08-12-18, 11:55 AM
Building construction fascinates me. When me and the wife go to stately homes, old buildings, etc, I always end up looking at how they've been constructed. I spent hours looking at the framework of the Eden project when we went there. I spent 48 years as a mechanical crafstsman, and in the early 90s decided I want to replace the old concrete garage that came with the house and build my own with a proper pitched and tiled roof. Never done any construction work before, but hoped my engineering background would get me through. Got some books from the library on brickwork and roof construction and drew up my plans based on their simple design principles. All passed by the planners. Sloping site so stepped foundations. Took me 2 years, but I did it all by myself with a hired mixer. The planner came around to look at he walls before i could go ahead with the roof, and praised the quality of the brickwork he thought a "professional" had done. I said to him that I was a little disappointed because it was 2mm wider at the top on one corner, and he pissed himself laughing. "You wouldn't be a mechanical engineer would you?" he asked. "I bet you've laid every brick with a spirit level haven't you". Well, err, yes. Great fun though, really enjoyed it, wouldn't think twice about doing it again, and saved half the cost of having done professionally.