Recent content by Tobbs

What design & construction standards would you suggest should be applied to contemporary building work on houses of this vintage?

Section 6.4.18 of the NHBC Standards document covers notching & drilling timber joists. It gives limits on sizes depths & locations of notches with the caveat that "Notching and drilling should be designed by an engineer where... ...it does not meet the guidelines in this chapter". It's one of...

Well thanks for all the replies. I obviously didn't explain myself well & I've got some of you at cross purposes. Whilst notches in the bottom of the joists wouldn't comply with the letter of the NHBC standard, from the structural perspective I'm not concerned because I'm a chartered civil &...

This isn't a solution it's a different why of asking the question I've already asked! I have a problem (which as I've said I can't be the first person to encounter) how is it resolved? It's not hard. If you don't have any positive ideas don't bother chipping in. I'm the home owner. I shouldn't...

Hi Muggles Tracpipe looks like a good option however I'm meeting some resistance from the perspective of "that's what we always do" & "there's nothing wrong with it". To move it on I've said if he can get sign off from a Gas Safe engineer to the effect of what he's proposing is OK then I'll go...

Well yes that's rather the point. I can't be the first person in the UK who's had a 100 year old basement conversion that necessitated moving an existing gas pipe into the floor void. Whats the solution?

Hi Thanks for the reply Ceiling height varies between 1.8m & 2.1m i.e. its tight in some areas for a 6" 3" unit like me The existing unreinforced concrete floor (min 100mm thick) will remain though its been excavated around the perimeter to allow installation of a gravel surrounded 70mm slotted...

Hi All I'm currently having the existing basement of my Edwardian semi-detached property made more 'user friendly' via the installation of a proprietary (Triton) cavity drain system, plaster board/plaster walls & ceilings & a wooden floor. One of the main tasks is to 'hide' the myriad of...