Search results

I had a similar project a few years ago and posted a thread on here asking pretty much exactly the same question ........ I don't remember receiving any constructive responses. In my research I couldn't find any clear definitions of original house only a fairly obscure planning appeal case...

Assuming you don't go crazy with the roof height and all the other criteria are met. Of course you could put a pitched roof on the extension and still be within PD if the relevant eaves and ridge heights are still met. The eaves height is a stupid anomaly with the permitted development system...

Generally to comply with permitted development rules for an extension to a bungalow you will fall foul of the eaves height requirement if you have a flat roof. One way around this is to have a false pitched roof (sometimes called a crown roof) where you have a pitched roof around the edge with...

Freddie has hit the nail on the head. When you provide a fee quote if the client has not provided a detailed brief or detailed plans you have to make an assumption on what the work will involve and confirm what scope of works your quote is based on. It is quite common for the scope of works to...

I might be wrong but I seem to remember something like a roof under 6m2 is not required to have rainwater drainage. Possibly in the Building Regulations or The Building Act? Although if the porch is exempt from Building Regulations you can do what you want anyway.

That is not strictly true. Whilst in general a party wall built astride the boundary is the shared responsibility of both neighbours in the case of a neighbour building a new wall for an extension the party wall agreement can be written to stipulate that the neighbour building the wall is...

The main problem with these "modern methods of construction" is that very few builders use them. Consequently you only have a very limited number of companies you can employ resulting in a lack of competition and high prices. I suspect that only a company working in this very specialist field...

It might be worth speaking to an independent tree expert. I seem to recall that the silver birch has a relatively short lifespan and shallow roots so when they get to a certain size/age they tend to die or fall over. It might be that an arboriculturist could confirm that the tree is reaching the...

I would say that there has been some minor structural movement, possibly subsidence, which has caused the brickwork to crack along the weakest point which is between the front door and first floor window and above the first floor window. This movement has opened up the joints in the brick arch...

Two points to consider concerning the window. 1. Right to Light - window has to be to a habitable room and has to have been in place for at least 20 years to acquire a right to light. It looks like a small landing or bathroom window so possibly not a habitable room and if it is in an extension...

If the extension has already been built and the neighbours are OK with it I would just keep my head down and see what happens. I certainly wouldn't draw it to the planning department's attention by submitting a retrospective application. If he intends to sell in the medium term I would wait and...

If anything you are improving the means of escape from the existing rear bedroom as the existing escape route has the stairs discharging into the ground floor hallway which is open to the living room. If the building inspector will not budge and you want to be pragmatic it might be worth...

I assume the ground slopes away to the rear so the fire egress windows to floors above 4.5m only applies to the rear elevation? The existing rear bedroom with the bay window is existing and you are not making the means of escape any worse so that should not be affected. With the new master...

The main problem is that the builder is suggesting that he is owed money for additional work and wants a surveyor to undertake a contract valuation to establish the amount owing. Obviously you are not required to pay for defective building work so rather than just undertaking a valuation you...

The CN71C isn't long enough but the CN81C should do it.

Caravans can be a tricky subject in terms of Planning regulations and the rules are very complicated, they have many exemptions that allow them to be used on a residential property above and beyond the usual permitted development rules. However, with these sorts of situations the use must be...

The eucalyptus will take a couple of years to get established but if the soil and position are right it can be an absolute beast. You'll have to make sure you prune it every March to keep the crown at the correct height to screen the view otherwise you'll have a 60ft monster before you know it...

Have you specifically asked them to report on the cracking? Otherwise you will just get a generic tick box suggestion to appoint a structural engineer to investigate. For £500 I doubt the survey will be very thorough or informative.

Quite possibly, it depends how strong the mortar is.

You could argue that the work did not require a building regulations application as replacing/installing a lintel to an existing window opening is only a repair. If you wanted to be really pedantic you could argue that it is a structural alteration as you are not replacing exactly like for like...