Recent content by hunbahubba

Thanks. In your experience what kind of risk am I running with a 60 year old system. Is the like a 50 50? 1 in 10? Once on a blue moon kind of thing?

My regular boiler has packed up and I'm weighing up replacing with a new regular boiler vs converting over to a combi. I'd prefer to go for the combi but my only worry is the risk of leaks on pressurising the system. Most of the pipework and radiators are from the 1960s. I've got nice tiled and...

Yes technically the steel will need to be specified by an engineer and building control approval will be needed. They'll probably want some form of fire protection over the steel so it will end up being encased

Speak to your architect but the best solution may be a system built wall finished in brick slips, making it possible to go much thinner than would be the case with a cavity wall while still meeting the required u value for building regs

This will essentially turn into a huge wet sponge in the middle of the wall, filled with interstitial condensation. Insulating and boarding over can work with a vapor barrier installed between the plasterboard and insulation, but bricking up is a better solution.

Did similar around 15 years ago. The inside of my left hand index finger still feels numb and tingly when I squeeze it

Don't stress too much about it while there is no 'safe' level of asbestos exposure the reality is there is a lot of asbestos around, it was worked with regularly by lots of people on the 60s 70s and 80s, many of who are still alive and kicking. Makes sense to test and be cautious if you have...

Assuming you are confident that the work has been carried out to spec (correct steels specified and installed etc) then the most likely cause is the structure not having been adequately propped. Some damage of this type is not unusual, but the extent of the cracking in your case is excessive...

Don't do it, it will leak, and it's just a question of how long until the underfelt rots away. Sandtoft 2020 can go down to 15 degrees with 100mm headlamp (in theory, but I wouldn't do it on my house!)