Merseyside Civil Engineering and Ground works Specialist Expand the use of FP McCann’s ‘L’ Wall

Project: New Housing Devlopment Bernets Nook, Blackburn Lancashire

Client: Barratt Homes

Civil Engineering/Groundworks: Eurogold Groundworks & Civil Engineering Contractors

Products Supplied: Precast concrete reinforced ‘L’ walls 2.0m, 2.5m & 3.0m high

Liverpool based Eurogold Groundworks & Civil Engineering Contractors has further demonstrated the flexibility of FP McCann’s popular precast concrete ‘L’ Walls on a new housing development in Blackburn, Lancashire. As well as recognising the significant benefits the walling system can offer in earth retaining works, the most recent addition to the units is a contractor lead application of a tied decorative facing brick finish, adding an aesthetic look to the otherwise plain concrete faces.

Surrounded by countryside and many natural features including dry stone walls the Barratt Homes Bernets Nook development consists of 3 ,4 and 5 bedroom houses With changes in land elevation on the site, there is a significant requirement for earth retaining walls. Various in-situ wall options were considered by both the Barratt Homes engineers and Eurogold Groundworks & Civil Engineering Contractors, but the benefits of using FP McCann’s off-site manufactured reinforced precast concrete ‘L’ Wall system, far outweighed other engineering solutions.

The ‘L’ wall method of earth retention/boundary formation is a simple, fast process and eliminates the need for conventional brickwork or shuttering, steel foundation formwork and the pouring of wet concrete. An additional benefit of the ‘L’ Wall system is that no propping is required during construction.

The precast concrete wall acts as a soil retention barrier and once fixed into position on a concrete foundation slab, earth is backed up against the ‘L Walls’ as part of the raised ground levelling work. Eurogold Groundworks & Civil Engineering Contractors has to date installed some 43 linear metres of walling comprising 2.0m, 2.5m & 3.0m high units.

The addition of the tied brick wall to the concrete ‘L’ Wall units themselves provides a more aesthetically pleasing finish that complements both the brickwork on the houses as well as the natural stone walls visible from the development. The simple method of attaching steel tie battens to the concrete faces along with the steel tie bars themselves, provides for brick coverage that is a quick and easy process.

The brick and reinforced precast concrete ‘L’ Wall combination offers a long-lasting no maintenance earth retention boundary wall. Speed of construction is a major benefit of the ‘L’ Wall system. The off-site wet casting of the reinforced concrete ‘L’ Walls ensures a consistent factory finish.

Commenting on the earth retention ‘L’ Walls in place and the addition of the tied brick face finish, Glenn Kitchener, Quantity Surveyor for Eurogold Groundworks & Civil Engineering Contractors says, “The precast concrete units are a simple, durable and cost efficient means of creating an earth retaining wall, allowing us to work confidently with elevation changes on site. In the case of the Bernets Nook development, we have also successfully covered the exposed faces of the wall with a more aesthetically pleasing and complementary facing brick, demonstrating another key benefit of the uniform factory finish”.

FP McCann’s brick slip ‘L’ Walls are available in heights 1.0m to 3.5 m and in lengths 1.0m to 4.0m (height dependant). Standard precast concrete ‘L’ Wall units are available in heights from 4.0m to 6.0m

For further information on FP McCann’s walling solutions, contact JAMES HODGSON 07753 415817 | sales@fpmccann.co.uk