The self build site ground conditions are important as
this will form the foundations of your self build home. Making use of
brown field land makes sense in this context because it allows reusing
a piece of land that housed say polluting units for more serene and peaceful
residential units. However, ensure you see the site a different
times of the day and if possible during different weather conditions.
Town planning policies favor reusing previously developed sites, in
preference to using 'green belt' land as part of the urban renewal process.
The process of finding a quality self build plot is by no means simple
and easy because there are not many good plots available, especially
since planning departments have to promote derelict locations and developers,
as is their wont, snap them up quickly.
Foundations are determined by ground conditions. Under r aft foundations
a reinforced concrete raft is designed by an engineer to “float' over
bad or differentially settling ground. Deep strip type foundation has
a minimum 225mm of concrete, sometimes with reinforcement, at the bottom
of the trench if the inspector considers it to be necessary. D efining
the right foundation design as most of the extra costs in a project occur
at this stage.
Trenchfill foundations are similar but for the fact that the concrete is brought
to within 200mm of the ground level. The inspectors decide whether this can
be with or without reinforcement and sometimes with compressible material or
slip membranes down the trench sides.
On other had, piled foundations use steel or concrete piles driven, bored or
dug to find a good bearing. These then support a ground beam spanning from
pile to pile upon which your home is constructed.
A self builder can choose foundations build types as per the requirements.
Timber frame and brick and block are the two main forms of house construction
in the UK . The main difference between the two types of construction
is how the loads of the house are taken.
It may be necessary to hire experts to check that the plot is not affected
by flooding, agricultural pollution or industrial pollution. |
