Groundbeams for the DIYer or not?

[RobertBM]

Hi everyone,

Had the council around before Christmas saying because our neighbour has trees close to our boundary we needed piling for our replacement extension. So we got a company to do a soil report and had drawings done to show the piling positions etc. Like most people, I had a budget for our small extension which has been blown to pieces due to the cost of the Steel Cased Piles (9k) and the ground beams. with the latter being 3k more than the piling. Although I’d rather have specialists in to do the piling, how difficult would undertaking the ground beams for an average DIYer? I ask this because I don’t have another 12k in my budget to have those done and I’m guessing the groundbeams are expensive because it’s a labour intensive job, rather than being a specialist job.

Any feedback would be appreciated,


Rob

 

[grizzlebear]

I helped a m8 do some and trust me its horrid. You have no idea how heavy and hard it is. Infact by the time he had done it and got it passed he was months behind and so knackered he then paid to get work done he had planned to do himself.

 

[wessex101]

The figures quoted seem rather excessive. Try getting some more quotes for piling and ground beams, if you go to the smaller piling firms their prices are usually more reasonable.

 

[Notch7]

Hi everyone,

Had the council around before Christmas saying because our neighbour has trees close to our boundary we needed piling for our replacement extension. So we got a company to do a soil report and had drawings done to show the piling positions etc. Like most people, I had a budget for our small extension which has been blown to pieces due to the cost of the Steel Cased Piles (9k) and the ground beams. with the latter being 3k more than the piling. Although I’d rather have specialists in to do the piling, how difficult would undertaking the ground beams for an average DIYer? I ask this because I don’t have another 12k in my budget to have those done and I’m guessing the groundbeams are expensive because it’s a labour intensive job, rather than being a specialist job.

Any feedback would be appreciated,


Rob

If the piling company doing the driven piles and filling with concrete, then you will need to do the reinforced steel skirt and block and beam floor.

The first part means getting the reinforcing bars specified by your structural engineer and a bending schedule. The piles will have rebar poking out the top, you connect to them as per the spec, using wire ties. The bars need raising on plastic chairs.

If you send supreme concrete (gravesend) a drawing they will give you a price for the beams. You will need to pay extra for hiab and rigid lorry instead of artic -unless you have good road access.

If the beams are over 4metres long you will need prob 6 people, maybe 4 to move them. Or for about £500 you might get a crane hire again if access is suitable.

Dont try and carry the beams, if have to do by hand hire a heavy duty pipe trolley, a rope helps to avoid bending and it can make it easier to have trolley off centre and rope around longer end, 1 person each side.
https://www.hirestation.co.uk/tool-hire/Lifting/Trolley-Hire/360175/

There are other hire options. You will struggle without. And if your beams are the wide section beams and 6 metres long you just wont lift them without gear.

The blocks are Fenlite medium density blocks.

A recent job I did, 7.3m x 3.6m cost about £750+vat for the beams, and about £300+vat for the blocks (roughly).

What size is your extension?

 

[KenGMac]

RobertBM, good evening.

Have you costed "Shire piling"? See You-tube or check out the companies web site.

Might be worth a look? they do a system for Extensions and low rise buildings, but depends on ground conditions Etc, since you have a soils report it will be easy to get a cost.

Ken

 

[RobertBM]

RobertBM, good evening.

Have you costed "Shire piling"? See You-tube or check out the companies web site.

Might be worth a look? they do a system for Extensions and low rise buildings, but depends on ground conditions Etc, since you have a soils report it will be easy to get a cost.

Ken

That is a name which sounds familiar to me. I will look them up and see what they offer. All I know is the engineer (who was recommended by the council inspectors) has advised us that an augered pile is required.

 

[RobertBM]

If the piling company doing the driven piles and filling with concrete, then you will need to do the reinforced steel skirt and block and beam floor.

The first part means getting the reinforcing bars specified by your structural engineer and a bending schedule. The piles will have rebar poking out the top, you connect to them as per the spec, using wire ties. The bars need raising on plastic chairs.

If you send supreme concrete (gravesend) a drawing they will give you a price for the beams. You will need to pay extra for hiab and rigid lorry instead of artic -unless you have good road access.

If the beams are over 4metres long you will need prob 6 people, maybe 4 to move them. Or for about £500 you might get a crane hire again if access is suitable.

Dont try and carry the beams, if have to do by hand hire a heavy duty pipe trolley, a rope helps to avoid bending and it can make it easier to have trolley off centre and rope around longer end, 1 person each side.
https://www.hirestation.co.uk/tool-hire/Lifting/Trolley-Hire/360175/

There are other hire options. You will struggle without. And if your beams are the wide section beams and 6 metres long you just wont lift them without gear.

The blocks are Fenlite medium density blocks.

A recent job I did, 7.3m x 3.6m cost about £750+vat for the beams, and about £300+vat for the blocks (roughly).

What size is your extension?

Yes, the piling company will be doing everything involved in the construction of the pile.

One of the problems is access which is not ideal given we only have a 6ft wide access to the rear of the property. Not sure about a crane either as from front road to rear of property when materials need is 60ft. Think this was one of the reasons our builder recommended getting a spliced steel beam, so we could get it down the back.

I’ll look a Supreme Concrete and see what they come up with.

May the drawings below will give you an idea of what needs doing

 

[rssteve]

I recently had 12 6m piles and 13m of ground beams including claymaster and all the drawings for building control completed for 5200. I'm based in Dorset and a local company did it. All the other quotes were upwards of 8k.

 

[Notch7]

I recently had 12 6m piles and 13m of ground beams including claymaster and all the drawings for building control completed for 5200. I'm based in Dorset and a local company did it. All the other quotes were upwards of 8k.

Wow, thats a good price!

 

[noseall]

I recently had 12 6m piles and 13m of ground beams including claymaster and all the drawings for building control completed for 5200. I'm based in Dorset and a local company did it. All the other quotes were upwards of 8k.

What decade century?

 

[rssteve]

It was actually 5500 with the vat. It was only last year I had the work done. Not sure why you are so surprised at the cost its hardy a massive job. It took 2 guys a week to complete.

 

[wessex101]

It was actually 5500 with the vat. It was only last year I had the work done. Not sure why you are so surprised at the cost its hardy a massive job. It took 2 guys a week to complete.

I've been using Beacon for years, they are very good and excellent value for money, hence my comment about getting quotes from smaller local firms.