Porch Rebuild — Legal Disrepair

The Defect

The entrance porch to an occupied property was failing. The footings had gone, and the structure could not be economically patched or propped — the porch was taken down and rebuilt from the ground up, including new foundations, new brickwork, a new roof structure and a new threshold.

The instruction arrived through a legal disrepair claim. That changes the standard of the work: what is built has to be right, and what was found and done has to be evidenced.

Scope of Works

• Existing porch structure carefully demolished; materials segregated and removed.
• New footings excavated and cast.
• Porch rebuilt in facing brickwork to match the existing elevation, tied into the host wall with stainless steel starter ties.
• New lintel installed over the opening.
• New roof structure formed, felted, battened and tiled to match the existing roof covering.
• New fascia, soffit, dry verge and rainwater goods.
• New threshold and step formed in block paving with a natural stone tread, laid to fall.
• Resident access to the front door maintained or safely managed throughout.

Working an Occupied Disrepair Case

This was the resident’s front door. It could not simply be closed off for the duration. Works were sequenced so the property remained secure and accessible, the site was made safe at the end of each day, and the household was kept informed of what was happening and when.