Tag Archives: hardwood

concrete beam removing inside a room

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Concrete beam removing inside a room

Concrete beam removing inside a room  We carry out this type of work all the time because our clients want more headroom in the ground floor of their homes or because the concrete beam was poorly constructed and they are unsure how strong it is. We also remove, lift up and reposition wooden beams in this case supporting a first floor.

concrete beam removing inside a roomwooden beam removing inside a room
The fist step is to look at the condition of the walls that the beam is currently resting on and were its going to be resting. If these walls are not sound do not attempt to remove or reposition the beam without making the sound and waiting for the cement and concrete to dry sufficiently so that its structurally sound.
Weight is your biggest enemy. If a beam was to break or fall during the move it could easily bring the support walls down on top of you. NB: many demolition contractors are killed every year by just such an occurrence. No hard had will save you in this type of accident.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/jake-weir-builder-miracle-escape-from-collapse-building-video-115719313.html#3hmiU3G

Support everything, move slowly don’t be tempted to drop things to the floor if you want to  stay safe.
Remove all the weight off the beam before attempting to move or remove it.
Use sufficient numbers of adjustable props to take the weight of the beam. Clear space in the supporting wall so that the beam can be lifted.
Move the beam with the props very slowly and keep it level at all times.
This is not a one man job and should never be attempted by the inexperienced
raise the beam above the final resting position so that a solid foundation can be created to spread the load of the beam and the weight that it will be supporting.
Once the beams foundation is set and cured. slowly lower the beam to its new position and piece it into the walls.

concrete beam removing inside a room floor replaced
Do not start putting weight on the beam until it is firmly set into its new position.
Or you can save yourself the stress, probable hernia and worry by calling Castelo Construction Lda

SKYPE casteloconstruction        Phone 00351 967922513

Apartado 42, Santa Eufemia, 3230- 207 PENELA, Portugal

For information on what we do go to www.casteloconstruction.com

concrete beam removing inside a room

English speaking stone house builder in Portugal

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English speaking stone house builder in Portugal

Looking for a English speaking stone house builder in Portugal

You may have found the perfect house in Portugal, perfect except that you may want to make some changes or remodeling or extension or perhaps building an outside dining area that fits in with the overall look and style of your old stone house.
You may not know the names of the masons techniques to be used particularly in Portuguese but you want the new work to blend in well with the existing ancient stone walls. Worry not ! our masons produce work that they are proud of and that you will be amazed by.

For someone trying to have work carried out on your property in Portugal it can be ultra stressful and emotional for three main reasons.
1, Communication, lack of and making yourself understood. How to describe what you want. Especially if you are not here all the time.
2, Cultural difference, expectations that you have will not be matched by your Portuguese counterpart.
3, Understanding local construction methods, practices and materials.
These three heart attack inducing areas can be removed by working with a building company like Castelo Construction Lda. www.casteloconstruction.com
Our teams are very experienced Portuguese builders who understand that we expect different things from them than their usual Portuguese clients. They are used to using the latest building techniques and build to a superb level of finish.
Despite their initial fears of having to repeat them selves several times to be better understood they find that they are dealing with a highly experienced and qualified builder who can translate there wishes to the craftsmen and manage the process to completion,
When you work with us do not spend too much time getting bogged down with learning everything there is to know about construction or the Portuguese language because you will not learn it all and it will be frustrating carrying a phrasebook around with you.
It is far more beneficial to collect together an ideas scrapbook so that you can help us understand the type of space, finishing, features that you like. These can be quickly understood and transferred in your new home.
Obviously it’s a big decision having work done in Portugal and not being there to supervise. Contact us john@casteloconstruction.com to talk about your project we can share with you some of our excellent references and give you competitive quotations for any construction work that you may require.

 

English speaking stone house builder in Portugal

English speaking builders central Portugal

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English speaking builders, architects and engineers in central Portugal


Looking for an English speaking builder in central Portugal ?

We have all heard the quote from George Bernard Shaw “England and America are two countries divided by a common language”. Even though we speak basically the same language people sometimes have trouble understanding one other. The actual words used are not the issue its the context that they are used in and also the expectations that have been built up in our minds by our backgrounds, upbringing and education.
When I get frustrated with the way things are handled here by the government-run organizations and utilities I always think back to the famous quote from The Wizard of Oz film from 1939.
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
This helps me to recalibrate my attitude, expectations, patience threshold and a few other blood pressure raising traits that we bring from northern Europe.
For someone like you trying to have work carried out on your property in Portugal it can be ultra stressful and emotional for three main reasons.
1, Communication, lack of and making yourself understood. How to describe what you want. Especially if you are not here all the time.
2, Cultural difference, expectations that you have will not be matched by your Portuguese counterpart.
3, Understanding local construction methods, practices and materials.
These three heart attack inducing areas can be removed by working with a building company like Castelo Construction Lda.      www.casteloconstruction.com
Our teams are very experienced Portuguese builders who understand that we expect different things from them than their usual Portuguese clients. They are used to using the latest building techniques and build to a superb level of finish.
Our clients, despite their initial fears of having to repeat them selves several times to be better understood they find that they are dealing with a highly experienced and qualified builder who can translate their wishes to the craftsmen and manage the process professionally  to completion.
When you work with us do not spend too much time getting bogged down with learning everything there is to know about construction or the Portuguese language because you will not learn it all and it will be frustrating carrying a phrasebook around with you.
It is far more benifisial to collect together what is often called a “mood board” or “ideas scrapbook” so that you can help us understand the type of space, fininshing, features that you like. These can be quickly understood and transferred into your new home.
Obviously its a big decision having work done in Portugal and not being there to supervise. Contact  john@casteloconstruction.com to talk about your project.  We can share with you some of our excelent references and give you competative quotations for any construction work that you may require.

Castelo Construction work throughout Portugal

 

English speaking builders central Portugal

pellets central heating in portugal

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pellets central heating in portugal

Pellets central heating in portugal is not something that you think of much when buying a property here. Its more likely that you are thinking of good food, low cost wine and beautiful countryside and beaches. However once the Autumn nights are upon us and you are spending more time indoors. Thoughts of  heating your home cost effectively come to the fore. You may not have had or used a pellet fired central heating system before so they can be a little confusing to help you heres a little Q&A.
pellets central heating in portugal
How much heat can I expect to get out of a pellet fire or boiler. Only slightly less that an equivalent capacity wood burner.
Are pellets available locally and cheaply – Yes to both, Portugal makes wood pellets
Do the fires make more  noise than a log fire. Yes they do make a whirring noise as the pellets are fed into the fire. It can be a little annoying if you are reading quietly but its a lot better than having to get up, go out and load up logs in the winter or rain.
Do you have to have a flue or chimney with a pellet fire. Yes treat then just like a log burner. You need an appropriate chimney and ash disposal.
Whats an appropriate chimney. Each stove has a different width of flue pipe that it needs. Don be tempted to reduce this width. Install a flue damper and ensure that your chimney is above the roof tiles at the correct height. There is lots of advice  available on the internet about this or follow the stoves installation manual.
These stoves are very heavy and the flues high so allow 250 Euros or an installation of a pellet burner in Portugal.

pellets central heating in portugal

Borax

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Borax

Borax . If you’re looking for an ecological way to treat timber and kill wood worm in Portugal you have come to the right place. We use borax and a range of other solutions to prevent and destroy wood worm. Borax is often described as a safe chemical for home use. It is still a chemical and should be treated with care especially during application. Our teams wear full chemical resistant suits, gloves and specialist full face vapor poof masks when applying the treatment.
Borax sodium tetraborate decahydrate (to use its full name) solution is sprayed onto all timer surfaces at very high pressure this ensures a thorough coverage and forces the treatment to access all the holes and crevices that brushing or aerosols just cant reach.

Borax A
It’s important to note that every area that you leave untreated is an area were the wood worm problem will persist and spread. Even the most focused DIY wood worm treatment will not be as complete as our professional service.

Borax

Borax

Timber “A” is a cut through section of the timber above. Its placed next to a section of normal timber for comparison.
For information on how we can help you and what options there are for your wood worm problem go to http://www.casteloconstruction.com/
Email woodworm@casteloconstruction.com

Phone 00351 967922513 or SKYPE casteloconstruction
Apartado 42, Santa Eufemia, 3230- 207 PENELA, Portugal borax

First floor deck or veranda

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First floor deck or veranda

Occasionally people want to take advantage of views only accessible from the first floor of their home. You could build a solid structure first floor deck or veranda in concrete or concrete or wood if you have the money and planning permission or you can build in timber.

First floor deck or verandaor vera

nda

First floor decks can build in timber. which docent normally require planning permission. These decks can be very effective and large enough to position a large dinning table for entertaining or sun loungers for sun bathing and relaxing

 

 

Depending upon the location and early morning sun they are ideal breakfast ares when placed outside a bedroom First floor deck

 

deck 7deck 9deck 3contact Castelo Construction for advise on installing a first floor deck or veranda

www.casteloconstruction.com

info@castelocconstruction.com

SKYPE  CASTELO

First floor deck or veranda

reclamationportugal@gmail.com

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reclamationportugal@gmail.com

Reclamation in Portugal does not mean that you have to compromise.  If you are refurbishing one of Portugal’s rural gems or even a grand Solar ( Portuguese manor house) there are many items that you can source if you know where to look.  For instance Email reclamationportugal@gmail.com We have doors, window shutters, windows in many cases with original hand made glass still in place, joists and structural beams we even have some ancient stone troughs which make fabulous planters . Occasionally we come across the traditional farm house dressers with the large bottom shelf for  olive oil pots. All our recycled timber is treated with wood worm killer.

reclamationportugal@gmail.com
Interesting stone features such as window frames, door frames and lintels are not the only items that we have from the past.  We have the old stones that that were once used to tie a donkey or oxcart up to
What about the stone that spans your front or back door usually known as a thresh stone or “thresh hold”. Its nice to use a smooth worn piece of stone so that its nice and smooth underfoot and  gives a house a more homely feel and appearance. Aged timber can also be cut down into new dimensions and used to make furniture or design features that will be very dimensionally stable as the timber is aged and will not bow, split or warp.
Iron mongers or door furniture as its called today can be very attractive and thankfully replicated by local blacksmiths  so that you can equip those parts of your house were items have been previously removed in a modernization. Thank god Portugal didn’t adopt hardboard !

If you want to recapture  the warmth and traditional aspects of an old property you can use the old clay roof tiles to great effect. They can now be laid so that they are weatherproof and an attractive providing a lived in option to mass produced clay tiles.
Email    reclamationportugal@gmail.com

Reclamation Portugal

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Reclamation Portugal

If you are looking for a buildings materials recovery facility, building materials reclamation facility or building materials recycling facility call it what you will. Reclamation Portugal is a service offering materials or architectural features to use in your Portuguese refurbishment.

contact     reclamationportugal@gmail.com

Reclamation in  Portugal is a specialized task that receives and prepares recyclable materials previously used in construction.

old front door

reclamation Portugal

Generally, there are two different types of reclaimed building materials. Period decorative and Period structural.

Period decorative includes items such as external and internal wooden doors, door frames, windows, window shutters, wood paneling, flooring, old marble, old hand painted tiles.stone planters, wrought ironwork and ox drawn carts.

reclamation Portugal

old door furniture

reclaimed refurbished door furniture

 

Period structural includes items such as wooden lintels, structural timber beams,oak joists, chestnut beams, stone details, stone stairs, door frames and pillars. carved stone work, roman roof tiles and wood fired ovens.

reclamation portugal

a reused old stone door frame

reclaimed chestnut salvaged chestnut

reclaimed portugal

Second hand building & roofing material and reclamation building materials are also ideal for sustainable green building with reclaimed materials or just adding rustic accents to a refurbishment project.

The innovative use of reclaimed materials including old timbers,roof tiles and century-old beams can add real character to any construction project.

If you have specific items that you require please contact  reclamationportugal@gmail.com

Reclamation Portugal

 

wooden beams embedded in walls

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wooden beams embedded in walls

also see our other post on the subject http://www.casteloconstruction.info/2013/02/22/replacing-timber-beams/

wooden beams

wooden beams structural

Normally you don’t have to carry out any work on these large sectioned beams. They are usually made of hardwood such as Chestnut or Oak which is an ideal material unless that is, the walls supporting the beams are wet then you can have trouble.

sigmns of rot in wooden beams

wooden beams embedded in walls

As in this case a basement that has remained closed up for many years. The lack of ventilation made the amount of humidity in the air and the thick stone walls enough to promote and sustain wet rot mold. This was helped along by the previous infestation of wood worm which provided tunnels that the wet rot spores could travel along the wooden beams embedded in walls more quickly than usual.

timber beam

wood worm wet rot damage

 

 

wooden beams embedded in walls

dry rot in wooden beams embedded in walls

 

wooden beams embedded in walls

wooden beams embedded in walls

Some times remedial work is left too late.

the weight of the floors above proved too much for this wooden beam

wooden beams embedded in walls

Time to replace the old wooden beams embedded in walls.

 

moving wooden beams embedded in walls

How to replace wooden beams embedded in walls

If you are unsure about the strength of the wooden beams in your Portuguese house ask the experts info@casteloconstruction.com  www.casteloconstruction.com

timber support beams

wooden support beams

lightweight replacement beams

old beam replaced with new

Also check out  http://www.casteloconstruction.info/2013/02/22/replacing-timber-beams/

wooden beams embedded in walls

 

replacing timber beams

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 Replacing timber beams

 

Also check out http://www.casteloconstruction.info/2013/02/26/wooden-beams-embedded-in-walls/

Here is a recent horror story which fortunately has a happy ending.
As part of a major refurbishment project we had removed and replaced various joist and floor boards because of severe wood worm damage and wet rot. This is quite normal as we moved on through the property we replaced a joist and a supporting beam to allow more headroom in a confined area. The joist was quite badly eaten by wood worm but the large beam was sound. We just needed to make more headroom.
Having supported the floor which the beam was supporting with special adjustable props and braces we cut through the beam so that it could be replaced. Normally at this point you have to wrestle the ends that are fixed into the wall outwards so that you can remove them. Not in this case they just fell out under their own weight !

Basically 70% of the timber that was inside the stone walls was eaten away by wood worm and wet rot.

replacing timber beams

replacing timber beams

This was not visible from the exterior of the beam when it was in position. Where its only function was to look like a support beam as it wasn’t supporting anything.

replacing timber beams

replacing timber beams

We then decided to see the full extent of the problem and inspected the remaining support beams.This picture shows a fairly thick shafted screwdriver being used to probe the strength of the large structural timber beam.

replacing timber beams

replacing timber beams

This picture shows that with just a little hand pressure we were able to push the screwdriver fully into the beam. A real accident waiting to happen so this beam was also replaced. Fortunately there were only two badly effected beams and now that they are replaced the home owner can relax.

If you unsure about any part of the structure of your property including replacing timber beams its best to have it checked. If a problem is discovered advice on remedial action is free.

contact info@casteloconstruction.com to see some example of the work that we do go to www.casteloconstruction.com

To see how we replace structural beams go to  http://www.casteloconstruction.info/2013/02/26/wooden-beams-embedded-in-walls/

replacing timber beams