New Offices for UKAA - Investing for the Future

We are using reclaimed materials where possible.

We are using reclaimed bricks for a 50m long retaining wall, and the dwarf wall that goes around the building.

We will be using reclaimed tiles for the building roof, reclaimed floor boards for the floors, reclaimed pine doors and we will be making the  kitchen/rest room area cupboards from reclaimed pine.

The heating will be provided by our cast iron radiators.

We are also having a 4Kw solar panel system fitted.

Showing the start of the retaining wall

The builders have cut and glued bricks for the external corner

Showing the cut and glued bricks on the internal corner

The wall has been designed by a local consultant. The strange thing for me was that the wall is sealed from behind, with 3 coats of a bitumen type of paint, then there is a protective board.

Behind the wall is fitted a 6 inch diameter perforated pipe. This is then covered with a 12inch thick wall of gravel, which goes up the full height of the wall.

The theory is that any water is collected in the gravel, diverted to the land drain pipe and is then taken to a soakaway, whereas i thought that we would of fitted weep holes for the water to come through.

Where the wall goes a little higher there is more steel in the footings and steel, mesh and concrete in the cavity.

The steel uprights are shown, there are two sheets of mesh in the footings, then the steel uprights are every 200mm, I have the detailed drawings for retaining walls from 800mm tall to 2m tall, if anyone would like them i can email them to you.

The steel mesh is then fitted to the uprights, the wall is then built and finally the cavity is filled with concrete.