Donaldson Timber Engineering (DTE) has worked with Barratt Homes on a large housing development in Surrey, providing a specialised full roof package for a block of flats and 110 houses.
Having worked with DTE before, Barratt Homes approached the team looking for a design and engineering solution. Barratt already had designs drawn up which incorporated steel beams and rods in the roofs, but it was looking for a more efficient alternative. DTE re-engineered the design to eliminate the steel works, which would not only speed up erection on site, but would also save the customer time and money.
The complex designs required a specialised full roof for each unit, as the development was made up of different house types, including cottages, barn conversions and farm houses, each with an individual roof design. Dual pitched trusses were specified for the apartment block, with ManSafe fall arrest systems built in to the trusses.
April Webb, Central Design Office Manager at DTE, who re-engineered the design for the project explained: “Steel needs 2-3 weeks to arrive, takes longer to erect, and increases the health and safety risks on site. By replacing the steel with timber, we were able to save the customer money and speed up the project. It’s an incredibly complex project, but its fantastic to be able to provide a much better solution for our customers and really help them to cut costs and speed up the build programme. They’ve been really happy with the work that weve done, and that’s the best part of the job for me.”
DTE spent six months working closely with Barratt before work began on site. The project was completed at the end of 2016.
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