That which is old is always gold. And it’s a human urge to preserve it, protect it, and make it last till eternity. This is the case with every land that contains buildings of historic importance. The suburban district of Eltham is no exception.
The land homes a blend of medieval architecture and a great Tudor palace. There’s also a millionaire’s mansion that dates back to the 1930s. The centuries-old regalia still shines with all its glory. Needless to say, a great deal of effort and time has been dedicated to the preservation of the same.
Wondering What’s A Scaffold Got To Do With It?
Although paid little attention, these temporary works do matter when it comes to conservation of such buildings. They are the first step towards making them better.
The entire construction and repair work depends on their stability. If erected wrong, they could not only lead to the damage of the historic building, but also cost the workers their life.
How Does It Differ From Conserving A Non-Historic Building?
Here’s the cue: Although the work remains more or less the same, the difference lies in the potential results. A damage caused by an improper scaffold in a non-historic building can be corrected and reversed.
However, if the same occurs during the preservation of a historic building, it could be permanent; much of historic details could vanish or be scarred for a lifetime. Of course, both kinds of work should be carried out with utmost care.
Which Scaffold To Use And Which To Not?
Use Independent Tied Scaffolds. They come without any vertical support from the historic building. However, they are tied to the same for horizontal support. These are basically used for repainting and re-polishing tasks. Transoms and ledgers connect the different parts.
Don’t Use Putlog Scaffolds. They are generally erected away from the building front walls by a distance of 900mm. They get their name by dint of the horizontal putlogs that make them. They are unfit for such preservation tasks because there’s a lot of cutting holes and drilling involved to install the putlogs.
10 Important Features Such Scaffolds Should Have:
- Firm foundation on a level ground without undermining.
- Concentric props and standards.
- Minimised used of ties to prevent potential damage.
- Stainless steel fixtures so that the scaffold is safe from damage.
- Avoiding the use of split or decayed boards.
- Protected points of contact so that movement and scarring are limited.
- Use of galvanised metal to prevent rusting.
- High wind loading due to sheeting.
- Earthing to protect from lightening.
- Locking of ladders to keep away intruders.
Things To Keep In Mind While Using Scaffolding in Eltham For Preserving Historic Buildings
- Adequate Design: Scaffolding in Eltham, when used for the purpose, should come off a good designer. This is because the loads being shored would definitely pose a danger to the passersby. If the structure is not proper, the installation would never be proper as well, eventually leading to such hazards.
- Documentation: It should be available from the architect, structural engineer as well as the contractor appointed for the project. Remember, even the smallest element in the structure contributes to great functions, and specifically safety.
The work needs to be precise and done in a very, very cautious way. A historic building, once damaged, doesn’t stand a second chance. And only a proper scaffold can come to its rescue.
Scaffolding Services in Bromley, Beckenham & Eltham 