Recent content by mazears

Still undecided as to what to do regarding foundations. Ideally i'd prefer not to dig new trench footings which would mean to knock existing retaining wall + about 30 ton soil rubble skips/diggers etc! Can i keep existing retaining wall, build another 2 courses brick up and lay raft...

I've just dug down and the existing retaining wall is sitting on 2in concrete and appears to be clay only 10in down. Because of the clay, is it really neccessary for me to dig 1metre down or can i start foundations shallower?

I thought about making concrete fill thicker, but cost does seem to be lot more than me laying trench blocks. Maybe i can reduce depth to 750mm then 2 courses of trench block instead? Yes the brick wall with wooden fence attached is to be knocked down. Drawing above is an idea of my intentions...

I'm thinking of building a brick block garage 6.5m length x 4m width with apex tiled roof and 2.5m roller shutter door. It will be an artist studio so will be double skinned with insulated cavity (50mm?), door and couple of windows, electrics etc. As photos show , the back alley road level is...

I plan to use the garage primarily as a studio for painting and guitar playing amps etc. Maybe as a general workshop too. Would be nice to have a good source of heating hence i thought gas. I just thought if i'm digging a trench for electric and water, may as well put gas in too. Maybe it's more...

I'm flagging the patio at the back of house and need to think about water, electric and gas feeds to the garage (not built yet) 20m away at end of garden. I'm digging a trench to lay pipes before i flag over, and laying 25mm blue mdpe (water), 6mm 3core armoured (electric) + mdpe yellow (gas) or...

I was going to leave an edge of gravel like you say, but thought if i flag right up to the brickwork then the water is more likely to follow along and into drain (which i thought would be better) rather than into gravel soakaway. I previously cleared cavity on bay and put in cavity batt...

This is where the hair line crack is around the centre at back of drum. I wonder if a bead of weld all way round this would sort the problem out? Expensive to buy another drum; think i'll always feel a bit self conscious about the amount of weight i have in drum from now on!