Stress calcs. for the intellectually challenged

Best advice if it's just for information, not for building control, is to get the demo version of Superbeam (its free). I worked out my roof design using that, and put it on plans for building control. They then demanded some structuiral calculations for which I had to pay 80 quid, which showed that my design was OK (which I knew). The calcs by a qualified structural engineer took up about 15 pages and gave me a nasty flash-back to A-level physics. Simon.

Why not just replace the "corrugated iron" sheets? Last for ages, cheap, easy to put up.

Would have almost been cheaper[1] to cough up for Superbeam so you could have printed them off yourself!

Yes. These have lasted around 60 years. I suspect they were good quality at the time.

Unfortunately moist air condenses on the underside of cold steel sheet. This is particularly apparent when such buildings house cattle on deep litter and there is a frost.

Anyone repairing or modifying traditional farm buildings has to consider future alternative uses. My intention is to convert what was a milking shed with standings for 12 cows to house the farm woodwork shop. Gluing at less than 10 centigrade is a problem and I may need to put in some heat.

The proposed panels have 80mm of insulation and weigh 11.75kg/m2.

regards

In message , sm snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com writes

OK ta. I'll have a look this evening. If the building ever comes up for a change of use, I will have to sort this out properly.

regards

Seems like a fine opportunity for combined roofing and solar heating panels, depending on your orientation. Good luck with the calcs.

A friend has a garage with a flat roof. He wants to put a pitched roof on. The roof is merely for looks as the flat roof is waterproof. The garage roof will not be big at all as the garge can just about fit a Cavalier car. Would Building Control need to be notified and would they require stress calcs for such a simple small roof? A cut roof using 2x4s would be well strong, and I can't see the need for calcs in this instance as rule of thumb is more than good enough.

How much is Superbeam?

I'm am forever being told that we sell it too cheap so everyone is getting the discount price!

Yes, this is when it can really be cost effective. Panels and roof covering are one and the same thing. How much hot air could it produce during winter? at what cost? How much more is this than plain roofing cost?

NT

To be honest, I agree! ;-)

(I would not have been suprised if it came with a price tag in the £300 to £600 range)

Thanks! Knowing what to charge is hugely problematic with something that has a minimal marginal cost per extra unit supplied. I have no doubt that the vast majority of those who have bought it and use it regularly would

In message , Mike Halmarack writes

Thanks.

East/West so OK but...

With a largish river 20m away I'm more inclined to a heat pump.

I don't know if o/p temperatures would be high enough for under floor heating but I will bear it in mind for any future change of use.

regards

Current estimate for a roof 4.5m x 13.5m (in plan) around £1500 using

I have no idea what the cost would be if half were in solar panels. Presumably I would still need a conventional heat source as a back up?

regards

I suppose if it was too cheap, people accustomed to paying £xxx for Autocad etc would not take it seriously.

Owain

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Tony Bryer saying something like:

Superbeam and Superheat are really excellent items. The demo versions will do me for just now, but if I start needing them seriously I'll have no hesitation in paying for them.

A water sourced heat pump extracting from a moving stream or river is by far the best system.

Lay the iron over 1/2" Sterling board. This works well. Then again, you're adding weight...