Building How To Guides
-
What’s an acceptable damp reading in walls?
If you’ve just moved into a house and are concerned about damp, you’re not alone. Damp is one of UK homeowners’ most common issues, particularly in older properties. You might be tempted […]
Case Studies
-
Lath and Plaster Ceilings: Asbestos Worries, Overboarding and When to Take the Lot Down
A homeowner working next to an office refurb is watching the builders next door strip out an old lath and plaster ceiling. The place is thick with dust and bits of plaster, […]
-
Extending Air Bricks Under a New Patio: How to Keep Sub-Floor Ventilation Working
A homeowner has lifted a failing patio at the back of the house and found it had been laid over timber decking with a bit of concrete near the wall – no […]
-
Uneven Concrete Shed Base With a 20mm Dip in One Corner: What to Do Before You Build
A homeowner has just had a new concrete shed base laid by a tradesman, but the finish isn’t right. One corner sits about 20mm lower than the other three, and there are […]
-
Damp and Mould Spots Appearing Across Living Room Walls – What’s Going On?
A homeowner in a UK property noticed small damp spots, roughly 5mm to 10mm across, spreading over one internal living room wall and creeping onto others. The room had been replastered the […]
-
My Bathroom Extractor Fan Lets the Cold Air In – What Can I Do?
A homeowner with a ceiling-mounted bathroom extractor fan – wired to come on with the shower pull cord – found that the vent was letting freezing cold air pour into the bathroom […]
-
Vertical Cracks on an External Brick Wall – Should You Worry?
A homeowner looking to buy a detached house – only eight years old – spotted vertical cracks on the external brickwork near a corner. The south-facing wall had two cracks, each around […]
-
Masonry Paint Blistering on Render – Strip Back or Paint Over?
A homeowner has a rendered extension that has been repainted last year. A stabilizer/sealer coat has been applied over the previous masonry paint, and the finish has subsequently bubbled, flaked, and lost […]
