pre-built wall panels

sunnysoutheast

Hi all

We are now in the process of building a front wall to our site. As part of our planning it has to be stone. It'd be about 100ft in length and 1.2m high.

Most of the walls we've seen have been composed of a rendered block back wall with ties with a decorative stone wall built in front of it. This is working out very expensive for what is, after all, something we'll very rarely see.

On some of the developer estates around we've seen what appear to be preassembled walling sections. Seems that you build a trench with footings, put down the sections which have "feet" and then concrete them in.

Does anyone know where you can get these and whether you can get them in 1.2m? - we've tried builders providers locally and the closest have been prefinished sections of the front stone wall - we'd still have to build a block wall.

Thanks
SSE

Mellor

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

Most of the walls we've seen have been composed of a rendered block back wall with ties with a decorative stone wall built in front of it. This is working out very expensive for what is, after all, something we'll very rarely see.

Maybe i'm misunderstanding you, but I wouldn't consider the front wall of your garden/site to be something you will rarely see.


There are a few options for stoen walls.

A full stone wall, no concrete block to the inside, just built from stone.

A concrete block wall faced with stone as you mentioned.

Then there are the prefab options,
Sections of stone walls that are self supporting. These are concrete core with stone facing. The units are cast off site as one. They wouldn't be a builder providers and more specialist product, I don't know a manufacturer off-hand.

The other option seen on developer estates is a insitu concrete wall cast in a special "stone wall" formwork, this looks shite and most likely doesn't comply with your PP. Stay away, even though its the cheapest option

sunnysoutheast

hi Mellor

Forgot to say that the "house" side of the wall will be banked and planted so won't really be seen.

We want it to look good, it's just at present a) the cost and b) the delay (most stonemasons we've talked to are booked solid for six months) aren't welcome - we're at the stage where we just want the house finished!

I agree most of the developer walls look poor - but we were surprised how good the specific ones we saw looked. Maybe we'll have to try and talk to somebody onsite.

SSE

Villain

Have you considered cladding, i.e. standard block with stone cladding stuck to the wall. Its about €120 a sq mt. I have looked at two, www.Fernhill.ie www.centurystone.ie and I have also heard of www.stonecladding.ie

ircoha

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

hi Mellor

Forgot to say that the "house" side of the wall will be banked and planted so won't really be seen.

We want it to look good, it's just at present a) the cost and b) the delay (most stonemasons we've talked to are booked solid for six months) aren't welcome - we're at the stage where we just want the house finished!

I agree most of the developer walls look poor - but we were surprised how good the specific ones we saw looked. Maybe we'll have to try and talk to somebody onsite.

SSE

Are u saying that the planners said the wall needs to be faced on both sides or just on the road side which, u will see every time you drive in and out unless there is a rear entrance:)

sunnysoutheast

hi ircoha

The condition is "Road, boundary and wing walls shall be constructed of sod & stone, dry stone, stone faced masonry or natural stone and mortar".

So that's stone then

I think we'll end up doing a block wall with the ties in it and do the stone later, just wondered if there was any quicker/cheaper option.

Cheers all
SSE

Villain

"Stone faced masonry" would that include stick on stone cladding?

sinnerboy

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

I think we'll end up doing a block wall with the ties in it and do the stone later, just wondered if there was any quicker/cheaper option.

Cheers all
SSE

I expect not .

Just one thing - use expanded metal and turn down to blocks with netting over whilst awaiting stone . you dont want to take some kids eye out with sticky out wall ties .

Use a geotextile membrane and dry filling against banking to blockwork side to avoid staining of the wall

( OK that was 2 things I am no engineer , bad with numbers )

galwaytt

there's at least two people in Galway pre-fabbing walls, but i can't find their details right now - one is, I think- Moylough Concrete, near Tuam.

A quick google turned up these guys: http://www.nolanwallpanels.ie/

As for general stonemasons - they're tripping over one another in the West looking for work. There isn't a week goes by, but that one of them calls or puts a card in our door.........Eur 65 sq m, seems to be the going rate, and most are available to start inside 10 days........