Slowly we make progress with the 'foundation' of our steel roof construction to weld.
Slowly, this time, not because of the weather, that's actually good to work now and make progress. The slowlyness now is due to all kind of paperwork we have to arrange for our wedding. For that I also had to go a couple of days to Bangkok. Back on track again now.
Several people who follow our blogs are interested in the construction details of our work. So this time a bit a more 'technical' blog.
We needed to install a 19 cm high reinforced structure on top of the already 3 meter high walls. All to spread the weight of the ceramic rooftiles roof equaly over the load bearing walls finally to the foundation of the house.
First thing we had to do was to glue another layer of 19 cm heigh blocks on top of the North side walls. Under this layer we brought in a double pack of 6 mm rebar.
On top of the East, South and West walls we glued another layer of around 10 cm G4 (load bearing) blocks. We managed to have enough blocks to do that but had to cut all these (20 x 15 cm thick) blocks in two pieces of around 10 x 15 cm. So, a lot of work (and dust) but happy not much left overs of this blocks.
The East, South and West sides of the walls did not get this rebar at the place the North wall got. We placed this rebar on top of these 10 cm layer blocks. In the two back corners strengthened with double 10 mm rebar.
As tried to explain in our last blog the centre frame of the steel roof structure will be fixed to the square middle structure (all North side) of the load bearing walls with steel hook anchors. We brought in 8, 40 cm long, M12 anchors. The hooks of all of them are anchored under the in rebar strings we brought into the wall. So also the walls are an anchor for the anchors.
At the East, South and West side walls now we had a 9 cm (19 cm high minus 10 cm high wall block) to fill. All around this three walls first, vertical, we brought in 6 mm thick vertical 20 cm long anchors/pins into the under laying walls. All to be sure of great connection between the walls and the concrete layer to pour.
At the top level we brought in a steel frame/beam (50 wide x 25 mm thick) and put this frame on (welded) 'feet' in a way the top level of the frame (by using our laser instrument) is spirit level. The rebar (double 6 mm and double 10 mm) we connected to this stands.
We filled up with high and strong quality self made concrete so the frame, excluding the top level because we need that for welding) is also part of / connected and strengthening the concrete structure now.
The 12.2 meters long backside (south) wall is devided in two parts. One of 8.10 meter and a part of 4.1 meter. At the 'expansion joint line' we brought in the special created steel expansion joint construction. The idea I got from the rail
connections of my former Märklin train when I was young.
At the picture still covered against water of rain coming in.
The fixed steel roof beams to install and weld, are fixed at the the centre steel construction. They can expand and contract (gliding construction) on rail on top of the side and back walls.
A nylon strip to support gliding will be brought in between. A steel strip will be put 'free' around thiese beams and only fixed to the steel frame. All and only to keep the floating beams on place (sidewards and upwards).
Frans Captijn
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