Building code help needed

Thunderbeach

Hi my granny is having a bit of a problem with a new build beside her. She lives in a semi detached house in rush and the neighbours have built a very big extension at the back. My granny has all her flowers growing against her fence beside it and the light is all being block d. But she didn't object cos we didn't understand how big it would be. It's overall height in planning permission is meant to be 4 m. We think it is higher than that . It has a pitched roof being put on and we did some brick measuring , not scientific we know., but we calculated counting the bricks and it's over 4m by our counting. That doesn't include the metal beam and wood as we don't know the size on that. We counted 18 X 9 inch blocks totalling 162 inches not including mortar and that's 4.115 m . That is before the beams and wood. How much more would they measure. Can we report it to enforcement . Or is it crazy to go on our measurements. It's so high anyway and if they have gone higher it's really bad and worse for my gran as its huge. She lives alone and is scared to complain. Can they go against the planning permission. Any advice would be great. Thanks

BryanF

If your granny is scared to complain, do so on her behalf. No further discussion required, assuming what is being constructed is in breach of what was granted.

mickdw

18 blocks including joints are 4.050
Are any of those blocks below ground level?
I'd get a copy of the drawing first before souring relations between neighbours.

Gumbo

Thunderbeach wrote: »

Hi my granny is having a bit of a problem with a new build beside her. She lives in a semi detached house in rush and the neighbours have built a very big extension at the back. My granny has all her flowers growing against her fence beside it and the light is all being block d. But she didn't object cos we didn't understand how big it would be. It's overall height in planning permission is meant to be 4 m. We think it is higher than that . It has a pitched roof being put on and we did some brick measuring , not scientific we know., but we calculated counting the bricks and it's over 4m by our counting. That doesn't include the metal beam and wood as we don't know the size on that. We counted 18 X 9 inch blocks totalling 162 inches not including mortar and that's 4.115 m . That is before the beams and wood. How much more would they measure. Can we report it to enforcement . Or is it crazy to go on our measurements. It's so high anyway and if they have gone higher it's really bad and worse for my gran as its huge. She lives alone and is scared to complain. Can they go against the planning permission. Any advice would be great. Thanks

Can you post a picture and the plan ref number from fingal website?

Thunderbeach

Hi thanks . I am not a builder certainly and I'm out of my depth here. But what I did was 18 x9 = 162 inches and 162 inches in metres is 4.115 . Did I do it wrong

Can you offer any measurements on steel beanm and wood.

Thunderbeach

Thank you. She doesn't want to complain until we are are least somewhat sure it's bigger because she doesn't want any hassle. And if we are wrong she would feel terrible stopping the work and causing problems.

This is for Bryan F

Thunderbeach

Hi thanks for help. No I only measured what is above ground and at the same ground level as her fence

Thunderbeach

For K Ceire . Am I allowed post that up

Gumbo

Thunderbeach wrote: »

For K Ceire . Am I allowed post that up

Yes as it's in the public domain already.
Anybody can see it on the fingal website.

Metric Tensor

Hi Thunderbeach

As mickdw says 18 blocks is 4.05m

The blocks are 215mm and the joints are usually approx 10mm.

The reason you are getting a slightly different result is that although they are referred to as 9 inch blocks they are actually 215mm which is closer to 8 and a half inches. The block and joint combined is 225mm which is still not quite 9 inches.

However all of that may not be significant if there is more structure going atop the 18 blocks. I am unsure what steel/timber beams you are referring to - can you post up a picture for us? Also bear in mind that the height will be measured from the final footpath or finish that's installed around the perimeter. It might not be installed yet.

mickdw

Thunderbeach wrote: »

Hi thanks . I am not a builder certainly and I'm out of my depth here. But what I did was 18 x9 = 162 inches and 162 inches in metres is 4.115 . Did I do it wrong

Can you offer any measurements on steel beanm and wood. Also, they had to cut the window sills off the Windows to make the roof fit so I'm sure it's over.

I'm new on here, this is for Mick DW

As mentioned earlier, the blocks will be 215 mm plus joint... assume 225 total.

Any detail of structure over?

Thunderbeach

Hi metric thanks for explaining that. The grey blocks go up to a central point or ridge. Like an inverted V shape. On top of them is the steel beams in the middle and that leads back towards original house wall. Wood beams have been added on top coming down each side of centre ridge. I assume the roofing tiles will go on top of this. I think we are out of our depth here and should maybe leave well enough alone. Poor gran I think she will feel best if I leave it, but it upsets me if it is higher than its supposed to be cos its huge anyway

Gumbo

Thunderbeach wrote: »

Hi metric thanks for explaining that. The grey blocks go up to a central point or ridge. Like an inverted V shape. On top of them is the steel beams in the middle and that leads back towards original house wall. Wood beams have been added on top coming down each side of centre ridge. I assume the roofing tiles will go on top of this. I think we are out of our depth here and should maybe leave well enough alone. Poor gran I think she will feel best if I leave it, but it upsets me if it is higher than its supposed to be cos its huge anyway

Sounds like a typical vaulted roof extension.
Steel ridge beam with timber rafters hanging from it to the wallplate.

Planning enforcement will allow some tolerance with heights to allow for building construction etc and especially if its single storey and to the rear as the exempted limits allow you to go up to the existing hous eaves legal anyway.

Metric Tensor

As you've described it Thunderbeach the top of the gable end on the new extension won't be much higher than 4.05m - ish.

If the planning states 4m it's not worth arguing and even if you won the argument the reduction to 4m would be so miniscule that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference looking at it from your side (once it's plastered and you can't count the blocks if course!)

I don't think you're out if your depth at all - but I think this is one that's definitely not worth fighting (as described anyway).

Thunderbeach

Thanks so much everyone for your help. We should have paid more attention at the beginning and the planning stage. My gran won't want a battle and as you say it's not much. We will just move all her flowers for her. Thanks appreciate the help

Thunderbeach

One quick question, how much would the beam or beams and wood measure on top of that. Thanks

mickdw

Steel beam is possibly 200 mm deep. That could have 44 mm timber fixed to top and rafters could be cut onto that. There are many ways of constructing such a detail but from underside of steel id guess 350 to 400 mm to top of structure.

Metric Tensor

The beams of wood as you call them are probably the timber rafters. It depends on the style of construction but there's a possibility they will finish in line with the top of the gable and hence project nothing above the blockwork.

Impossible to tell without photos.

Thunderbeach

So what would the 350 to 400 mm add to the 4.05. Thanks and yes I'm a granddaughter ha ha. That's why I don't know what anything is called .my gran was told today her fence may be crooked and they may need to put a wall in its place. I want to have a good enough idea of size in case I need some leverage with the builders, thanks

mickdw

Thunderbeach wrote: »

So what would the 350 to 400 mm add to the 4.05. Thanks and yes I'm a granddaughter ha ha. That's why I don't know what anything is called .my gran was told today her fence may be crooked and they may need to put a wall in its place. I want to have a good enough idea of size in case I need some leverage with the builders, thanks

All this is assuming that the steel is not sitting inside the 18 lines of blocks already mentioned. I'm assuming 18 lines not quite going to a point with the steel and timber on top to make the point of the roof. That being the case, it would be 4.4 to 4.45m overall.

Metric Tensor

As mickdw says OP.

Tell us how many blocks can you see side by side in the top 18th row?

Gumbo

Thunderbeach wrote: »

So what would the 350 to 400 mm add to the 4.05. Thanks and yes I'm a granddaughter ha ha. That's why I don't know what anything is called .my gran was told today her fence may be crooked and they may need to put a wall in its place. I want to have a good enough idea of size in case I need some leverage with the builders, thanks

At this point, you need to engage someone to act on your behalf, otherwise you run the risk of them running all over you.

What wall is cracked? Who is replacing it and will it be centered on the boundary?
Who will make good the area on the inside of your grans garden?
What finish will it be?
What height will it be?

These and other questions should be asked.
You could mention to them that you don't want any of your property including the boundary touched or altered without consultation with someone of your choosenmat their reasonable expense.

Thunderbeach

Hi thank you both for being so kind and helpful. They told her her fence may not be straight . I don't think they can touch it. It's been there long before them. There are 13 and a half grey blocks on her side and then the wood starts and rises to the peak. They say the wall will be covered so you can't see blocks, plastered is it? and painted. The beams are on top of the 18 blocks.

Thunderbeach

Well I'm embarrassed to say that I have tried to do conversions , I'm rubbish with maths, what does 4.45 m mean. I get the 4 m but what is 45 , is that mm , inches? Sorry I don't want to drive you all nuts

Gumbo

Thunderbeach wrote: »

Well I'm embarrassed to say that I have tried to do conversions , I'm rubbish with maths, what does 4.45 m mean. I get the 4 m but what is 45 , is that mm , inches? Sorry I don't want to drive you all nuts

4.45m is 4450mm.

Can you post a picture????

Thunderbeach

Hi can I send it to you privately Kceire

mickdw

This is all very hard to understand. No photos?
They say her fence may not be straight. Has the fence moved or been altered in some way by the build next door?
Can you give some info or background on what is going on.

Gumbo

Thunderbeach wrote: »

Hi can I send it to you privately Kceire

Yes no problem.
I won't post them on here unless you say so.

Thunderbeach

Hi how do I send a private message to you thanks