Tags: Design
Harlow Timber tops out in style
Posted: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 17:55
William Davis Contractors – Lewisher Road Project Commercial Sector
The Lewisher Project - with a value of £174,000.00.
Involved some very special trusses.
Harlow Timber Systems were requested to design the roof to assist in the supporting of the main gable walls to eliminate the use of steel wind posts. The design also had to incorporate the external wall as a timber frame structure, with Canadian Red Cedar cladding being added to the structural panels to complete the complete structure.
The cost to supply this to Wm Davis from Harlow Timber Systems was £25,000.00.
To assist in the time on site Harlow Timber Systems designed fire spandrels some 14.5m long supplied in two parts. The frame was encased in multiboard and plywood weighing nearly 1 tonne. These were slotted to the central corridor producing a fire protection for the office units below.
The design of the roof consisted of 14.5m Mono truss shape – completely braced and wind girders were installed to the underside of the trusses along the wall plate edge – forming a lattice effect some 1500mm deep. These were fixed to wall and truss with special connection details designed to accommodate the wind forces being applied at one of the highest locations in Leicester.
The roof construction was finished of with a structural wall panel made off site at the Bardon depot – Fully insulated and water tight. The Spandrel panels were then cloaked in a RED Cedar Clad fixed with hidden fixings to the structural panel.
These were lifted into place and fixed the roof structure to form a closed panel system to the roof structure.
Winner TRA Award 2014 - Harlow Timber Systems
Posted: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:16
Winner TRA Award 2014 - Harlow Timber Systems
1st March 2014
Harlow Timber - Throws a curve.
A challenging building project with a complex roof constructed using in excess of 1,800 timber trusses supplied and fitted by Harlow Timber Systems has won this years TRA project award. The presentation took place at the TRA AGM, with Craig White Chairman of Wood For Good presenting David Stockill with the award.
The 132-bed extra care scheme for the over 55s, Broad Meadow in Dudley is a flagship venture for Midland Heart, the largest housing and regeneration organisation in the West Midlands. The roof is formed using dual, preformed mono-pitched trusses set out in a radial pattern on either side of a 2.5m wide flat roofed corridor which accommodates sun pipes to allow daylight into the accommodation below. The trusses measure 8m and 7.5m respectively from external to internal wall plate; spandrel panels are incorporated alongside party-walls. With the trusses fanning out from 300mm centres on the inner curve to 600mm centres on the outer curve, a key challenge was to bend the bracing to follow the shape of the roof.
The plan of Broad Meadow is circular. A three-storey building, housing one and two bedroom apartments, curves to link with communal facilities which include a restaurant, shop and well-being facility. At the centre are landscaped gardens and courtyards.
Harlow Timber Systems was asked by William Davis, the building contractor for the £16 million scheme, to devise a roof for the apartment building. Working with the engineer BSP Consulting, it was decided at an early stage to span the radii of the roof with timber trusses.
The external overhang of the eaves was cut short in specific areas allowing raised parapets and inboard gutters to form features of the external elevation. Internally the top-ends of service risers had to be fitted in between the trusses and other mechanical engineering equipment accommodated.
Humam Sharifi, associate at architect Nicol Thomas Ltd, comments: Timber trusses provided the ideal solution for this project and the trussed rafters were very flexible in responding to the curved roof over variable spans together with its inboard and outboard characteristics. Harlow Timber Systems provided invaluable support and knowledge throughout, particularly in the way they coordinated their design to reflect the combination of a warm roof system with a cold ventilated arrangement.
Harlow Timber Systems is solid with Oak
Posted: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 17:03
Harlow Timber Systems utilised the Wolf design software to design OAK components to fabricate special Oak frame for a Garden room worth £28k. A wide variety of frames were designed up to 4.0m high and 9m long. The construction of the main Garden building, involved the use of Green Oak 300mm x 200mm thick, all hand planed, with mortised and tenon at each connection point. The oak frames had to be pre built within the factory at Bardon to ensure solid connection with the use of galvanised steel rods bolted through the joints. Once built they were de-assembled and transported to site for site fix.
Harlow Timber Systems worked closely with the main contractor, Tony Morris Builders.
Tony Morris, of Tony Morris Builders commented: "While we would probably always have gone for the Oak timber frame for the Garden Room, the length required to span the building was making us lean towards a steel roof structure, covered with Oak boards to have the desired effect. It was when we learned that Wolf's manufacturer, Harlow Timber Systems, could design the frame with the Trussed Rafter package on the contract and in a far more economical and environmental aspect to the building, we know we had made the right decision!"
Harlow Timber Systems, which has office at Bardon, Kettering and now Burton produces a wide range of truss solutions, specialising in bespoke-engineered roof structures for private builders, national House Builders and the commercial and industrial buildings contracting.
"Our in-house design team works closely with the architects, contractors and engineers to ensure we produce a workable solution to even the most challenging designs" comments David Stockill
Harlow Timber Systems Innovates at Business Park
Posted: Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:27
Harlow Timber Systems, has supplied 150 large bespoke trusses to contractor ,William Davis, for the roof of the Harborough Innovation and Business Centre, a landmark building on a new business park in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Situated at the entrance to the 20-acre park, the £4.2 million development features a T-shaped three-storey main building with a striking standing seam composite metal-pitched roof.
Local truss manufacturer, Harlow Timber Systems, was selected to design and manufacture the 150 timber trusses for the 14m span roof and supply the complete roof structure including 18mm plywood sheathing.
The main challenge for Harlow Timber Systems was to accommodate the distinctive 'wing' eaves detail which creates broad sweeping overhangs at the gable ends.
These wings which are supported by slender full-height steel columns, give the roof an unmistakable profile, as designer Daniel Grimley of architect Isherwood McCann explains:
"This is a landmark building which is planned to provide a dynamic built form which addresses the entrance to the site. It is articulated with feature gables, large areas of glazing and cantilevered roof planes."
Achieving this required careful design by Harlow Timber Systems in close partnership with Isherwood McCann and William Davis. "Features such as these deep overhangs are more common on commercial buildings these days, and are usually executed using a steel roof structure" says Harlow Timber Systems managing director David Stockill.
"The design team specifically wanted to use timber in this roof and that required the production of bespoke trusses incorporating a very low-profile cantilever" he adds.
Isherwood McCann chose timber roof trusses in order to help meet the requirement for a sustainable low-energy design. "The Innovation Centre building is designed using modern materials and construction techniques" says Daniel Grimley, "and the materials proposed have been carefully considered in the context of sustainability." The building design has achieved an "Excellent" BREEAM rating, indicating a very low-energy rating.
The building offers 30,000 sq ft of high quality office space divided into units ranging from 170 – 990 sq ft. These self contained services suites come with full business support on site, including meeting and conference rooms, cafeteria, fully staffed reception and 24/7 access.
Harlow Timber Systems, which is headquartered in nearby Coalville, produces a wide range of truss solutions, specialising in bespoke-engineered roof structures for large commercial and industrial buildings. "Our in-house design team works closely with the architects, contractors and engineers to ensure we produce a workable solution to even the most challenging designs" comments David.
Cawrey Homes Green Roof
Posted: Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:23
Easi Joists were used in design and supply of a new range of houses going totally green.
Cawrey Homes wanted to supply a house that met the strict Sustainable housing codes with
Highly insulated floors, walls and roof construction.
Responsibly sourced materials.
A-rated UPVC windows in woodgrain Oak or Grey finish
Sedum Roof to reduce rainwater run-off
Air source heat pump providing underfloor heating to
Ground Floor, radiators to First Floor.
Solar Photovoltaic panels to roof finish.
Single integral garage, 2 car spaces to frontage
The roof design was completed by Harlow Timber Systems in conjunction with Wolf System, we managed to design the roof to accommodate the high levels of loading associated with the new green roof technology.
The scheme consisted of some 34 units with Easi floor and roof on all Units.
Concentric roof construction for Wm Davis – Cradley Heath Care Home – for Midland Heart
Posted: Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:15
Trussed rafters used for speed in the concentric roof construction for Wm Davis – Cradley Heath Care Home – for Midland Heart
A stunning new project in the heart of the Midlands has been built to provide stylish residential accommodation featuring a distinctive shallow domed roof fashioned using prefabricated timber trusses supplied by a member of the Trussed Rafter Association.
Harlow Timber Systems undertook the £104K contract for Wm Davis at the Cradley Heath development on a supply-only basis. The site created 120, mainly two-bedroom apartments over a 3 storey development. Linking with communal facilities including a restaurant, shop and well-being facility. Surrounded by landscaped gardens and courtyards.
It also represents a challenging building project with a complex roof constructed using in excess of 800 timber trusses with around 160 differing profiles. Supplying the complete flat roof structure with 18mm plywood sheathing was required to achieve the roof profile. The roof when constructed spanned some 19m using three independent profiles to achieve the three required pitches across the building. All the profiles required a cantilever eaves detail; some trusses require double pitches to meet the building line.
Nicol Thomas Ltd, comments on the roof structure: "Timber trusses provided the ideal solution for this project and the trussed rafters were very flexible in responding to the curved roof over variable spans together with its inboard and outboard characteristics. Harlow Timber Systems provided invaluable support and knowledge throughout, particularly in the way they coordinated their design to reflect the combination of a warm roof system with a cold ventilated arrangement."
Harlow Timber Systems, which has headquarters in nearby Coalville, produces a wide range of truss solutions, specialising in bespoke-engineered roof structures for large commercial and industrial buildings. "Our in-house design team works closely with the architects, contractors and engineers to ensure we produce a workable solution to even the most challenging designs" comments David Stockill
Complex roof constructed by Harlow Timber Systems for Martha Trust
Posted: Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:56
An extra care scheme for the over 55s, Hampton Park Hereford is more than just a flagship venture for Martha Trust. It also represents a challenging building project with a complex roof constructed using in excess of 300 timber trusses supplied and fitted by TRA member, Harlow Timber Systems.
The plan of Hampton Park Hereford is circular. A single-storey building, housing one and two bedroom apartments, curves 270° to link with communal facilities which including a well-being facility. At the centre are landscaped gardens and courtyards.
Harlow Timber Systems was asked by B&K Structures, the building contractor for the multi million pound scheme, to devise a roof for the building removing various amounts of steel within the roof complex. Working with the engineer BSP Consulting, it was decided at an early stage to span the radii of the roof with timber trusses.
The roof is formed using dual, preformed mono-pitched trusses set out in a radial pattern on either side of a 2.5m wide flat roofed 'corridor' which accommodates sun pipes to allow daylight into the accommodation below. The trusses measure 8m and 7.5m respectively from external to internal wall plate; spandrel panels are incorporated alongside party-walls.
With the trusses fanning out from 300mm centres on the inner curve to 600mm centres on the outer curve, a key challenge was to bend the bracing to follow the shape of the roof. The external overhang of the eaves was cut short in specific areas allowing raised parapets and inboard gutters to form features of the external elevation. Internally the top-ends of service risers had to be fitted in between the trusses and other mechanical engineering equipment accommodated.
Special steel connectors and a central bracing guide provided support for the flat section in the centre of the roof where it served the same function of a ridge beam in a traditional pitched roof.
Although a very unusual design, this roof is not untypical of the sort of structures Harlow Timber Systems undertakes, says David. "We are asked to engineer complex roofs all the time" he says. "On most projects we spend time with the architects and clients to find a cost saving solution, as we did here. The large span girder on this project is a good example of the sort of structural solution we can provide".
Harlow Timber Systems receives Top award by David Wilson Homes
Posted: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:48
Harlow Timber Systems achieves top award from David Wilson Homes East Midlands - "Supplier of the Year award"
It is a testament to the staff and company that we have achieved this award. Providing the quality and service required by a national house builder such as David Wilson Homes.
This award has proved that Harlow Timber Systems can provided a quality product on time and on price.
The award is based on a quarterly review by the national house builder on all its suppliers and sub-contractors working on their the housing sites. Comments and reports from Buyers, Construction Directors, Site managers and Contracts Managers are formulated to provide a score.
Harlow Timber Systems also recieved awards for supplying products to NHBC Pride on Site awards - Seven David Wilson sites on total were awarded.
Harlow Timber Systems also achieved a quarter supplier award in the same period.
Congratulations to all at Harlow Timber Systems Ltd
Harlow Timber Systems Expands Design Team
Posted: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:00
Due to continued growth in the manufacture and supply of Timber roof Trusses, Harlow Timber Systems has expanded its Design Team by employing Mr Jared Gardiner. Jared, a keen graphic designer, is trained in Timber roof truss design and estimating, the design of the Easi Joist system (metal Web) and the fast growing Timber SMART ROOF construction sector of the business. He joins a team of three presently at the head office. His customer care skills will also provide our customer base with the service they require on site and office. Harlow Timber Systems welcomes Jared to the company.
