Recent content by ^woody^

That's part of the mess. The Act refers to designer needing the competent etc for the work they are doing, so that implies that someone who is not competent in certain aspects and does not profess to be, can't be responsible. eg the SE with training in and a lifetime of designing beams, and...

Some councils will accept standard UBs in common loading situations without the need for calculation. You need to ask them what their policy is. In that image, the screws imply that the joists are parallel to the wall, and in the absence of anything else above it, it won't be load bearing.

It's bizarre when an SE will suddenly not want to do work because of implications of being a designer under the BSA, when they have been happy for over 10 years to do the same work and be a designer under CDM and not conform to their responsibilities under those regulations - which imposes...

It's a waste of time insulating, or even highly insulating a wall and not floors and ceilings. Further, there is absolutely no benefit by insulating an unheated space - it does not make it warmer, nor does it create an even temperature environment. There is a difference in performance between...

Planners don't need to know about sections or details, just what it looks like and how it appears in context of the surrounding area, and list the materials and colours. BTW, you don't need to insulate or even build cavity walls to the same standard as a for a habitable room.

There is nothing simpler as a building control officer firstly checking that plans and specifications are satisfactory, and then checking that the work is done in accordance with those plans and specification - and any additions and alterations. Nothing. Ok, building control said that was too...

DIY does not invoke the need for a PD, as there is only one designer and contractor. Appointing occasional trades or a professional of some sort, does technically create a situation, even if brief of there potentially being more than one contractor or designer. This is a grey area, as the Act...

It's a bit of an oversimplification but in almost all cases, laws are not applied retrospectively. There's a premise that laws "look forward, not backward".

I am the Teflon Don :p

Thanks. I'd totally missed changes to enforcement time limits.

The hooks need to be hammered in to the battens. The length of the hook is determined by the lap of the tile/slate plus 5mm or so. Info here www.stoneleaftiles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Stoneleaf-Slates-Guide-to-Hook-Fixing-illustrated.pdf

If the water stain does not move or dry out, then it smore likely condensation, and the area pf plaster may need replacing. If it recedes and expands, then its water penetration. Check the bottom fitting on the downpipe to see it water is escaping, but it may more likely be an issue with how...

Looks like you a lintel with a stone facing. The stone facing definitely needs attention, and may be insecure, it needs looking at urgently. The lintel may or may not need replacing, again it needs closer inspection. You'd be wise to sort out the cill too and provide a proper projection past...

The planning and building control people do talk to each other and possible contraventions are referred amongst them for possible investigation. Whether the local teams have the time and resources is another matter, but the risk remains. This is not the same as one application for permission...

The question "Is this any good?" needs the context of "How much did you pay?" and perhaps "Who did it?" From close up there seems be a lack of care and finesse, that's not to say that its bad quality or a poor job. From further back it looks fine. The visuals are just part of what makes a...