CONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS - The Black House

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

D16

KATERINA KARADIMAS 699244

Site is surveyed using a tripod laser level to ensure an even substructure

D16

LASER LEVEL + RECEIVER.

PVC-U PIPE FITTINGS. Pipe caps

Y-tee

Equal-tee

Elbow

THE BLACK HOUSE

TITLE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

STAGE 1

SITE PREPARATION + EXCAVATION

DRAWING NO.

A.101

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

Below grade PVC-U sealed with PVC cement to guard against member failure as repairs once installed underground are costly

D16 PLASTIC BAR CHAIRS.

Reinforcement mesh sits atop bar chair to allow adequate concrete cover

Wire ties secure hydronic pipes to steel mesh

SLAB ON GRADE WITH FORMWORK + HYDRONIC PIPE LAYOUT.

Added reinforcement to such areas to ensure structural integrity of RC slab

SERVICES THROUGH SLAB.

Timber formwork erected on site, vapour barrier sits atop compacted sand, reinforcement/hydronic laid + concrete poured and levelled

THE BLACK HOUSE

TITLE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

STAGE 2

GROUND FLOOR SUPPORT

DRAWING NO.

A.102

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

STEEL COLUMN TO UNIVERSAL BEAM CONNECTION.

D16

Pre-fabricated members connected via bolted fixed joints

UNIVERSAL BEAM TO STEEL COLUMN CONNECTION.

UB beam is bolted to the pre-welded cleat plate of the column member

COLUMN BASE PLATE.

Column is welded to its steel base plate after the plate is levelled on a bed of nonshrinking grout (with packers).

THE BLACK HOUSE

TITLE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

STAGE 3

PREP. OF GRND FLOOR STRUCTURE

DRAWING NO.

A.103

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

DOUBLE DIAGONAL TENSION STRAP BRACING.

D16

Strap bracing is secured and nailed around top and bottom plates with additional strap support to stud adjacent to diagonal brace Tensioners are used to ensure strap bracing is taught – providing support needed against lateral forces.

STUD WALL TO SLAB CONNECTION.

Stud walls are constructed on the ground and then put into place – ramset nails connect timber members directly to slab.

THE BLACK HOUSE

TITLE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

STAGE 4

GROUND FLOOR TIMBER FRAMING

DRAWING NO.

A.104

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

UB beams are bolted to welded fin plate of prefab balcony.

SHS members are cut and welded to balcony structure on site forming a rigid joint.

D16

BALCONY STEEL CONNECTIONS. POSISTRUT TO STEEL BEAM.

Prefabricated members are trimmed onsite and bolted to solid blocking around UB beam

Pre-welded fin plates prepare for installation of floor joists.

THE BLACK HOUSE

TITLE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

STAGE 5

PREPARATION OF 1ST FLOOR STRUCTURE

DRAWING NO.

A.105

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

STUD FRAME TO STEEL BALCONY COLUMN.

D16

Studs butt against steel column for support with plywood bracing near windows

DOUBLE STUD BASE.

PLYWOOD WALL BRACING. Used in areas where strap bracing is impractical or inefficient – nailed directly to stud members

Used for added strength in corner regions as steel columns were used in ground floor

Top and bottom plates aligned before being sawn to ensure precise angles

Vertical noggings support double stud columns

THE BLACK HOUSE

TITLE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

STAGE 6

1ST FLOOR TIMBER FRAME

DRAWING NO.

A.106

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

PLYWOOD ROOF BRACING. Plywood roof bracing is used in regions subject to increased wind loads; sheets are nailed to battens at 150ctrs to secure the structure.

D16

Prefabricated roof trusses are secured to stud top plate with tiedowns using nails.

Double diagonal tension bracing is fixed to top plate with 5 nails and top chord with 2 to ensure the structural integrity of the roof structure in regions where wind load is lesser.

DOUBLE DIAGONAL ROOF STRAP BRACING.

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

TITLE

STAGE 7

ROOF STRUCTURE

DRAWING NO.

A.107

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

D16

Powertruss bracing is used in regions where strap bracing is not possible (due to window areas) and provides more support than plywood bracing. Specially designed hold-downs are pre-cast in the slab, a segment of the stud bottom plate is removed and the powertruss is put into place.

WINDOW FLASHING. Flashing is installed as per specifications to lead any moisture buildup from the window openings in the wall cavity to the exterior.

POWERTRUSS.

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

TITLE

STAGE 8

WINDOW SYSTEMS

DRAWING NO.

A.108

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

Turn-up ensures flow away from stud members and capping ensures no water dripping on facade

D16 BOX GUTTER. Flashed + insulated

PARAPET WALL.

ROOF COVER.

BALCONY BOX GUTTER.

Turn-down leads water to box gutter and subsequently to stormwater system

TURN-UP. CAPPING.

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

TITLE

STAGE 9

ROOF COVER

DRAWING NO.

A.109

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

Bolted connections firmly secure timber batten cladding to prefabricated balcony structure.

D16 WEATHERTEX CLADDING CONNECTION. Weathertex Weather Groove panels slot into Weathertex Joiner for seamless faรงade finish.

BALCONY BATTEN CLADDING. Fasteners secure foam board to plywood sheathing while mesh allows for adhesion of cement render; weep screed at base ensures drainage of moisture.

RENDER SYSTEM.

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

TITLE

STAGE 10

EXTERNAL CLADDING

DRAWING NO.

A.110

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

D16

ELECTRICAL WIRING.

Wiring flows through frame cavities; holes are drilled through noggings to facilitate this and cable clips organise the cords via a nailed connection to the stud interior.

Services pipes run through wall and ceiling cavities

INTERNAL PVC-U PIPES. Small trenches dug for copper piping

Piping for potable water and waste within the home often contain screw joints (rather than PVC cement) for ease of maintenae

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

TITLE

STAGE 11

SERVICES

DRAWING NO.

A.111

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

Metal corner bead ensures plasterboard corners remain in tact and at precise 90 degree angles

D16

PLASTERBOARD INSTALLATION.

Pink batt insulation is installed directly into wall cavity, plasterboard is then nailed to timber frame and butt-joints are sealed before painting

TILING DESIGN.

Regions of floor (particularly in wet areas) are tiled as per design; dividers are used before grouting to ensure an even arrangement

THE BLACK HOUSE

KRISNA CHEUNG ARCHITECTS

TITLE

STAGE 12

FINISHING TRADES

DRAWING NO.

A.112

KATERINA KARADIMAS

699244

ABPL20033

CONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT 3

Both internal and external timber walls are braced with strap bracing, using tensioners to ensure support against lateral movement. Regions which cannot be braced in this manner are treated alternatively as will be discussed in later stages.

TRANSCRIPT KKARADIMAS 699244

STAGE 1 Before commencing building works, the site is surveyed to analyse key site characteristics including soil class. Following this, foundations are designed by the structural engineer to ensure that the load of the home is supported once it’s constructed.

Services mains are disconnected to protect the site workers and temporary power and amenities are provided; the demolition process may now begin.

The roof tiles of the existing dwelling are collected and recycled and the bluestone fence is left untouched to retain an element of the original streetscape. All rubbish is transported off site by a skip bin. The site is then pegged out and the trenches are excavated. PVC-U pipes arrive on site in segments and are cut and cemented to ensure their structural integrity once installed below ground.

STAGE 2 Timber formwork is then erected to guide the dimensions of the concrete slab. Packing sand is laid and screeded level between the trenches and a polyethylene membrane is used over the entire slab area to create a smooth surface and ensure the membrane isn’t pierced by any plant matter.

The stiffening beams and main slab are lined with steel reinforcement, held up by plastic bar chairs to ensure adequate concrete cover. The hydronic pipes may then be arranged following the mesh lines, secured with metal ties.

The concrete is then pumped and consolidated to remove trapped air. Bolts are also cast into the concrete to later accommodate the power trusses.

STAGE 3 The structural steel members arrive on site prefabricated with the required connection elements. The steel is fully coated to prevent corrosion and members are bolted together via anchor plate assemblies as illustrated. The bases of the columns are recessed within the slab, packers are used to level the members and the area is then filled in with non-shrinking grout to create a flush finish.

STAGE 4 The timber stud walls are constructed on-site using a nail gun. The first external stud walls are constructed on boundary and are held in place by temporary props. Reflective sarking is installed to the outer face of these walls-on-boundary to prevent moisture and dust ingress later on.

STAGE 5 The steel balconies are prefabricated and trucked onto site to save time and ensure precision. These members are carefully craned into position and temporarily propped before being welded to the previously constructed steel beams. The balconies are bolted as well in some instances to ensure strength in these cantilevered regions.

Posistrut floor joists form the first floor floor structure; they are lighter than regular floor joists allowing for ease of construction and have ample load bearing capacity to accommodate the balconies. The open shape also allows for services through, making stage 11 of construction much easier.

STAGE 6 MDF board prepares the floor surface of the first floor while compressed fibre cement sheets are substituted in wet-areas for waterproofing. Stud wall elements are constructed as before, this time with double studs acting as the columns did on the ground floor to support the frames.

STAGE 7 The roof trusses are also prefabricated and brought onto site; each truss is nailed to the parapet top plate with a steel tie-down as shown to ensure no rotational movement. The trusses are braced with double diagonal steel strap bracing in regions of lesser wind loads, while plywood bracing is utilised in the areas of greater wind loads. Timber battens are run perpendicular to create a surface for the metal decking to be connected to.

STAGE 8 Aluminium windows and doors are selected for their low maintenance requirements and design aesthetic. The windows are fixed into the timber reveal in the wall frames and the same is done for external doors. Regions with large window openings are impossible to strap brace so plywood bracing is used here to transfer the loads around the frame and away from the glass panes.

Power trusses also provide support to these large open spans; they’re installed in this stage via the bolts precast into the slab in stage 2.

STAGE 9 The box gutters are installed into the recess accommodated by the roof trusses, the waterproof sarking membrane is then laid out, followed by acoustic insulation blankets to muffle any roof sounds. The Trimdek metal decking sits atop these materials and is bolted into the battens below. This kind of roof cover is ideal in a parapet roof because it functions well at a very low pitch. The ends of the roofing are turned up to prevent capillary action ingress, and turned down at the gutters to lead any rainwater into

the stormwater system. The perimeters are capped to seal the roof and to avoid water damage upon the façade; the material is then cut to fit snugly with the profile of the metal deck sheets.

STAGE 10 The external building envelope is finalised with the wrapping of the external walls. The pine timber battens for the balcony cladding are prepared off site. These are installed directly to the steel balcony beams, as shown, with Philip’s head screws left undisguised. Weathertex Weathergroove joiners are painted black before fixing while the panels themselves are painted after. The ground floor Thermal Plus wall system is also finalised, using layers of compressed and regular fibre cement sheeting with mesh to allow the cement render to adhere; weep screeds drain moisture to protect the finish.

STAGE 11 Electrical cables and PVC-U water pipes are run through the frame cavities. Cables are clipped to the stud interior faces for organisational purposes. Meanwhile, the water pipes above ground (such as the Sbend pictured) have screw connectors rather than fixed cement like those below grade; allowing for maintenance and replacement of segments.

Minor excavations are also undertaken to connect to the gas main and the copper piping internally is similarly arranged within the cavities.

Lastly, the external downpipes are installed, completing the stormwater system.

STAGE 12 Heading towards completion, pink batts are installed into the wall cavities and plasterboard is nailed directly onto the studs; the joins are sealed and a corner bead is connected to ensure an even, orthogonal surface with strong corners. Metal battens are fixed perpendicular to the ceiling members with plasterboard this time glued onto the metal elements. Plastered regions are sanded in preparation for a smooth paint finish.

Concurrently, bespoke joinery is constructed and installed, light fixtures are connected and the flooring is completed, including the hexagonal tile pattern pictured.

After finalising the staircase and internal amenity fittings, the last step is to clean the premises and finish the sliding gate to secure the property.

The black house is now ready to be a home!

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