...or how poor design stands out
The devil is in the details they say... and that is such an underrated statement.
As much as I loathe #construction #working drawings, I love the outcome of a carefully considered design that is thorough to the last detail. In the past few years, I have been taken through the nuts and bolts of architectural #detailing, which taught me to better appreciate the stringent work behind the drawing board. Not only I value a meticulous #technical drawing that goes to the last tenth of a millimetre, for having done it myself, on one hand, but also for the impact it has on the completed building, on the other hand.
Recently, I have come across a poor detailing during my lunchtime stroll and, at that point, it occurred to me that sometimes, it is that basic detail that, once overlooked, can surface quite badly after the #building was finished. This not only affects the aesthetics of the structure, but it also impacts on the durability of it.
Although good practice is stopping any cladding above the DPC zone, sometimes this goes unnoticed.
You can see from the image below that the bottom row of shingles only stops one course above the paving i.e. #external #ground #level. As a result, the #cedar became damp and the surface treatment finishes started to deteriorate, which led to the formation of mould stains. Although #good #practice is stopping any cladding above the #DPC zone, at times, this goes unnoticed by both the design team and the contractor and, in some cases, by the approved inspectors or LABC bodies when #building #regulations approval is sought.
Retrospectively, a better approach would have been to increase its distance to the ground, maintaining at least 150mm above the external ground level. This is exemplified in the #sketch #detail below, where the #timber #cladding and the #battens fixed over the existing masonry, were all stopped above the DPC level.
Although the above is regarded as general practice, it is worth noting that there are instances where certain systems or products are required to be located at or below ground level, by #practical reasons or due to #design #constraints. These, however, are subject to specific conditions that limits the materials that can be used or imposes additional requirements in terms of drainage and ventilation. It is important to remember that inadequate #installation of any sort of cladding and the lack of proper maintenance can lead to a shorter life span of the #building #envelope and may give rise to issues concerning the building warranty. For this reason, I cannot stress enough the importance of installing the materials strictly in accordance with the manufacture's details and #specifications.
Having said that, I would be curious to know if you have ever come across a wicked design or structure that grabbed your attention for being visibly damaged as a result of #lousy #detailing, so please let me know your thoughts in the comments box below.
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