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Woody, I had read a historic post where you also said stepped foundations were Ok as long as they had a level bottom, as well as this one, but I don’t think that’s always necessary.

I thought, from other posts in the past, that a new planning application is the way to resolve it. Section 96a deals with ‘non-material’ ammendments, although it seems that guidance on what non-material entails is up to the Authority. With the best will in the world I can’t see 1.4m as being...

I’ve just done 9x4m by hand. I went out to dig a test hole, found it was easy digging down to shale at 600mm, so just carried on. BC wanted 750mm deep so I had to kango out another 6” of shale. I hand planned to get a mini digger in, but in hindsight I almost certainly would have taken out...

I was told something different when I purchased my house last year. As well as the original beneficiary, the restrictive covenant benefit can pass to future owners of the property. Chances are those future owners don’t have a clue because the benefit of a restrictive covenant isn’t written...

As FMT says Planning Permission & Building Regs are two seperate things. I reckon your plans have been submitted for Planning and approved. Congrats you have permission to build it (it must end up looking like the submitted plans). Now you need Building Regs - this is to ensure that it is...

Thanks for the reply FMT, I'm in Wales so I was expecting slate, but it could be shillet. I thought I'd need to create a passge for the water so that it doesn't affect the strength of the concrete, or caused problems when it found a new natural route. I'll probably keep digging and get the...

Just started digging my foundations and I'm down to solid slate at around 600mm below ground level. At the low point in the slate there is a small trickle of water running across. I was going to trench fill, is this still possible, or is it going to get expensive? Can this be resolved with a...

Well that’s going to be a different argument - you‘ve replaced 0% of the structure, 100% of the felt and battens, and re-used the tiles whether that equates to 25% I don’t know, but I can see BC’s argument that it does and paying the fee may make it seem that you agreed (even if you didn’t...

The requirement to upgrade insulation if carrying out significant work on a house came in before 2022 - I found this article from Jan 2020 that refers to it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was part of the 2016 updates to the building regs...

I can only offer my sympathies having just had to wait 17 weeks for my decision. Both desdlines sailed past without any request for me to agree an extension - although I did receive my decision within 24hrs of submitting a complaint.

I’ve installed a couple of “Throne” toilets which are about 4” higher than normal. (Throne isn’t a brand name it’s just how we describe them at the plumbing merchants).

We’ve got a society where success is measured in £, and at a national level that’s GDP. The only way to keep increasing GDP is greater productivity from each individual or having more individuals working. The current trend for early retirement has the potential to affect this illusion of...

I had a near miss with cruise control once, but it was entirely down to human error - not knowing where my feet were in relation to the pedals Because I’d had them flat on the floor. Now I always hover my foor over the accelerator and have the side of my foot brushing the brake.

Almost that exact subservient clause was quoted in my pre-planning enquiry for a side extension on a detached bungalow. I submitted with a 200mm setback to show that I’d considered their opinion, and they’ve asked for 500mm. I’ll probably agree - I’d like the extra space, but I think a...

I’ve just finished, but was a self-employed handyman for 15 years. My hourly / day rate was healthy but it can be difficult to make a days money when you’re rushing between 5 x 1 hour jobs in a day. That said if you can get a 3 or 4 day decorating job, and do the odds and sods on the other...

Some Salamnder pumps aren’t suitable for baths, only showers or mixer taps, because they need water flowing through both sides. I can’t find the old CT50 on the Salamander website, but the new CT XTRA 50 will only do a shower. https://www.salamanderpumps.co.uk/choosing-the-right-pump.php

A.B.L. Heating & Plumbing in Frimley

We did this when we built our extension - we lost the original outer leaf to make the bedroom wider. We had to work with the Architect to come up with some modifications to the roof structure, but it wasn’t anything major. And certainly no mention of a minimum wall thickness of 140mm from...

We’ve just moved into a new house and a quick an easy job to get started is to insulate the loft. iIt currently has loose fill between the 8” joists - does this degrade making it worthwhile sticking new 200mm mineral wool between the joists and 100mm over. Or is it good forever and a bit of...

Any idea how long the fence has been up? Historically it was polite to give the neighbour the ‘nice’ side, but more recently whoever is paying chooses to have the nice side. Far from definitive, and not all that helpful. Sorry! As Notch says, just get on with it. It can’t be trespass if...