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Hi. Quick question about bathrooms and tiling! I am currently working on the walls of a new bathroom! I will use moisture resistant plasterboard in the ceiling and tile backer boards on the stud walls! I would like to dot n dab a 40mm insulated plasterboard against a block wall. Can I use...

Hi there. hopefully somebody can point me in the right direction? How do I boost the water pressure of our house? We have our own private water supply from a spring and reservoir in our field. Although the water flows well, It isn’t quite enough pressure to supply an electric shower if you...

Hi. Hope this is in the right section? I would like to move my phone line and pole. Has anyone done this before? What is involved? Will it cost me? Currently, the phone line enters the gable end of my bungalow, right up on the ridge. Ideally, I would like to move the pole by about 5...

Hi there. Structural Engineer question. Would an engineer possibly do me a really nice favour and suggest some details for a splice joint? My engineer has done most of my calculations for me, but I need to add a splice joint to an upright steel RSJ. Unfortunately, the engineer is ill at the...

Hi all! I am currently building a 2 story extension. It’s a cavity wall, with 7n dense blocks outer leaf and a 3.6n aerated blocks for the inner leaf. What are peoples thoughts on expanded galvanised mesh? Do I need to use it in the blockwork? Is it vital? Is it overkill? Should I use it on...

Hi Guys. So, we have a piece of Land with a Static Caravan on it. The previous owner lived in the caravan since 1985 and was granted a certificate of lawfulness in 2001. It has an Agricultural Occupation Condition on it. We are still paying the council tax rates for the site. It has Electric...

Hi there. I have some questions about permitted development and Class Q development. If a plot of land has an agricultural building on it that has been used as a barn (hay and feed store) until recently, what is the likely hood of planning being permitted to turn it to a house? I understand...

Hi there. Has anyone got any advice with using natural stone as a finish to my dense block walls?# I have built my extension but I am scared of rending the whole thing. I have an abundance of natural stone available and would like to use it in some way to finish the exterior of the house. Do...

Hi guys! I am trying to decide what to do with my gable end on my self build. I’m trying to do the whole project myself, but I’m scared about rendering as I might muck it up. I was wondering what people’s thoughts are on either cladding or stone effect panels/tiles? I have attached an image...

Hi guys, A bit of advice again please! Please see the attached image. Question 1: Is it ok to connect a new wall to an existing wall and have the outer leaf's flush? In the picture, the red bricks are the outer leaf of the existing cavity wall, and the grey and green blocks will be the new...

Hi everyone. advice required please! is it ok to hang floor joists as shown in the attached image? Reason for asking: I am raising the roof on a section of my bungalow and putting rooms upstairs. My engineer has specified a 254x146x37 UB to pass over the existing structure and pick up the...

Hi all, I have a couple of queeries with installing UPVC windows. 1: Fixing the top of the window into a Catnic. I have read that the windows should not be screwed up into a catnic, which does make sense regarding water and damp getting through the holes. Can i get conformation that i...

Hi there. How much projection or overhang would people suggest i have from the finished render. I am about to order windows for my self build, but have to choose either a 150mm wide sill, or a 180mm sill. The 150mm sill will give me around 40mm projection, and the 180 will obviously give me...

Hi. There are few photos attached. Can I get some advise on what cause these cracks please? the blocks have been in place for about 2 or 3 months. the cracks are less than hairline. mortar mix was 4:1 sand cement with additive. Is it any if the following reasons? Thermal. Shrinkage. Drying...

Hello. I have used Easy Trim on my roof hips. I have used Marley modern ridge tiles down the hip. the roof tiles are redland renown concrete tiles. the job looks pretty good. The hip tiles are straight, but not all smooth and flush along their tops. this is due to them not sitting nicely on...

Hi there. Can anyone give me any tips on installing Rounded Ridge tiles to my new build please? I've heard that its better to use sharp sand. Can anyone confirm the mortar mix ratio and any additives? How do you pack underneath the gaps/joins to ensure mortar doesn't drop endlessly onto the...

Hello again! Quick question about laying moist dense blocks? I laid 3 courses of 10.4 dense (Dennis May) blocks about three weeks ago. I layed one course per day over three days. The weather was cool, damp and the odd bit of rain and snow was around. The blocks were stored on a pallet in my...

Hi! I have a few concerns about some cracks on my self build that I am half way through. This is my first project, I might add! I have found a few hairline cracks and wonder if I should be freaking out? Here is the story: the site is 8m x 7m I dug the foundations myself! I dug down...

Hi there. new to the forum and finding it really useful, so thanks in advance to anyone that reads this and replies. firstky, I have no previous experience of installing these lintels! I just wanted to check if a minor amount of deformation in a catnic lintel is to be expected, or whether...

Hi! Would anyone be kind enough to offer some advice? i am currently working on a 1 & 1/2 story extension to my house (single story with a room in the roof). I’ve followed the instructions from the architect, structural engineer and BCO throughout and havnt cut corners! ground underneath was...