Tag

structural engineers

Turning a stone barn into a home

On April 25, 2023

A derelict, redundant stone barn in the countryside can seem so appealing to developers or people who dream of creating their own home in the middle of nowhere but turning a barn into a habitable property can be a challenge. That said, the end result usually outweighs the effort involved, so don’t be put off, but you will need to find a structural engineer to help you along the way.

As consulting civil, structural and conservation engineers, we are often involved in modern barn conversion projects from an early stage so that we can complete a pre-planning structural appraisal of the building and to also produce a drainage strategy as is often required from the outset.

What is a pre-planning structural appraisal?
This will help you determine whether your vision is possible before they go to planning. We will look at the topography of the site, boundaries, slopes, trees, and other on-site features before considering the existing structure and what will be required to achieve your plans or your architect’s designs. This preliminary advice will help with project costings too, which will enable developers and contractors to price their works more accurately. Examples maybe that the original stone walls are founded at a shallow depth and would become exposed due to lowering ground floor requirements and we can identify likely measures to facilitate this.

Lack of foundations
Poor ground conditions or adjacent to water so sodden support strata
Walls not sufficiently tied to floors or roof
Missing or collapsed first floor
Lack of roof or alterations to existing support elements
Missing or crumbling stonework
Close to slopes or rock faces
Protected wildlife in residence

Support and sensitive repair
Many of the above challenges can be overcome with the appropriate support works to maintain the character of the barn while ensuring it does not fall down! Internal timber frames have become popular, but we can design new support from floors or roof to provide the necessary restraint requirements of modern building regulations. We can undertake all the calculations required for timber framing, steel frames/trusses and floor structures.

As conservation engineers, we have a great deal of expertise in sensitive repair work to ensure stonework is maintained where possible. Where barns are built into a rock face or are close to a slope, we can discuss solutions to overcome these issues to ensure your barn is both habitable and safe.

A protected species survey may need to be carried out before you begin work – not something we do – but we can advise you on possible workarounds to accommodate your furry or feathered house mates following the survey. We set aside loft space for a barn owl in a recent conversion we worked on!

All the above may seem like an enormous undertaking but, as I said in the opening paragraph, the home you end up with will be worth it.

The vaulted ceilings, the exposed stonework, the open-plan space, the opportunity for the sensitive use of glass, and so on mean you can create a unique home while preserving and repurposing an otherwise derelict building.

If you are considering a stone barn into house conversion project and have done a web search for “structural engineering companies near me,” and found PCA, then please do not go any further! Contact us now. We will be happy to help. Also, see our recent case study on Willowplatt Barn.

We wore it pink!

On October 21, 2022

by Sophia Darke

Staff at PCA donned items of pink clothing to mark Wear It Pink day to raise money for Breast Cancer Now on October 21.

Breast Cancer Now’s Wear It Pink day is one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK. Taking place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thousands of people wear it pink in their communities, schools or work places for the UK’s largest breast cancer charity.

Being engineers, we also set ourselves a fun lunchtime task – yes, this is how we have fun!

The aim was to make the longest cantilever using spaghetti, tape and string in just 20 minutes. Ross Carpenter’s team were the proud winners.

We also raised £100 for Breast Cancer Now

The Yealm development wins award

On July 15, 2022

by Sophia Darke

The Yealm has won the Boutique Development of the Year at the Insider Media South West Residential Property Awards 2022 held at Sandy Park in Exeter.

The Yealm is a former hotel that overlooks the twin villages of Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo. The judges were impressed with the great attention to detail throughout in creating luxury riverside and woodland accommodation out of a neglected site.

PCA Consulting Engineers worked with Devon Contractors, Red Earth Developments and Grainge Architects among others to help create six spacious lateral apartments, eight other contemporary apartments, and one stunning house.

We worked on the new balconies, which are a stand-out feature of the all the properties, together with intricate detailing to ensure supporting floors and roof structure were unobtrusive.

PCA director Andrew Horton said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in this stunning project, which is now a standout development in the South Hams. It is great to see it gain some recognition and hope to see it win many more awards.”

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 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 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.

Paul 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.”

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.

When 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.

It 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.

Lastly, 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.

Can I knock down my internal wall?

On January 28, 2020

by Ross Carpenter

In the first of our series of helpful articles, we are going to consider knocking down walls or creating large openings, as they must be among the most common alterations to make in homes. Your wishes can almost always be achieved, however lots of internal walls are an integral part of the building’s structure and it is important to understand the arrangement and how the various building parts are supported.

Structural walls are typically known as load-bearing walls, but these are not always solid masonry walls and can often be timber stud walls. Further to this, some solid block walls are not always load-bearing. Hence. It is critical to review correctly. Load-bearing walls can support the roof, floors and walls above and will typically require a beam to replace the wall and the weight of the building elements above. PCA will assess the various loads accurately to ensure the correctly sized beam is used.

Transferring the load back into the remaining or adjacent walls is important and this will need to be verified. Adjacent walls are not always structural or may not have sufficient foundations, so there are several factors that may need considering, not just the wall or beam.

Another element that is often overlooked is internal walls provide restraint to external walls that receive wind loads and if removed without consideration can compromise the external fabric of a building’s stability.

But where there is a will there is a way!

PCA has the know-how to design what is required to facilitate your wall(s) removal. If you believe the wall is non load-bearing, then we can double check your building and give you the clarification and confirm what you need before you knock the wall down.

In either case, altering structural walls requires building regulation approval. Our involvement and design calculations and/or plans will gain you approval, but sometimes other areas of the building regulations, other than Part A – Structure, will need considering, e.g. Part B – Fire Safety, whereby if a wall removal interferes with the safe means of escape in the event of a fire. Planning permission is rarely needed for internal alterations but if the property is listed then listed building consent must be gained prior to any works commencing. Party wall matters in some cases will also need considering.

We can consider all these factors or liaise with building control or an architect accordingly. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if we can be of any assistance.

PCA – serving the needs of Cornwall clients

On November 25, 2019

by Andrew Horton

While we have been based in Devon for 40 years, we have worked for most of these years in neighbouring Cornwall too.

As our illustration shows, we are currently working on numerous projects throughout the county, ranging from National Trust properties to commercial projects, alongside architects and contractors to help create bespoke homes for private clients.

Our engineers can often be seen crossing the Tamar Bridge to visit these sites and new schemes, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a project in Cornwall that may benefit from our structural, conservation and civil engineering expertise.

PCA celebrates 40th anniversary

On November 12, 2019

by Sophia Darke

PCA Consulting Engineers is celebrating its 40^th year as a firm of structural, conservation and civil engineers.

Established in 1979 by Paul Carpenter, the Kingsbridge-based independent business has grown in both size and reputation to provide a friendly, considered and highly professional service.

Now under the leadership of directors Andrew Horton, Ross Carpenter and Sophia Darke, PCA works mainly in the South West with the region’s leading contractors and architects assisting with both commercial and residential projects of all sizes.

Among PCA’s most notable recent projects has been the conservation work for National Trust properties St Michael’s’ Mount, Killerton House and Greenway alongside new-build projects such as the award-winning Dar Gwenen, in Cornwall, and the luxury riverside development, The Yealm.

Andrew said: “I have been with PCA for 22 years and am proud to work for a firm that has stood the test of time for four decades and continues to strive for the best possible outcomes for our clients.

“PCA has won numerous awards during this time but has also nurtured the careers of many young engineers and technicians.”

PCA currently offers the services of eight engineers and three technicians supported by finance director Sophia and an administration team.

Andrew added: “The engineering side of construction may not always be the most obvious element of any building or conservation project, but our comprehensive advice and our pragmatic solutions ensure these projects are entirely fit for purpose, while meeting the design requirements of the client and their architect. This work ethic has served us well for 40 years and hope it will serve us just as well for another 40!”

New premises for Selworthy Veterinary Group

On June 7, 2019

by Ross Carpenter

This existing agricultural building has been converted into a veterinary practice for Selworthy Veterinary Group.

Architects Andrew Lethbridge successfully gained planning approval to convert the redundant steel framed farmer’s shed.

The challenge was designing the new elements of the building, such as the first floor, insulated walls and roof, around the original steel framed structure.

This was all achieved with careful thought and use of different building solutions and additions to the structure.

Lilburn & Elliott Construction was the main contractor on the project, who successfully undertook the building and conversion work to give Selworthy a great building designed around their needs and future growth.

PCA has undertaken many building conversion projects over the years, mostly for residential purposes, but also commercial, office use and retail. Working with a local veterinary practice was a learning curve and one which we’re proud off. We wish Selworthy all the best in their new premises.

Award success for PCA projects

On June 4, 2019

by Sophia Darke

PCA is pleased to announce that two of their projects were winners at the recent LABC Regional Building Excellence Awards.

The award ceremony was attended by 350 guests at the Crowne Plaza Plymouth on May 24.

The winner of the Best Individual New Home was Dar Gwenen. We worked with contractors Doyle & Whitley Ltd and Harrison Sutton Architects on this project to build a unique coastal home in Downderry, Cornwall.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Best Small Commercial Project was The Farmers Arms in Woolsery, Devon.

We worked alongside Anthony Branfield Carpentry & Building Ltd, Jonathan Rhind Architects, MXB Devon Operations Ltd, Hannah Lohan Interiors, Michael Grubb Studio and Rathbone Partnership to rescue a dilapidated village pub bought by tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Bebo, Michael Birch.

This project had also been highly commended at the RICS Awards, South West held on May 22.

Both projects will be entered into the LABC Grand Finals, which will take place in London on November 8.

Director Andrew Horton said: “These projects demonstrate the diversity of expertise within PCA. We are equally happy working on a conservation project as we are on a new build. We will keep our fingers crossed for the Grand Finals and extend our congratulations to all the other firms that we worked alongside on Dar Gwenen and The Farmers Arms.”