Outdoor Building Construction

Construction Of Outdoor Buildings

The construction of any outdoor building or structure requires a great deal of time and effort with regards to planning and preparation before any building work can commence.

At the outset it is important to obtain the help and advice of industry professionals especially as regards surveying, and drawing up the necessary plans which are needed. The employment of an architect can make work easier when it comes to these requirements. An architect will have access to a wide choice of professionals who will survey the site in question, determining accurate information on underground power cables and supplies, drainage, telephone cables, utility pipelines, as well as the general site structure under and above ground level.  Soil samples can be extracted to answer questions as to the structure of the ground itself, it could be built up of mainly clay, sandstone, or any other minerals or compounds.

Access roads and paths to the proposed building need to be taken into account – and decisions made as to their suitability with regards to the use and positioning of the new building.

Often overlooked is the landscaping which is to surround the property and its overall site area. If the gardens, paths, and flower borders are included in the design from the beginning a more natural end result will be achieved. Again a professional landscaper can be sourced through any reputable and qualified architect.

The choice of builders or trademen to undertake the build is critical to achieve the required target budget and maintain consistent quality of workmanship. Depending on the value of the project an architect may choose to either recommend a particular company or tender amongst several they regularly deal with.

For large construction projects a quantity surveyor may be appointed to draw up costings for bricks, steelwork, concrete, aggregates, and timber components. At an added cost a quantity surveyor can provide a security blanket to an otherwise open ended project.

Planning Permission And Building Regulations:

The location, size, and type of building will determine whether planning permission or building regs approval is required. In the Uk almost certainly both of these will be needed for any new build of a commercial or residential building. Certain types of outdoor buildings and structures may come outside these requirements, most notably timber framed small structures and buildings such as garages, conservatories, and similar structures.

In all cases it is recommended to contact your local planning dept to ask the advice of the areas planning officer. (If an architect has be appointed they will do this work for you on your behalf).

Fire Regulations:

This is another task which cannot be taken on lightly. The current fire regulations need to be taken into account and adhered to with regards to the construction of a new building. Changed and updated regularly the fire regs determine the necessary steps and requirements which the new building must employ during its construction. The type of use will dictate different features which are necessary. For example the requirement will be different for a building to be used for catering purposes as opposed to one being built for residential use.

This could be explained in a different way with the simple breakdown of whether the building is for business use or for use as a normal family home. Business premises may dictate storage or use of machinery which may present a fire risk – hence the building needs to be constructed in a different way to accomodate this.

Groundwork:

The ground on the building site will need to be excavated for adequate concrete footings to be poured, along with steel reinforcements where necessary. Prior to excavation the surface layers of the site need to be stripped of all vegetation and other general debris. If the site has existing lawned areas this can be cut using a suitable petrol lawnmower prior to further work being carried out. The next stage would require the use of possibly a mini digger or other powered machinery to excavate and remove the soil down to the required foundation depth.

Concrete:

The foundations typically consist of concrete reinforced with steel rebar sections and possibly steel or concrete rsj’s and lintels at specific points. Different specifications of concrete can be puchased to suit different applications and types of building foundations. The concrete mix may include additives to allow a fast setting as well as fibres to improve its strength. For the construction of medium and large buildings it will be cost effective to purchase concrete from one of the main suppliers that deliver “mixed and ready to use concrete” direct to site. For small projects concrete can be purchased in “dry packaged” form for you to mix yourself with the aid of a suitable concrete mixer. These can be either purchased or rented from a suitable tool hire shop.   

Brickwork:

The brickwork forms an important part on any new building. Its purpose is two fold. To provide strength in the overall structure of the building as well as provide an aesthetic appearance in relation to other buildings and structures in the general area. On anything other than a small project it is preferable to use the services of an experienced and time served brick layer. Brick laying is a skill in itself and this is one area which should not be skimped on when preparing overall budgets for the construction project.