Building Homes or Extensions/Adding on to existing house

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Expert: - 1/22/2007


Question
We would like to add an additional room to the back of our home. My question is what how high from the ground do I have the concrete blocks that the room will set on? I'm not sure how high above the ground the current blocks are because the wood from our home covers part of them. Also, how deep do I go with the concrete blocks? Thank you for your help.

Answer
Jimmy,

You have two options with regard's to height of block's
1.If your extension is of timber kit then it will be built of concrete blocks/brick up to floor wall plate ie; timber plate your floor joist will rest on.
Your concrete foundation should go as deep as the existing house foundation or at least 450mm below adjacent ground level.Blocks would need to be a minimum of 20kn ie; a dense block.Personally I would build from the foundation in brickwork to just below ground level , then change to block. Ensure you insert a horizontal DPC at a minimum of 150mm above ground level.

Regard's
Bill

Building Homes or Extensions

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Questions on UK construction from Setting out Projects through to completion. Mainly concreting ,drainage ,bricklaying, masonry,carpentry and decorating,plaster work ,render/roughcasting.From new build construction to historical restoration, renovation. How to set out ,levelling and survey matters.

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Timeserved bricklayer , developing to Construction Site Manager and Educated to Site Engineer. Having been in the Industry for 35 years carrying out all types of general construction . renovation and historical renovation and remedial works.Now mainly on luxury dwellings to the value of £2M. Having been self employed and advising main Contractors and Developers through Construction phases and managing the works from concept to completion.Having a broad spectrum of experience.

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Scottish Apprenticeship in the crat of bricklaying. Scottish Construction Industry Site Managers Site Civil Engineering Construction and Surveying Set out. Scottish Civil Engineering Analysis of Concrete and Mortar Asbestos encountering. Scaffolding Inspectors Certification Planning, Programming and Management

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