Recent content by theopposite

Here are a few more images with the windows and of the lintels. The windows have some kind of packing underneath them. Each on only held in place by 4 screws, 2 either side. Not sure if this is normal. To me the lintels just look like normal angle iron. I guess that doesn't matter if this is...

Yes they are fensa registered. It is a window company that also does building work. They didn't tell me I need to inform building control. I had no idea. So I will contact my local building control tomorrow and get them to come and inspect it. I am glad I keep an eye on what they were doing...

Just to add I did express concern to the builder about the condition of the internal bricks that he kangoed out, so he screwed a piece of thin plywood against it and filled the gaps with mortar. Although he hasn;t even done that properly and it's full of voids. Plus it add zero strength to...

Yes I noticed the bricks were loose. They move a bit if I press them. I'm not sure where a vertical DPC should be put nor what it is? (apart from being a damp proof course).

The builder told me it is illegal to use slate shims. Is this not true then? There are a whole bunch of steel shims right to the edge of the external brickwork, with just a bit of pointing covering them. I was wondering if this might be a problem with rust spots. No, I do not have any drawing...

Hi all, Sorry if I sound panicky, but I so worried about the quality of this work, I really need some second opinions. They company is due back at my home on Tuesday. We paid over £12k for 5 new windows and a front door, which included building work of splitting a bedroom window into 2. This...

Ah yes, those dodgy tiles. They were like that (minus the mastic) when we bought the house. The guy who did the flashing around the chimney told me about the bodged tiles and applied the mastic as a precautionary measure. No water gets through them. The felt inside the loft is broken near them...

Cheers. Yes, these things are always more expensive than you think. This is the first time I've got up close to the chimney. It's looks ok from ground level!!! I suspect the same with regard to the cracked / damaged bricks so I know at the very least they'll need replacing. Who decided to have...

Hey, So today I had some scaffold erected around my chimney with the intention of repointing it then applying Stormdry masonry sealant. I suspected the chimney had become porus because there is a damp patch in the bedroom upstairs where the ceiling meets the chimney breast. However, when I got...

Hi all, I'm building a tandoor oven in the garden. The basic design will look something like this crude diagram: The part I'm not sure about is the 'concrete stand'. I need to create a plinth or stand on which the clay pot can sit. The stand will be hollow and inside I'll put...

Hi all, I want to apply a lime render to the inside walls of my fireplace, into which I am installing a wood burner. I'm only going to render the sides and leave the back wall brick exposed. The photo shows the situation: My question is the metal bead put in place for...

Hi all, As the thread title suggests, I'm looking to support a wood burning stove which weighs around 95KG. I have removed the open fire in the lounge and we are left with the open chimney breast which is around 96cm wide and 50cm deep. I intend to install a wood burner. Rather than place...

Hi all, For some reason the door frames in my house are only around 73" high. Finding doors to fit is nigh on impossible - unless I have them made to order - but the cost is too high. I therefore am going to build my own doors. I own basic tools (saws, chisels, drills etc) but to build...

@mnb I'm not quite sure I understand how I have offended you? I am very grateful for all the replies and suggestions. Up until this evening the original lintel still had not been exposed so we were speculating as to what kind of lintel, if any, could be in place. Now it has been exposed I...

Tonight I have chipped away more of the plaster, and I have found what looks like a possible lintel: The top most exposed row of bricks, around 56" from the floor, are the original chimney bricks so I guess that must be the original lintel. However, it looks more straight than curved so...