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Decided to abandon the idea just this week, unfortunately. The original plan was to take out a bigger mortgage to fund a big, funky open-plan renovation, but with the change in interest rates, we have decided to simplify things and be very sensible. I will go bigger on my next renovation! It'll...

Hi. Thanks for replying. There is no soffit for ventilation. The original rafters have sat on the wall plates since it was built in the 1890s. The new rafters I'm attaching to the originals are just for the depth of insulation required. I'm just curious about how to manage ventilation with...

Hi, Do my rafters need more ventilation? I'm redoing the existing loft conversion in my house where the original rafters sit on wall plates. I'm planning on doubling up the rafters for depth, and insulating between the new rafters, then insulation backed plasterboard on top. Will they get...

Sounds promising. Thanks. The ceiling joists span from where I'm stood to the eaves. They span from a 9 inch brick load bearing wall that goes right down to the basement, so about 3.6m. However, this load bearing wall is off-centre, so the other span for the ceiling/floor joists is more like 5m...

Hi, I was expecting to be able to just rip out the stud work, but it looks pretty original i.e. 1890s. The 3x2 inch rafters sit on upper and lower 7x2 inch purlins for each pitch, where the purlins sit in the brick walls, so I'm hoping they're not structural. Floor approx 8x4 metres. Think...

This is really useful, thank you.

Just getting as much understanding as I can at this point before contacting BCO. They've always been pretty helpful in my experience, though.

Hi, I'm hoping to make the ground floor of our terrace open plan (sprinkler/mist system and open stairs covered elsewhere), but want to check requirements for 1st floor. I understand all habitable rooms need a fire door, but does the stairs to the habitable loft room need one as well? I don't...

Hi, Looking for some quotes for a mist or sprinkler system in Sheffield. I've got quotes from imist and Blue Light, a Plumis approved installer. Anyone know of any other companies that would cover Sheffield? Also, does anyone have any experience of insurance for these systems? I understand the...

This is really useful, thanks. Inspectors do seem to have a lot of discretion from what I've heard. From what else I've read, it does sound achievable with a mist system, fire doors on 1st floor and interlinked fire alarms. Has anyone any experience of what difference it might make if the...

This is all really useful, thanks. I'm hoping to put some steels in for changing the internal layout so will be using the same engineer. I'll ask them for a method statement regarding how the detail needs constructing and the order to do them in.

Hi, A survey has found a rubble-filled stone wall in our terrace needs strapping to the side walls and floor of the structure. The detail the engineer has recommended involves cutting out a big chunk of the inner leaf, drilling and gluing standard ties into the outer leaf, casting a 300mm cube...

Hi, I'm looking to fully open up the ground floor of a small, three storey terrace, but need help with satisfying fire regs. Do I need to block off the stairs at first floor level, and install some sort of suppression system i.e. sprinklers on the ground floor? Do the stairs have to be fully...

Thanks for the input. The attic has always been a proper bedroom, and it looks like I will need at least building control in to sign it off. As they need to be involved, I might as well ask about the insulation. I can't see they would want the whole roof bringing up to modern standards, but...

Hi, I've got an attic room in my small end terrace where I want to put in a Velux window. Each pitch of rafters has two purlins, where I want to chop a lower one through to fit the Velux. I will prop each end of the cut purlin down to the floor, with timber to spread the load across all the...

Thanks for replying. Half the downstairs floor in suspended timber is staying, so would I need two separate zones for the UFH, or do it all as one? It's a tiny terraced house 8x4m so each zone would be 4x4m.

Hi, I'm knocking through downstairs and fitting wet underfloor heating. One half is suspended timber, and the other half is currently just 100+ year old flagstones on the soil. I'm going to get rid of the flags and put in a new floor, but am I better doing solid floor or suspended timber...

This is really useful, thanks. Sounds like a big grey area. The trap door suppliers won't give any opinions on building regs considerations. Building control inspector seems to have a lot of discretion here. Is the definition of permanent access clear in the building regs somewhere?

Hi, Thinking about changing my ground floor layout and using a trap door to access the cellar and getting rid of the normal door. It's not a habitable cellar and just has gas and electric meters down there. Building control will need to approve the broader changes I have in mind, but would...