Recent content by Siderealxxx

Thanks yeh Thermalite it is I think!

Bricks won't be visible, will be plastered. I can split bricks width-wise (if I have enough spares for errors), but I will likely get to the top of the opening and need a thinner brick to finish. No idea how to split height-wise with my skill level. I thought there might be something lightweight...

Hi, I have to block up my fireplace (I will be putting in an air vent and the top is already capped). It's roughly 60 x 70 cm so I will need to cut a good few bricks (including width-wise). Is there a lightweight brick that will do the job that I can saw by hand? Thanks in advance :)

Yeh you're probably right, it could cause too much un-do-able destruction trying to remove that piece. And raising the height will be a trip hazard as you say. I can remove the plasterboard, might equally cause a fair bit of mess in the process, not to mention putting it back together. But not...

Thanks for the reply! Yeh I could do something like this but it would involve ripping out a plasterboard panel under the stairs which I wanted to avoid if possible. I have a spare tread which I ordered and would like to make use of if possible. I was hoping to cut the existing tread out with...

I have a winding stair tread (middle position) which is split all the way across. It is set into the stringer on the right/rear and the post on the left. Beyond that I don't know. I could get underneath the step and reinforce & resin fill if I rip some plasterboard off but would prefer not to...

Thank you both so much. This is exactly what I needed to know. Best.

Hi, new to this so... we have a retaining stone wall holding up part of the neighbours garden. A small section has fallen down and whilst it is bulging a bit in that area, I think a controlled removal and re-build in that small section (4' width x 2' depth) will hold it for a while. Because we...

I don't know what to search for, they install them in new builds and can be retrofitted in old houses... Some sort of low energy vent that goes into the loft and regulates moisture in the house... We have a condensation problem to tackle but don't know what they're called! Thanks!

The other thing with this house is that it's quite badly built. Even though it's 50s there's NO cavity walls! Same on the whole street. Also I can't actually see the DPC - not to say it isn't there but I wouldn't be suprised if there isn't one! The quality of the brickwork is really poor too...

Now you mention it you may well be right actually. Everything in this house has been done like that… everything's plastered in and problems were just masked over. It's possible with the patio rather than dig up the old one they just laid on top of the existing one!

I've only been in the house for under a year so still uncovering things, I don't know anything about the history. It looks like there's something circular in the picture but it's empty and just a void. If there was something there it's not now… I was clearing out the gap because it was filled...

Thanks for the reply! It's not near any drainage points and it's not a chalk area. I've lifted the paving slab and cleaned it up and taken a slightly better photo. I could dig more but not until the weekend. It's 1950s and this is the kitchen 'extension' at the back but I think it was part of...

Hi, after clearing out the gap around my house I discovered a hole in the footings under the kitchen extension. It goes down about 12" and it's hard to tell how wide it is inside. You can see it in the photo below (apologies for the quality - taken at night & full of leaves!). Should I just do...

Thanks again! Happy to clear it out completely. Not sure sbout the DPC still, there is a clear line between brick and 'lower level' as you can see in photo but can't actually see a DPC as such...