ross Carpenter and Sophia Darke have been appointed as directors of PCA Consulting Engineers.

They will form the board alongside existing director Andrew Horton.

Ross is one of PCA’s lead engineers with 13 years’ experience working on a diverse array of residential, commercial and historic projects.

Sophia has been appointed to the role of finance director. She has been a part of the PCA team since 2005 and is responsible for the financial, HR and administrative management within the company.

These new appointments were made in October following a change in roles for former directors Paul Carpenter and Colin Souch. Paul remains very much involved with PCA but will spend more time concentrating on his specialism of conservation engineering. Colin is now a consultant for the company.

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