Bridges

[skier-hughes]

Does anyone know of any companies that make ornamental bridges?

I'm considering having one across the Moat, but don't really know where to start looking, maybe W H Smiths magazine rack might be good.

It'll need to be a fair size, about 12m.

Graham

 

[Nemesis]

Wood or metal? Or a drawbridge...

Try garden bridges as a google search and there are plenty of companies. Of course you could have a masonry one built but that costs lots!

Or make one.

 

[skier-hughes]

Drawbridge would be good, but I think too expensive for what we require. Wood or Metal, that doesn't matter really.

Thanks for the prompt on the search, I'd tried all manner of things, but none gave me any meaningful returns.

Making one may not be an option for the size I think, I have no real structural engineer bits inside me, though a friend of mine was in charge of the "new" Severn Bridge, I could ask him now I think of it!!!!

Graham

 

[KN]

The company that supplied all our timber in wales make bridges.


http://www.oakuk.com/

Karen

 

[Nemesis]

The one pictured on that site when you click on bridges looks just like one we made!

The other one consists of two stone slabs.

Graham - is this foot access or vehicle?

 

[skier-hughes]

It's main purpose is to actually carry a std brown underground soil pipe from the paddock over the moat to the mains sewerage system. We are having a Caravan club CL site and need to provide a chemical toilet waste point.

Our two options are to fit a cess pit with it's ongoing costs for emptying or to get into the mains sewerage system.

I've always wanted a bridge across the moat, so it'd be killing two birds with one stone.

It would mainly be foot access, though it'd make a handy point for getting the ride on mower across to the paddock, but it would not be for main vehicle access like cars or horses etc.

I've been quoted £1500 to supply two steel girders to start making my own, but have found one place that'll make an arched bridge for £4000, just need to find someone who'll make a flat one.

I could cut down the old ash tree and then cut it in half as it lies across the moat :lol:

 

[Nemesis]

The girders sound useful - why not get a structural engineer to design one then make it yourself???

 

[skier-hughes]

Time mainly. I have so many other things I need to get done, in particular the kitchen needs finishing, that my list would never end and a good cooked meal at Xmas will be only possible if we go out

Graham

 

[Nemesis]

Food?

Bloody luxury!

No, I know what you mean, at times it's good to be able to get others to do the work.

 

[NT]

A steel pipe of the right dimensions could support itself.


NT

 

[Pford75]

Try http://www.thepastrecast.com/

 

[biffvernon]

I've been quoted £1500 to supply two steel girders

£1500 :!: :!: :!:

Use oak beams at a small fraction of that price. I'd make you one but I don't think it would fit in my van

Haven't you got a father-in-law or something with a saw and chisel? Two six inch square geen oak beams and a load of 2 inch thick boards should do the trick, plus some 2 by 2s for handrails and such like.

 

[skier-hughes]

Do you think six by six would be big enough?

My father in law has a saw but 35' long pieces might be a bit heavy for him to carry round!!!!

What weight would oak be per metre at 6"x6"?

 

[chuckey]

I reckon 6 X 6 beams would a, sag under their own weight and b, would deflect alarmingly when traversed by a person. My gut feeling is 12 X4s (3). To just carry the sewer pipe a bent steel pipe would be the cheapest option but even that will require substantial footings.
No point in re-inventing the wheel do some reasearch into parks/castles and the such like and see what they have used.
Bit O.T. I once helped a friend cover a culvert with a bridge so he could park his caravan on this wasted space. The culvert was about 8' deep and 12' across. The "bridge he used was set of ex-platform staircases, each about 16' long and 5 ' across. These were laid on paving stones at each end and finally covered with even more paving stones.
Now you can not even tell that there is a b****y great culvert down the side of the house and across the front garden. That is until you try to park your 2 1/2 ton 4 X 4 on the parking place!
Frank

 

[NT]

Why not use the sagulator to work out what size timber you'd need.

White oak 6x6 12m long + only 2kg/metre mean loading for the pipe gives 1 metre sag.
6x9 gives a foot sag
6x12 gives 5" sag.

Where did 2kg/metre come from? Assuming at most 1 or 2 flushes at a time, the contents of which would be distributed along the pipe to some extent. Assume WM and baths would drain gradually. Assume plastic pipe. With the weight of the beam I doubt larger loads would make much difference.

Ah... double the load gives double the sag, so presumably its not taking beam weight into account. In which case the deflections given sound very unlikely to my nonexpert eye.

http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm


NT

 

[biffvernon]

Ah I didn't notice that you mentioned 12m. Is that the actual span?

 

[skier-hughes]

That'll be about it, but would include approx 1m each side for support, so the open span would be about 10m.

Graham

 

[biffvernon]

Thought about a suspension? There are some fine period examples around the country. If it's not to carry vehicles it could be done quite cheaply.

 

[skier-hughes]

Its the amount of trees that would get in the way.

I'll await the replies to three emails I've sent off asking for more info and quotes adn see where that gets me.

Graham

 

[chuckey]

It would look terrible, but the cheapest option would be to have a mini suspension bridge, two stubby towers, 3" X 3" X 3m high RSJs set in 2 m^2 footing with a stainless steel catanary wire with loops holding the pipe, other then some thin stainless load spreaders on the loops, the pipe could be left "naked".
To you Gov, £500 cash.
Frank