This invention concerns a base for a building structure and building structures on such a base.
GB 2171427A describes an extension for an existing building which may be adapted to be used as a kitchen or bathroom where services are required. The extension comprises a base, and corner posts 2, 3 supporting a roof. The walls may consist of an inner tile panel and an outer wall panel which are fixed to one another in spaced apart relationship. The wall panel may include thermal insulation and a vapour barrier. A part of the tile panel can be replaced by fittings such as a sink. Plumbing and electrical services may be secured in the space between the two panels in such a way that the vapour barrier is not perforated. The extension is free standing. There is a flexible weatherproof connection with the existing building.
Conservatories are popular forms of extensions to existing buildings as well as becoming increasingly provided as part of a new house. However, there are various conditions attached to the erection of a conservatory regarding size and the need for building regulations approval in certain circumstances. One such condition is that building regulations approval is always needed unless existing doors in the wall against which the conservatory is erected are kept in place.
Furthermore, many houses may not be able to accommodate an add-on conservatory because of space restrictions, although the benefits of a conservatory type add-on structure may be desirable.
An object of this invention is to facilitate the provision of an extension to a house or other suitable building having conservatory type properties but for which building regulations approval may be readily obtained.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an extension to an existing building, which extension is a glazed structure, with no closure between the extension and the existing building, wherein the extension is erected on a base comprising a plastics shutter having a. base and sides to be filled with concrete or the like, and wherein the shutter has an outward lip that on one side, intended for abutting the existing building, is deeper thin on the other sides of the shutter to provide a damp proof course at said one side.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing an extension to an existing building, which extension is a glazed structure, with no closure between the extension and the existing building comprising providing a base for the extension by filling a plastics shutter having a base and sides with concrete or the like and erecting said extension on the base, wherein the shutter has an outward lip that on one side, intended for abutting the existing building, is deeper than on the other sides of the shutter to provide a damp proof course of said one side.
The shutter will usually be rectangular in section but other shapes may be provided suitable for different shapes of building structures to be erected on the base. Preferably the base of the shutter has at least one raised portion to reduce the amount of concrete required to fill the shutter.
The shutter has an outwards lip. On one side the lip is deeper than on the other sides of the shutter in order to provide an integral damp proof course, which can be integrated into brickwork of the existing building against which the base is situated. The lip of the shutter may also be used as a level for tamping down the concrete.
The base may be provided with insulating material either internally or externally thereof. The insulating material may be bonded to the surface of the shutter. Suitable insulating material for use in the invention may include foamed plastics material, such as of polystyrene.
The base may also have means for locating and/or attaching side frames, such as window frames thereon. Such means may be in the form of clips that connect with the side frames. The base of the invention may be especially suitable for use with small glazed extensions to existing rooms. Such extensions. are ideally glazed structures that are not necessarily classed as conservatories. When a conservatory is to be added to a house, it is usually against a wall that has an opening closed by means of patio doors or French windows. These closures are left in place otherwise building regulations approval is required even if the conservatory is less than 35m2. However, for a smaller structure, where advanced glazing systems are used, building regulations approval is more easily obtainable and so the patio doors or French windows can be removed to create with the smaller structure a light extension to a room without taking up garden space that would otherwise be occupied by a conservatory.
This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a base 10 for an extension to a house or other building 12 comprises a plastics profiled shutter 14 of rectangular section. The shutter 14 has a base 16 and sides 18. The base 16 includes a raised central portion 20 and the sides 18 have a lip 22. The lip 22 is narrow around three sides of the base but is deeper along the side to abut the house, in order to provide an integral damp proof course 22A. The base is particularly suitable for a small glazed extension to a room with patio doors or French windows.
The shutter is either lined with insulating material 24, such as of foamed plastics material, especially polystyrene, or is surrounded by such insulating material. The insulating material will be bonded to the shutter. The shutter may be supplied with the insulating material already bonded to it. To complete the base, the shutter is filled with concrete 26 up to the lip, which provides an edge for tamping the concrete. The surface of the concrete may be given a trowel finish.
To create the base 10, ground is excavated to a depth greater than that required for the base and sand and cement or levelling grout 28 laid in the excavation to provide a level surface for the shutter 14. Insulating material 24 can form the top surface or may be added to the inside of the shutter. The shutter 14 is then positioned on the grout surface with its damp proof course lip fed in between the appropriate brick courses and its level checked before concrete is poured into the shutter. Finally, any space around the shutter can be back filled with stone chippings and sand 29.
Side frames for, for example, a glazed extension structure 40 of the type shown in Figures 3 to 8 are then erected on the base followed by laying of a flooring surface on the base. The shutter may be provided with means for location and/or attachment of the side frames, such as clips. The structure of Figure 3 is based on an aluminium frame with uPVC cladding, although other structures of different shapes or materials may be erected on the base. In Figure 3 the structure 40 is intended to provide a small extension to a room with its patio doors or French windows removed to create a light extension to the room without having to erect a full conservatory.
The structure 40 has front wall 42, side walls 44 and a roof 46. The side walls are angled outwardly from the front wall. The roof has is hipped and is formed of three triangular glazed sections. One of the side walls 44 includes a door 48, although the door could be in the other side wall or even the front wall 42. If in the front wall, the door could be in the form of a patio door or French windows.
The structure 40 is erected against a wall with an opening 48 therein, which originally may have been closed by means of patio doors or French windows now removed. Not shown is flashing to seal the roof to the existing wall nor is a trim around the base.