Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
what is planned. It is advisable to walk them around the ground floor, point out such
things as that, perhaps, the study has to disappear to become a stairwell and that a window
may have to be bricked up. Explain that the bathroom is to be moved from the ground
floor to the attic, creating a study. The client may not have appreciated that this would in-
volve the removal of a WC from the ground floor, resulting in excursions to the attic for
this convenience.
Although it may be difficult to get the occupant(s) into the loft space before conversion, it
may be worthwhile in an attempt to explain more fully the layout of the proposed rooms
in the conversion and the access point to them. It is particularly important to explain that
the side wall height in the attic may only be 1.21.5 m, some people being surprised to find
sloping ceilings when the conversion work is completed. They shouldn't, of course, if this
is fully explained beforehand. Try to explain the likely time for the works and at this point
consider the time of year in which the operation is to be carried out. If there is no urgency,
then it is clearly an operation better executed in spring and summer when it is easier to tol-
erate short-term loss of heating which may occur during conversion of the heating system.
If a bedroom is to be converted on the ground floor for access to the attic, then alternative
sleeping arrangements may become necessary if, for some reason, the new attic bedroom
cannot be created in advance.
Builders' Stores and Materials
Many materials will be needed for the building work, so where are they going to be
stored? Consideration will have to be given to allowing the builder (if space is available)
to bring in a store/small office, or possibly to vacating the garage to provide this accom-
modation. Having done this, where is the car to be parked whilst builders' trucks are in
and out? If these things are not thought through it will be a considerable shock when a
builders' merchant's lorry turns up and starts to crane packages of wood and sheet materi-
als onto the garden.
It will undoubtedly be necessary to have one of the rubbish skips now so commonly seen
parked in or near the premises, and this may need to go just where you were considering
parking the car, having removed it from the garage! Lorry access for deliveries and for the
builder will need to be maintained at all times during working hours. Safety lighting may
be necessary at night if an obstruction is left in the highway overnight.
