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Hi all, Been a while. I have been removing a lot of caulk from our old front door porch tiles. Have no idea why this was ever done, but my problem now. These tiles had been painted over many times, but I've done my best to wire brush and clean them. Before painting, I want to seal them to bond...

Well that makes sense... :-) BUT is this really likely in sw London?

Hi guys, Bought a water pressure test gauge, but as I turn the tap on, it rockets to the max 4 bar of pressure. Is there a trick to using them? What about the air you would inevitably get in the connection hose? Do you need to leave it to settle? Any advice appreciated, otherwise I'll try...

Thanks Nick, I appreciate your advice. Can I just check, but when you say concrete screed, are you referring to a dry ish mix floor screed, or a wetter mix of conrete (perhaps cement and sharp sand only?) Guess if I go wetter, then I'd need to contain it with boards. I just wonder if a...

Hi guys, I have a very old garage/shed on top of what must be a very old concrete slab. The slab appears to have been poured in 2 parts and I think is not very level. Either way it is solid. I now want to rebuild the structure as a timber frame workshop. I'd really like to extend it on...

Hi Big all, The width is 3.5m from back wall to front wall, which I mentioned with regard to the roof joist span. The length is variable and an odd shape, but essentially 6m. This shouldn't matter I wouldn't have thought, as nothing spans the length. Aron, personally I haven't heard of...

Thanks Aron, Fair point, I'm sure there are loads of variables in my choices, I was just after some advise and guidance. Thanks. When you refer to a fgloating insulated floor. Do you mean insulating my slab? It sounds like you mean joists with insulation between them, but that is what I...

Hi Guys, Been a while since I’ve used the forum, hoping it’s is helpful is it was when I did my renovations. I am about to build a summer house/garden shed at the bottom of the garden. Plan to stay within the permitted allowances to avoid planning permission, and personally feel that 2.5m...

Hi guys, About to render the outside if the chimney stack... Sharp sand, building sand or plastering sand? Also just curios, but I've relaid the pots and done some base repair using sharp sand. This is quite a grey mix when dry. I wouldn't want the outside of the stack to look like this...

No expert, but I know that the risk of vermiculite is it absorbs water if untreated. It is frequently used in chimneys around flue liners as additional insulation, but it's also known that if it get's wet, it holds the water and will slowly release this into any walls it is in contact with.

Hi guys, Any advice on SBR application. Used it before just mixed with cement powder to form a bond agent beneath paving. Now about to render the top and sides of a chimney stack. Is it best to simply paint it on the surface before rendering or should I actually mix it into the render mix...

Anyone?

Hi guys, Sorry I have a couple of questions I could do with some reassurance on. About to do some repair to our chimney stack which sits on the ridge and is shared with the neighbours. Common sense would have been to render both sides, but the neighbours don't want to spend the money. So I'll...

Okay, just run the test described above. Pressure definitely increased, but as it's not a digital pressure gauge, I can't be certain how much it's increased by. Still in the mid grey section... I feel I need to locate any lost water if that's possible?

Thanks I'll do that. I don't have a digital pressure gauge, it's just a fuel gauge type thing. I assume I can look for a pressure increase on that. If the expansion vessel is a problem, where would the water be lost through? The same pipe as the condensation leaves from? It must be a fair...

Hi guys, Before I get an engineer over, our vailant which is about 3 yrs old is loosing pressure on and off. It can be as much as 3 weeks while away on holiday, but since we've been back and using central heating possibly once or twice a week. Desperately hoping it's not under the floor on...

Richard, thanks for the concern and I wish I owned both houses, but not so lucky. Yes, this is part of a 7 month process to get approval for the alley gate. For those who don't know, there is a national alley gate scheme/fund, where your council will pay for 45% of the cost of an alley gate...

Thanks guys, Bought some of these wall bolts yesterday, albeit slightly shorter for a 3x4 compromise on the timber. Was fidling with the bolts last night while watchign tv and just wondering. If the drill hole through the timber is not bigger then the bolt (i.e. a slight gaps around it)...

Maybe 4x4 or even compromise on a 3x4.... fixings are still the main question please...

Hi Guys, Just curious what the professionals would advise to use to attach gate posts to walls for an alley gate. About to start building a decent spec timber gate. Intention is to build the frame from 2x4 and 2x2 and clad the front with something like gravel boards or a smooth planned...