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We have a lightwell in the basement with a window and an unsightly lean-to cover outside to stop rain water getting in. We want to remove the lean -to cover so the window can be used as a means of escape. The problem is we have no drainage outside the window in the lightwell. The only option...

Attached is a google photo and a photo I took from the garden. I can't get access to neighbouring flats now - especially with the whole virus going on. We can only try and make our flat safe for now. Tests will eventually be carried out on the other fireplace to see if smoke escapes into flat...

Thanks for the advice. The old door will be going back on ebay :( Assuming we now get a new FD60 fire rated door put in, can the wall between the flat and the shared hallway, around the door, be fire rated to 30 minutes? The wall was installed before my time, and we think has a standard...

I can put my tape measure through a gap in the party wall and its about 250-280mm thick. Yes I think the next door neighbours have lined their flue with pb. Yes the chimney stack is all still there and above the roof. We haven't cleaned the other flues yet, on the remaining fireplaces. I...

The door we want to use is a solid wood door at least 45mm thick, and was the front door of one of these massive old victorian buildings. It's really excellent quality. I was going to use an envirograf paint on it, install a good quality thick frame, add intumescent strips around it, self...

I'm the OP!! Sorry for the delayed reply - only just realised my post got moved to different section of the forum..... In answer to your questions bobasd..... I believe upstairs also have removed their chimney stack to the first floor. It's unlikely they removed it in the loft. I don't...

photo of removed chimney breast

Anyone know how to do this? I want to install a front door which opens up onto a shared hallway with 1 other flat. I think the door ought to be fire rated, to provide fire separation to upstairs flat. I bough a lovely old thick solid wood door I want to use so I think I need to fire rate it...

Help!!! My sister bought this flat, which I'm helping do up to save costs. We just found hidden behind a false plasterboard wall the remains of a fireplace. :( See photo attached! The fireplace was just knocked out without any repair work and so most of the bricks have no mortar. :eek: In...

We have moved the bathroom and it's not possible to connect to the existing soil stack which we share with upstairs flat. We can connect to the underground waste pipe (clay) between the soil stack and existing shared manhole 1m away. Current options we are considering: 1) add a branch to the...

Yes it's separate. I got the councils building control to certify some structure. Separate application. Now we decided to move the bathroom. We need some advice on avoiding the addition of a manhole. I don't really know if building control will advise the builder what way to connect the new...

Hi all, We are fitting a new kitchen and bathroom in a ground floor flat within a house conversion. We share a soil stack with flat upstairs. We are moving the bathroom so a new soil pipe is needed. It's more than 3 meters from the manhole so will need an intermediate rodding point. We were...

Just watched the video. Seems like special washers not needed and that it's ok to leave the screw head proud of the board?? The video doesn't say anything about: - what type of screws to use. stainless steel? zinc? - using hardiefoam rather than tile adhesive if the masonry is really out -...

I'm installing hardiebacker 12mm boards onto masonry wall and timber studwork around a bath. Just have a few basic questions. 1) For the masonry walls I plan to fix the hardiebacker with Hardie foam adhesive and a few screws into rawl plugs set into the masonry. Question - What is best way to...

Hi Woody, So how come the 3 NICEIC registered electricians didn't recommend that? Is this a recommendation or law?

I have a self contained flat. I'm a share of freeholder with upstairs' landlord. Do I need to put in a fire alarm/smoke/heat detector in the ground floor shared hallway - which is the main fire exit to the street? Or just inside my own flat? I have spoken to 3 qualified registered...

Hi, I'm working on a project that had a side extension built - I'm guessing - around 30-40 years ago. It had planning approved then. I don't have access to the drawings, but I assume they were not built as per the drawings as the side extension has a flat roof, and doesn't continue the pitch...

Thanks for your feedback. Will check level of the existing drain level. (y) Hopefully the manhole cover can be easily lifted. I have seen other jobs, run the waste pipe around a flat on top of the floor (boxed in with access points every 3m) - and have it get signed off by building control...

Please see attached photo. I would need to disconnect the SVP pipe. I'm about to buy this property and only really want it if I know I can move the toilet. I may be able to look into the manhole next time I go for a viewing.

I want to move the bathroom from the back to the front of the flat - as i want the kitchen and living room overlooking the garden. The old rest bend/downpipe is on the other side of the old toilet wall outside. I don't know how deep into the ground it goes. The new toilet will be 8.5 meters...