KEY PERSONNEL:
PROJECT CHALLENGES:
Design and works appropriate to heritage building from 1177; timber engineering
AWARDS:
RICS: Heritage Award (winner), 2020
Replacement of timber roof
The existing roof was not from the 1177 Norman castle, but leaks to this C20th element were damaging internal finishes and stone walls of the Great Keep. A decision was taken by NIEA to replace the roof and re-build it as originally constructed: open aspect green oak timber trusses with dowelled and pinned timber connections, oak sheathing boards and Cumbrian slates. The Irish oak used came from trees that fell during a 2017 winter storm.
TAYLOR+BOYD was employed to oversee the contractor-designed elements of the build and to provide structural input, including temporary works for an internal scaffolding frame used as a crash deck during the demolition of the existing flat roof; a GPS survey of existing walls; truss bearing levels; and structural timber checks on the design of a bespoke, timber-framed, trussed roof. Details for localised stonework support, wall plate fixing details onto the existing random rubble stone walls, stonework repairs and construction methodologies for making safe window openings were also carried out during the works.
