Narrow trestles?

[panhapticon]

TLDR: Building brick structure, only have 50-60cm clearance around three sides; can't fit standard trestles. What do?


I'm currently planning a brick-and-block garden gym at the bottom of my garden. It'll be 4.5m x 3.5m x either 2.5m or 2.8m depending on planning permission. Everything's going swimmingly (except the COST), but for one snag : The area is bounded on both sides and the rear by neighbouring fences, and I can't find trestles that will fit. I'll have 50cm clearance, and maybe another 10cm if I remove the fences (there are sheds on the other side of the fences). Standard builder's trestles are about 1m wide at the base. As I see it, my options are :

a) Change the design. Absolute last resort - it'll be cramped enough as it is.

b) Plasterer's trestles. They have a footprint of about 60cm, but they only have a rise of about 60cm. I'll need at least 1.3m to have a chance at laying decent bricks.

c) Using something, anything, else to support the platforms. Fall risk is not a massive concern here - there are fences, fenceposts and sheds I can brace against. Still, gravity is a fickle mistress and I'd do well to flatter her.

d) Build both leaves from inside. I'm not nearly skilled enough to do a good job - even if the wall will be hidden behind a fence.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

-ph

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Who will maintain the ground, walls, gutters, windows etc if you leave a 50cm gap?

Besides building it, worry about whether you're making trouble for the future. I'd design for a 1m gap, make it possible to build and maintain. You can then have a path and won't have some wild jungle of weeds you can't do anything about.

 

[panhapticon]

Who will maintain the ground, walls, gutters, windows etc if you leave a 50cm gap?

Muggins here. Windows and gutter are at the front, and I'm happy to maintain ground and walls with a 50cm gap. It gives me an incentive to lay off the pies.

 

[matlob]

I'd just build some bespoke ones out of wood that you can then fold down and keep.

Loads of videos on the tube.

 

[panhapticon]

I'd just build some bespoke ones out of wood that you can then fold down and keep.

I like the cut of your jib. I'll keep this as a last resort; I'd prefer to trust my life to implacable steel over my shoddy woodwork.

 

[noseall]

TLDR: Building brick structure, only have 50-60cm clearance around three sides; can't fit standard trestles. What do?

We usually fix a bearer into the bed joint with 100mm 6's and brown plugs. The bearer being a piece of 100mm x 50mm timber and let it fly past the ends. Then use any old ingenious method of supporting the outer scaffold board, i.e. step ladders etc.

There's always a way.

 

[cdbe]

Build the outer skin using your blocks and roof timbers as trestles.