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I've had an extension built, and building control have spotted I've put some paving slabs over a couple of manhole covers for a drain that's shared with our neighbours. "Inspection chambers have to be accessible" according to the regulations I found. To be honest, I thought this was pretty...

Can anyone out there tell me where on earth I can buy a door lining kit that fits this configuration?(without having to chop it about). My CLS finished is about 63mm, plus 12mm plasterboard, plus a 3mm skim. That comes to 93mm. No door lining kits seem to be anywhere near that narrow. And the...

I've ordered and received cedar cladding from Ridgeons, along with some 3m lengths of 2by2 to trim the corners. Only problem is, I've found I actually need two more 3m lengths 2by2. Ridgeons say their supplier won't supply such a small quantity :-/ Where would you usually buy small...

This guide from Silva seems really useful, but it's not that specific: http://www.silvatimber.co.uk/media/pdfs/cladding/how-to-install-western-red-cedar-cladding.pdf It says: "Use high-performance acrylic-latex, acrylic, acrylic-silicone, polyurethane, polysulfide or terpolymer rubber...

I'm considering two options for screws for my garage's cedar cladding. Spax ones: http://www.screwfix.com/p/spax-single-thread-facade-screws-4-5-x-45mm-pack-of-200/1663f Regular ones...

I was hoping to spend Saturday afternoon and Sunday finishing off my garage. Is this weather definitely too cold? I have loads of DPM which I can use to cover it up at night...

I’m building a garage with a trussed roof. Trusses will be at 600mm centres. Slate covering. Rather than having the breathable felt underneath the slates exposed to the inside of the garage, I’m covering the trusses with OSB3, then putting felt on top of the OSB. I was worried I’d damage...

I’m about to order some trusses for my garage and the quotes have all come back for untreated timber. I’ve not done this before but I assumed they would be treated. I mean, it’ll take me a couple of days to get the roof watertight. The weather’s about to get a bit rubbish, so I’m wondering...

Anyone have any opinion on my planned blockwork layout for a garage wall? It's just a single skin garage wall. The blocks are 140mm wide, rather than 100mm so there shouldn't be any need for piers. I was slightly worried that it might be unstable due to the large amounts of windows and...

I’m about to pour my 4.7m wide garage slab, within a blockwork retaining wall. Can I level/tamp it down in a single section with a piece of wood (4.8/5.2m), or will a slab that wide require me to put something middle and tamp it in two sections? By that I mean just tamp it in two sections and...

I'm laying sand in my garage base before laying a DPM. I've not got enough sand to fill it until it's completely level, and I can't get any more until after I've given the compactor back. I can level it out around the old base, but that'll leave a step of about 50mm. 1. Am I going to be...

I'm about to start a garage using a 'bricky', and their website suggests a mortar mix including lime. Not many mortar mixes seem to include lime (as far as I can see). Is it really necessary, and what does it achieve? They don't explain why on the website. "Mortar Mix - 6 part building...

I'm covering my garage with Marley Thrutone. I was planning on using the 600x300mm version, but ridgeons quoted for 600x600, which I didn't actually know existed. http://www.marleyeternit.co.uk/roofing/slates/thrutone-fibre-cement-slate.aspx Would 600x600 slates be suitable for a...

I have a garage built from 3.5N lightweight Fibolight blocks. They’re medium density aggregate, rather than aerated concrete (AAC), but they’re “non-paint grade” blocks. How much of a disaster will it be if I attempt to paint the interior? (Exterior is already clad in timber)...

I'm about to build a block work garage. It’s going to be timber clad on the outside (for planning) and bare blocks on the inside, which I was going to paint. Blocks are going to be 140mm rather than 100mm because piers would be awkward with our current design. I was initially planning to use...

I was planning on doing a regular stretcher bond with 140mm blocks. Only problem I'm struggling with is the corners. How I'm doing it leaves a 63mm sliver, which seems like a bit of a nightmare to cut. I was planning on regular concrete blocks, rather than aerated concrete. Is this how...

Anyone know which rebar I'd need for the footing of a trench foundation? The footing is going to be 450mm wide, 350mm deep (deeper than I'd like, but a long story). There are quite a diameters available. http://www.buildingmaterials.co.uk/high-tensile-rebar.html?filter=%26fl5%3DRebar...

If I'm going to leave an opening in my glockwork garage for a door frame for an 838mm door, what size opening would people normally leave...

I’m building a base for a blockwork garage. 6m by 5m. The blockwork retaining wall for a slab will be of 9 inch hollow blocks, in a 750mm by 450mm trench (on a poured concrete footing). The footing will contain some sensible amount of rebar, with rebar running up through the hollow block...

I'm about to do my garage roof. Looking at my house, I can see that it's just a breathable membrane, with battens and then slate. I worry that if I'm swinging a large piece of timber about in my garage (as you do), if I smack a slate from the underside I'm going to break/dislodge it. Is it...