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The problem is getting access to sufficient parts of the structure to be able to be 100% certain? My advice is try to get a rough idea before you start employing engineers. Think back to the construction; a concrete slab floor/ceiling was either made off site as a plank or cast in-situ? If it...

Brittle brick types often have cracks in the face. The temptation is to put them to one side rather than lay them in the wall but once you start doing that you can end up with a huge pile of cracked bricks. Why worry about them now? They were there when you bought the house.

As above, to answer the question with certainty we'd need details of the original floor. My guess is the floor will be capable of a certain capacity. Have a look at promenade tiles rather than slabs. You'd probably be ok with those.

A couple of misunderstandings going on; Raac didn't have a design life of 30 years when it was installed. When it was discovered that some raac buildings had problems, the BRE predicted that in certain circumstances some raac panels may have a design life of only 30 years. That's not the same as...

We had wasps in the garden this year. Initially we left them to it - wasps are good for many things and are good pollinators - but we have daughters dog a couple of times a week and she started to get interested in them. Rather than a drama between dog and wasps, I decided to get rid. Looked up...

I'll be doing exactly the same thing.

Is noise really a factor? or vapour? Vapour layers are important in highly insulative situations but this material isn't highly insulative so it isn't a significant factor here. Plus, most air loss will be around the perimeter and your underfloor is well ventilated so it really isn't a factor...

Can't fully agree with that part. Air tests weren't the main route of the problem, even prior to the 2022 regulation. The testing is fairly standard and the software is locked and I have never come across a tester (dozens at least) that had the ability to fiddle the test, despite strong offers...

That will work also, but not so practical to patch a piece in - you'd be looking at lining the whole chimney breast.

Frustrating indeed. I would push the common sense angle and see what you can achieve. It sounds like there must be a solution. Whatever you do DO NOT START WORK until you have it resolved. Prior notification cannot be allowed if work has started.

New gas supplies are getting rarer and rarer. I know several developers that could not get new gas supplies for new-builds this year, even though it's in the road. And anyway, it would be nigh on impossible to get a SAP to pass with gas and it's been basically impossible with oil for a few years...

K118 is about four or five times better insulation value than wood fibre board, and also provides you with a vapour control layer. Personally I would go for standard PIR board fixed in place with battens + VCL and plasterboard over.

For a one off job, get the cheapest - or at least cheaper end. Check the saw to be 100% sure but I think all the blades will fit all the saws.

As Blup's advice. Salt contamination gets into the plaster, which then absorbs atmospheric moisture. During wetter periods the absorption is greater, which gives the appearance of a dampness, when it is really just condensation. It's not a roof leak though so save your money there. The only 100%...

https://www.toolstation.com/bosch-expert-brick-carbide-sabre-saw-blade-s1543hm/p63112

It's a bodge, a mess and technically incorrect. Fan ducting running through roof voids must be fully insulated or should have a drain. Else it will run with condensation and eventually fill up the u-bend at the bottom and eventually water will run into the fan housing.

It's very difficult to fight idiot planners because they are, well, idiots. Your problem is that you have hit a policy issue. A nonsensical policy issue but still policy. Was this a planning application or a prior notification of a larger extension under permitted development? If it was planning...

robinbanks summarises it well. Heat pumps have a place but the property really needs to be designed for them. There will be a percentage of existing homes that could be upgraded for a reasonable cost but the majority will require extensive works at disproportionate cost. The time is coming when...

You have two options; either keep the glazed area to a maximum 25% of floor area, or produce a SAP calculation to mitigate the additional glazing. The latter can be a pain, but depends on the house.

All looks like foam. Doesn't look at all like asbestos.