Oak Grove is an exclusive West London development situated in the urban district of Acton. The five contemporary properties exhibit impressive architectural features, demonstrating Clearview Homes’ attention to detail when it comes to brick elements. Designed and built to an exceptional standard, the end result is a stunning collaboration of both on-site and off-site building techniques. Recognising the benefits of off-site construction methods, Clearview Homes approached IG to design a practical solution for achieving six large brick slip apex lintels.
The Challenge
Clearview Homes’ Oak Grove development required six large prefabricated brick slip apex lintels on the Shaa Road development. The inclusion of the apex was an important element of the design, ensuring the development was in keeping with the existing gable-front properties on the street. IG designed an off-site solution to span the 3269mm opening, carefully considering the installation process to minimise the time period contractors were working at heights. IG received a consignment of the Wienerberger Downton Red brick type to ensure the off-site installation blended seamlessly with brickwork constructed on-site. The lintel section is 515mm in height, which equates to seven courses of brick bonded in a stretcher-bond pattern. The lintel also required a three course deep brick soffit to accommodate the recessed opening below and ensure that no structural steel was visible once built-in.
The Solution
The prefabricated brick slip apex lintels were delivered to site and simply lifted into position using a crane. The end bearing plates of the apex were built into the brickwork below, ensuring the installation was level and suitably bedded into mortar. Tapered brickwork was then built above the end bearing to fill the wedged section and facilitate a smooth transition into the apex. The mortar joints between brick slips were then pointed to ensure the seamless integration of the prefabricated component. A stone coping provided the perfect finishing touch to the apex arches. Mechanical fixings were required in order to secure the stone to the sloped steel lintel. IG designed a number of small angles to be tech screwed into the backing steel of the brick slip lintel, securing the coping via a dowel restraint into the stone. The effective combination of onsite and offsite building techniques demonstrates the benefits of modern building methods, streamlining the process and enabling quick assembly on site.
