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Hello, I’ve just opened up a previously bricked up opening in a chimney breast to reinstate a cast iron fireplace. You can see where the original fire was removed - the area was rendered in with cement which I’ve now removed. The replacement skirting was concrete too! First time I’ve seen that...

Hi, Recently discovered mould on the south facing wall of my house close to the party wall. It was hidden behind a cupboard so we didn't notice it developing. I'm not sure if this is from condensation or a leak. Can't see any obvious places for water to get in on the back wall. There is...

Hi, I am trying to replace a broken and now discontinued heatmiser rc1-w with a newer heatmiser from switch. I had to get a plumber out to diagnose, but he didn’t have the spare parts, so I said I’d wire in the replacement as it was just a case of putting the same wires back in the same...

Hi, I have no soil stack on the outside of my house. The waste from the existing toilet (on the ground floor) goes straight down into the concrete subfloor behind the loo. kitchen and sink wastes go into a gully. I have built a new extension en-suite directly above this toilet, and I'm...

Hi, I want to sound proof my mezzanine floor from the (rented) room below. I have read a load of threads on this and decided that I will use soundblock PB on the ceiling below (maybe 2 layers), acoustic rock wool 100mm between joists. osb, then acoustic pb then acoustic mat then floating...

hi, I am rebuilding the rear extension on my Victorian terrace, and would like some advice on dealing with cold bridging and detailing where the roof meets the back wall (which will have 3m wide folding doors in it.) Apologies for the drawings, I suddenly got obsessed with this on a...

Hi, I am doing a full renovation of my 1890 solid wall victorian terrace, and before replastering would like to take the opportunity to insulate the external walls. so far so good. My builder has recommended rendering these wall with a waterproofing additive (sika) first, then...

Hi, After a bit of reassurance regarding steel bearing plates. I have been recommended a builder and structural engineer. They have worked together in the past for a good friend of mine. The builder requested that I ask the se to spec steel bearing plates rather than concrete padstones...

Hi, I recently pulled out a 50's ish tiled gas fire to open up my hearth for a woodburning stove. The picture shows what I'm left with. I was prepared to prop the brickwork above the opening and fit a concrete lintel, but having removed a bit more render I revealed the original builders...

Hi, I recently bought a victorian mid terrace house built around 1890. It needs some serious tlc. First job is to sort out the sub floor on ground floor level. joists have rotted away in various places as the ground level is above the dpc's atop the sleeper walls in places, and many of...