Recent content by jonez

^^ this, every time. If the slates are original they have only one set of nail holes and if removed with care will be much better than anything else you can source. Although Welsh slate may be expensive if you only have to buy 5 or 10% of the total to replace ones that are already damaged and...

Since October 2010 if more than 25% of a roof is replaced then it falls under building control notifiable to the LABC. To be compliant the average U value must be 0.15U or better and any individual element must be 0.7U or better. The consequences of using less are that your heating bills will...

If the existing lead is in good shape other than the lack of joints then the obvious choice is to fit expansion joints to the existing gutter, as Mark has suggested. It takes some skill to do the lead welding but it's a very durable product and would probably be the most cost-effective solution...

From the Planning Portal.. http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/roof/#Worktoanexistingroof "Work to an existing roof If you want to carry out repairs on or re-cover less than 25 per cent of the area of a pitch or flat roof, you will not normally need to submit a...

All MR16 LED lamps have to work over a wide voltage range although the manufacturers have an annoying habit of specifying 12V dead, which is pretty silly. They're designed to work from halogen 12V AC transformers which will show mains fluctuations and will increase voltage with a light load -...

So the customer has gone through a reasonable process to select a contractor. He has specified a slate roof and hasn't been advised that it would be a problem in advance. He has asked a few pertinent questions about how the work will be done. This is entirely reasonable behaviour, what did he do...

The headlap looks ok in the section of verge in your picture but the verge doesn't look properly finished. There should be another layer of slate - the 'undercloak' which is attached to the barge boards and bonded to the top layer with mortar. The detail can be seen on page 18/19 of the Welsh...

As others have said that workmanship is poor to the point of being unserviceable. There is some irregularity in the rafters but not so much it should be a problem, the roofer should have corrected any significant changes by notching/packing as appropriate. If there are severe irregularities many...

Insulating under a roof is fine, the main advantage of insulating over is that it works better because you can fit a thicker, continuous layer. If insulation goes under then you have to take care that moist air from the warm side can't get to the cold side or you get condensation. Typically that...

If it's a historic roof with irregular slates I'd strongly recommend getting in an expert, at least for advice. Slates will last for hundreds of years and are well worth preserving, the main threat to slate roofs is the roofer who's default option is to rip off any roof over thirty years old and...

Have they got to be new? This guy has reclaimed in grey.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Redland-51-Grey-Second-Hand-Roof-tiles-/121263668070?pt=UK_BOI_Ceilings_Walls_Roofing_ET&hash=item1c3be0bb66 and he had a load of red not long ago so may have some left...

Derby? It's probably as likely to rain in summer as in winter :) In principle it should be fine so long as they get the membrane on quickly and in the dry. One other thing to watch is the temperature when mortar is placed for ridge tiles and other detail. There should be no chance of frost...

I've got one of these from an impulse buy on a trip to Japan, being Japanese it needs 100-110V so I run it from an oversized power tool transformer. I prefer this to sitting on something with 240V on it and the transformer is well protected being designed for safe use on a building site. The...

It would be worth getting the irons PAT tested before looking too hard at the house wiring. If they only trip the RCD after getting hot you could try testing after they've been switched on for a while. A PAT test would quantify any earth leakage, it should be negligible (<0.75mA) but if it's...

Good question about the stop beads, I'd fit a bead just above the flashing to secure the render and keep it off the lead. Stainless bead fixed with stainless screws should last a long time with a decent render mix. This kind of thing for example...