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A trussed solution for a steely problem at Mablethorpe Care home

4th October 2023

When the brief that is presented to you is of an architect’s roof design, and you are asked to manage the expectations, it can be a challenging position to be in. This was what happened to Pasquill’s designer Kristian Telford, who is experienced in designing roofscapes for care homes rose to the challenge and provided a solution to the roof design for a care home in Mablethorpe.

Kristian was initially provided with a brief to create a roofscape to accommodate side projections of the building. The requirement was to include a large hipped roof, while the main central building required raised ceilings with sloped rafters to create a partly vaulted effect.

Using the architect’s original design

The architect’s original design for the roof structure involved steel beams to support the high ceilings and trusses. However, after a series of conversations with the contractor, Kristian quickly learnt that a full timber-framed building without steel beams is preferred as exposed steel beams were not aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, sourcing and delivering the required steel size to the site would have taken extra time and potentially increased the project’s cost.

Kristian revised the design by using raised trusses for most of the roof which reduced the need for steel beams. For the entrance, which had to be open to the roof line, Kristian used glulam beams and loose rafters to create a stunning vaulted effect and timber aesthetic. According to Kristian, this was the favourite part of the project, as he understood the importance of creating a design where residents feel at home’.

Health and Safety
Although the contractors would plan access and safety, Kristian and his team ensured the contractors were aware of the weights of the trusses for manual handling.

For this particular project, Kristian had to ensure they had access to mechanical lifting equipment to ensure the trusses were lifted onto the roof as some of the trusses weighed around 300kg.

The judges commented:

A large building with very large, trussed rafters. This project provides proof that trusses can be utilised on large-span low-pitch roofs. This project of super-sized trussed rafters is a significant step into the design sectors usually occupied by other materials in the UK.”

 

About Kristian

Kristian has worked as a truss designer at Pasquill for almost two years and has 12 years of experience as a designer. With his precise design skills, it was a natural progression for him to specialise in designing trusses.

A career in roof design can be rewarding and interesting; as described by Kristian,

“Designers work closely with end customers to provide roof designs that meet their needs while also maintaining a close relationship with manufacturing branches to ensure that designs are suitable for manufacture”.

Kristian’s advice for those who aspire to become roof designers one day is:

“Make sure it’s what you want to do. The job can sometimes be hard and pressurised, with a steep learning curve for new trainees. Being able to multi-task is helpful, as is having attention to detail and a practical mind.”

Kristian’s design was recognised at the Trussed Rafter Association’s Roofscape Design Award. The design was highly commended under the Commercial Project of the Year 2023. According to Kristian, seeing his design being recognised was rewarding, and meaningful.

 

 

 

 

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