SteGriff

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Anatomy of a building

I never realised there were so many types of brick.

Building the extension has taught me a lot about what actually goes into a building, and where, and why. A lot of the things you learn are like answers to questions you’d never thought about. Like, where does a foundation begin and end? How deep is it, how much of it is concrete? What goes between two layers of walls?

So here’s a quick breakdown of interesting building things:

Concrete foundations

Underground block and brick

Photo showing layers of block and brick in the trench

Layers of block and brick in the trench, partly backfilled - view full size

Underground lintels

Photo showing lintels over pipework

Concrete lintels over pipework - view full size

Our trench blocks are shaped around a few pipe runs from our house and from next door. Where necessary, we have used concrete lintels to bridge a gap over a pipe. Concrete commons can then be built up on top.

Floor level and overground

Misconceptions

Photo showing overview of the base of the new building

Overview of new building - view larger