Paddy Engineering Consultant

When deciding if becoming a civil engineer is the best career path it is best to fully understand what do civil engineers do, exactly. A civil engineer is the person who is a part of the design, implementation and maintenance of public works. In other words, this encompasses structures and facilities such as transportation routes, government buildings, water treatment/sewage and other areas such as arenas and large scale monuments. Civil engineers can work for either the actual city or for a private firm that is hired by the city. As a civil engineer, a person will work closely with architects and construction firms to realize the ideas of government officials, chief executives and other such persons or cities. You might also be interested on how to be a civil engineer. What Does a Civil Engineer Do – Responsibilities Duties that civil engineers will tackle in their day to day activities include both consulting services and construction services. It is one of the broadest fields of...

The entire work stages of survey operation in civil engineering may be divided into the following three stages: 1. Field work 2. Office work 3. Care and adjustment of instruments Field Work The field work consists of the measurement of all the necessary horizontal and vertical distances, horizontal and vertical angles, elevations, etc. and keeping a systematic record of what has been done in a field book. Field work is further subdivided into (i) reconnaissance (ii) field measurements or observations (iii) field record. Reconnaissance During reconnaissance, the surveyor examines the area to be surveyed in order to know how the survey work can be performed in the best possible ways. He will fix a number of stations to establish a system of horizontal controls. He will also make a rough sketch of the area showing the stations and some permanent features including the north line. The sketch is not prepared according to scale, but it should represent the approximate positions...

Why to do Building Planning? Planning in construction is the first thing to do. Proper orientation, healthy, beautiful, economical etc are our targets to achieve by planning building construction or any other construction work. Principles of Building Planning When we first start to plan a new building construction work to begin we definitely need to remember some basic principles of building planning. Some of the basic principles of planning of a building construction are given below. 1. An engineer or architect should prepare the building plan according to the demand, economic status & taste of the owner and also the purpose of the building is to be built whether residential, commercial etc. 2. The design of the building should be compatible with the surrounding structures & the weather. 3. Sufficient air and sunlight should be allowed to the building for healthy building environment. 4. Privacy must be maintained especially in residential building planning. 5. Pro...

Excavating a swimming pool takes a lot of work, heavy machinery and knowledge of how to excavate a pool. Most people will hire a professional to complete the pool excavation. When hiring a pool excavator be sure to thoroughly check their business out and make sure that they possess the right credentials. Swimming Pool Excavation: Step by Step Guide Before starting pool excavation, you should know what you are doing and if it is the right process. So here are step by step procedure described below to give you a clear idea about pool excavation process. Step 1: Permits and Permission Prior to beginning the excavation acquire all necessary permits from your county to ensure that you are in compliance. If you will be encroaching upon a neighbor’s property or you need to use part of their property to access the area for the pool, be sure to get their permission first. It is always best to get written permission. Post all permits prior to starting any work. Step 2: Underground Cab...

From natural materials like slate and wood to man-made products such as asphalt, sheet metal, and plastic polymers; there are more types and styles of roofing to choose from today than ever before. While each has its advantages and shortcomings, they all can add a distinctive design element to your home. So which one is right for you? What to Look for in a Roof There are many factors to consider when selecting a roof including: How long will it last? Does it hold up during natural disasters such as wildfires or hurricanes? Is it too heavy for the existing roof framing? Does the roof have enough slope? Will the look complement the style of the house? Are the materials eco-friendly and recyclable? Is the type of roofing allowed by local building codes? And finally, how much does it cost? Pros and Cons Some types of roofing may be better suited for your house than others. Factors such as the slope of the roof and strength of the framing could limit your choices. In areas ...

For this job, you will need: 50mm x 50mm x 600mm stakes 50mm x 25mm battening 65mm lost head nails 2 x 30M tapes A 3M steel tape A ball of white string or string line A bag of lime A club hammer A claw hammer A saw A calculator A pencil The Building Plan STRIP any vegetation away from the site of the proposed building. Study the plans for fixed points from which you can measure, such as the boundary. Measure the distance on the plan to these fixed points and put up a string line between two stakes set beyond the proposed building. Using the external dimensions of the proposed structure, put a stake in at the first corner of the building and tack a nail in the top, leaving it proud by about 25mm. Hook one of the long tapes on to that nail and measure out the length of the first wall along the string line to a second stake. Bang it in, checking it for position and upright as you go. Carefully measure and put a proud nail in the top. Many builders use a 3:4:5 triangulat...

Be gentle with your decorating scheme. Try cooling neutrals on bedroom walls, floors and windows to provide a backdrop on which to build a decorative look. Then bring in accessories, such as bed linen, cushions, rugs and wall art, that will introduce decorative themes or trends and colour and pattern. Plan your bedroom look and layout In a master bedroom, you will need to assess the space you have and work out a plan for positioning furniture. If you are lucky enough to have an en-suite bathroom or a dressing room you may be able to move some bedroom storage elements into those rooms, freeing up your bedroom to the simplest of layouts. Center the bed to allow you to have a bedside table and reading lamp on either side. Before placing other furniture think about how you will use the room. Keep in mind that you will need space for dressing and undressing. Will you and your partner be able to move around easily with full access to storage even when cupboard doors or drawers are open...

In the last 10 years, homes with rooftop solar arrays have gone from curiosity to commonplace. It's a trend perhaps best exemplified by Home Depot's decision to start stocking solar panels in 2001 [source: DOE]. The technology has been available for decades -- NASA has been using solar-powered satellites since the 1960s, and as far back as World War II, passive solar heating systems (which turn solar energy into heat instead of electricity) have been used in U.S. homes [sources: Southface, DOE]. Getting active solar systems in the mainstream residential market has proved a challenge, though. Active solar power uses arrays of photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity, and it has traditionally been a prohibitively expensive technology. The benefits of residential solar power are obvious: Energy from the sun is endless (at least for the next 5 billion years, give or take); it provides clean energy with no greenhouse-gas emissions; and it can save people ...

LIGHTING AND VENTILATION OF ROOMS a) Rooms: Every habitable room which should have for the admission of air and light, one or more apertures such as windows and fanlights, opening directly to the external air or into an open verandah and of an aggregate area, inclusive of frames, of not les than i. One-tenth of the floor area excluding doors for dry hot climate. ii. One-sixth of the floor area excluding doors for wet/hot climate. No portion of a room should be assumed as lighted if is more than 7.5m away from the door or window which is taken for calculation as ventilating that portion. Cross-ventilation by means of windows and ventilators or both shall be effected in at least living room of tenement either by means of windows in opposite walls or if this is not possible or advisable, then atleast in the adjoining walls. b) Bathrooms and water closets: The rooms should be provided with natural light and permanent ventilation by one of the following means: i. Windows ha...

One of the requirements of the building is that it should be dry. Dampness in a building may occur due to bad design, faulty construction and use of poor quality of materials. Dampness not only affects the life of the building but also creates unhygienic conditions of the important items of work in the construction of a building. The treatment given to prevent leakage of water from roof is generally termed as water proofing whereas the treatment given to keep the walls, floors and basement dry is termed as damp proofing. DEFECTS OF DAMPNESS IN BUILDINGS: The various defects caused by dampness to building may be summarized as under: 1 It causes efflorescence which may ultimately result in disintegration of bricks, stones, tiles etc. 2 It may result in softening and crumbling of plaster. 3 It may cause bleaching and flaking of paint with the formation of coloured patches. 4 It may result in the warping, buckling and rotting of timber. 5 It may lead to the corrosion of metals. ...

Causes of Cracks in concrete structures: The principal causes of occurrence of cracks in a building are as follows: 1. Permeability of concrete. As deterioration process in concrete begins with penetration of various aggressive agents, low permeability is the key to its durability. Concrete permeability is controlled by factors like water-cement ratio, degree of hydration/curing, air voids due to deficient compaction, micro-cracks due to loading and cyclic exposure to thermal variations. The first three are allied to the concrete strength as well. The permeability of cement paste is a function of water-cement ratio given good quality materials, satisfactory proportioning and good construction practice; the permeability of the concrete is a direct function of the porosity and interconnection of pores of the cement paste. 2. Thermal movement: Thermal movement is one of the most potent causes of cracking in buildings. All materials more or less expand on heating and contract on ...

The green building concept is gaining importance in various countries. These are buildings that ensure that waste is minimized at every stage during the construction and operation of the building, resulting in low costs according to the experts in the technology. Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and natural environment by: Efficiently using energy, water and other resources. Protecting occupant’s health and improving employee productivity. Reducing waste, pollution and environment degradation. Following examples can be considered for green buildings: Green buildings may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction (e.g., reused, recycled content, or made from renewable resources). Create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants (e.g., reduced product emissions). And feature landscaping that reduce water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering). A green b...

Damp proof course (DPC) is a barrier of impervious material built into a wall or pier to prevent moisture from moving to any part of the building. Following are the materials generally used for damp proofing of structures: 1) Flexible Materials: The materials, which do not crack and deform their shape when subjected to loading, are called Flexible Materials a) Bitumen Mastic (Mastic Asphalt) It consists of asphalt or bitumen mixed with fine sand in hot state to form an impervious mass. Due to this consistency it can be spread (when hot) to a depth of 2.5cm to 5cm, which sets on cooling. It provides good impervious layer but special care is needed in its laying. b) Bitumen Felts (Sheets): It consists of 6mm thick sheet of bitumen prepared in rolls having width equal to that of brick wall. c) Hot laid Bitumen: This material is used on a bedding of cement concrete or mortar. This should be applied in two layers at the rate of 1.75kg/m2 of the area. d) Metal Sheets: M...

Materials for Damp Proof Course (DPC): An effective damp proofing material should have the following properties; 1.It should be impervious. 2 It should be strong and durable, and should be capable of withstanding both dead as well as live loads without damage. 3 It should be dimensionally stable. 4 It should be free from deliquescent salts like sulphates, chlorides and nitrates. The materials commonly used to check dampness can be divided into the following three categories: 1 Flexible Materials: Materials like bitumen felts (which may be hessian based or fibre/glass fibre based), plastic sheeting (polythene sheets) etc. 2 Semi-rigid Materials: Materials like mastic, asphalt, or combination of materials or layers. 3 Rigid Materials: Materials like first class bricks, stones, slate, cement concrete etc. SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR DAMP PROOF COURSE: The choice of material to function as an effective damp proof course requires a judicious selection. It depends upon the cl...

There can be many defects in bricks. Identifying defective bricks is important for the consideration of stability and durability of load bearing brick masonry walls and structures. Following are the defects found in bricks: 1. Over-burning of bricks: Bricks should be burned at temperatures at which incipient, complete and viscous vitrification occur. However, if the bricks are overburnt, a soft molten mass is produced and the bricks loose their shape. Such bricks are not used for construction works. 2. Under-burning of bricks:When bricks are not burnt to cause complete vitrification, the clay is not softened because of insufficient heat and the pores are not closed. This results in higher degree of water absorption and less compressive strength. Such bricks are not recommended for construction works. 3. Bloating: This defect observed as spongy swollen mass over the surface of burned bricks is caused due to the presence of excess carbonaceous matter and sulphur in brick-clay. B...

Deep foundations are those where the depth of foundation is generally greater than two times of width of footing (D = 2B). Deep foundations are required due to various reasons. The soil tests required for deep foundations are: 1. While the composition and depth of the bearing layer for shallow foundations may vary from one site to another, most pile foundations in a locally encounter similar deposits. Since pile capacity based on soil parameters is not as reliable from load tests, as a first step it is essential to obtain full information on the type, size, length and capacity of piles (including details of load – settlement graph) generally adopted in the locality. Correlation of soil characteristics (from soil investigation reports) and corresponding load tests (from actual projects constructed) is essential to decide the type of soil tests to be preformed and to make a reasonable recommendation for the type, size, length and capacity of piles since most formulae are empirical. ...

It cannot be denied that bedroom plays a huge room inside the home. Warm colors enhances the quality of your sleep, we need it everyday to heal our tiredness. You will agree with me that colors of the bedroom can change and enhance the ambience e and nuance of the bedroom.

How RED can you go? It might be the first question that you need to answer. Decide on how much RED you want fitted in your kitchen. There are various shades of Red around, it depends on your taste and the type of kitchen you want to create. If this is your favorite, add your comment.