Sat, 02 May 2026 07:49:52 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10023#Comment_10023 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10023#Comment_10023 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:03:29 +0000 dickster
I'm hoping to build a very modest 80 sq m super insulated bungalow out of Masonite I beam panels. My architect, patient man, starts to baulk at screw in piles (Screwfast) with a timber ring beam and wooden floors. It seems an obvious way to do things without using concrete, but old habits die hard, if at all.

Has anyone had experience of using this method, what is it that I am suggesting that is so naughty?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10026#Comment_10026 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10026#Comment_10026 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:11:10 +0000 biffvernon https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10059#Comment_10059 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10059#Comment_10059 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:08:09 +0000 Jeff Norton (NZ) https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10073#Comment_10073 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10073#Comment_10073 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:19:01 +0000 dickster https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10117#Comment_10117 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=10117#Comment_10117 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:52:35 +0000 fostertom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80496#Comment_80496 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80496#Comment_80496 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:08:52 +0100 evan
What are possible approaches for a "reduced concrete" foundation? I was hoping that a wider-than-normal trench filled with rubble from the old walls that are being demolished, with a few inches of concrete or limecrete on top?

Bit naive?

The walls are probably timber frame with Hemcrete by the way.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80498#Comment_80498 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80498#Comment_80498 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:19:17 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80528#Comment_80528 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80528#Comment_80528 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:38:26 +0100 evan
It has to get past building regs or presumably I go to jail.

Concrete with whatever big lumps of rock I can chuck in when they aren't looking then eh ;)]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80547#Comment_80547 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80547#Comment_80547 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:44:23 +0100 owlman https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80550#Comment_80550 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80550#Comment_80550 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:07:36 +0100 SteamyTea
What sort of timber do you use over there as piles?

Evan

Do you (or anyone else) know what deems a foundation as suitable, is it the mechanical properties of the material, the type of ground it is going into or a combination of both?

Owlman

It must be remembered that old houses that are still standing are the ones that have not fallen down, but I am all for not using tonnes of concrete.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80577#Comment_80577 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80577#Comment_80577 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:13:20 +0100 Brightgreen https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80579#Comment_80579 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80579#Comment_80579 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:17:12 +0100 evan
ST: Don't know. So many factors involved, largely to do with the ground it's resting on (how much will it settle, how much weight can it bear), and it's difficult to test that kind of thing, so I guess they have a standard formula for strip foundations that can be applied in most ground types (i.e. it's over-built for most ground types).
And obviously they're going to assume a consistent makeup of the material it's made of: ferro-concrete has a known values of strength, random boulders doesn't :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_capacity

I can't afford to start hiring geotechnical engineers so it'll have to be by the book. More concrete, matron!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80580#Comment_80580 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80580#Comment_80580 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:18:21 +0100 evan Posted By: BrightgreenThere's no foundations at all under the 800mm stone walls of my cottage. With some stones over a tonne in weight there's just 200 year plus compacted earth! And the walls have not moved at all AFAICS.

Same here. Well, except at one end where the water tank overflow pipe was dripping down the wall for 20 years, it's sunk a bit ]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80582#Comment_80582 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80582#Comment_80582 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:39:55 +0100 joe90 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80585#Comment_80585 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80585#Comment_80585 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:49:56 +0100 evan
Tell me and I'll copy it :)]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80586#Comment_80586 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80586#Comment_80586 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:30:47 +0100 joe90
Anyone else out there good at loading calcs?
]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80587#Comment_80587 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80587#Comment_80587 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:44:06 +0100 joe90
There are three buildings in the UK that have both planning permission and building regulation approval for rammed car tyre foundations, all designed by Amazon Nails.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80630#Comment_80630 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80630#Comment_80630 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:19:54 +0100 finny https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80675#Comment_80675 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80675#Comment_80675 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:01:04 +0100 squowse
as regards trench foundations there is a huge difference between compacted rubble and either brick/stone walls laid directly on clay or concrete strip footings.
masonry buildings are very flexible and able to accommodate differential settlements. i daresay the same for strawbale. you will need to mend the cracks in the plaster though.

all foundations would have to be signed off by a chartered civil/structural engineer for building regs unless they are the one size fits all approach for smaller buildings in which case an architect or similar may be able to do it.

brick is not generally accepted as a suitable recycled aggregate for concrete, but this may be your best bet to reduce the environmental impact. ie chuck them in the concrete and don't tell any one. foundation concrete will often use waste product cement replacements as standard - ask about PFA, GGBS or flyash.

option 3 mentioned above - the ring beam is a strip footing but with steel reinforcement to allow a smaller cross-section of concrete to be used?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80723#Comment_80723 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80723#Comment_80723 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:20:43 +0100 jon
The problem would be finding a SE who is used to working out on a limb and knows how to get around the 'first principles' reasoning of the British Standards (which effectively over-rule Building Regs where you're doing something special). This means someone very qualified (an unqualified SE may have difficulty getting it through regulations)

The amazonnails method suggested (don't know of them) seems OK for most lightweight buildings founded on a relatively shallow granular or rocky strata.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80730#Comment_80730 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80730#Comment_80730 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:24:54 +0100 CWatters https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80732#Comment_80732 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=922&Focus=80732#Comment_80732 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:25:22 +0100 bot de paille You can use Eurocodes as guidelines for your construction but if a local law is stricter, then the authorities can enforce it over and above Eurocodes if they wish too. I think at some point down the road it is expected that each country will eventualy drop their regs in favour of using Eurocodes, but I dont think many in Western Europe are ready to do this yet.]]>