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It's very hard to tell from a distance but it does look like worm trails. Impossible to tell how old they are? Poke around anything that looks soft with a screwdriver and see what gives? You can't do any damage. If it's soft enough to fall out, it's not adding anything structurally anyway. The...

All plasterboard. Post a close photo of the broken bit of the orange flue covering.

The standard you mention is most likely a standard for materials and manufacturing and may not even mention anything about a fire rating. That would have to be tested and measured against a specific fire rating test and would result in a recognised fire rating. The process is expensive and not...

Around about February next year, string some clean paper or card under the area you suspect most - a bit like a hammock. Then see if any frass collects on it over the coming months. PS, you need to improve ventilation through your loft, and probably insulation as well.

English sparkling wine beats modern Champagne in most of the blind testing competitions. I read a while back that the climate in Southern England is now what is was in Champagne in the late 50s early 60s.

I've looked at the possibility of installing a small split system in the main living area. Cost of kit is about six or seven hundred quid and the situation lends itself to it. I've not ruled it out yet. The main objection is the internal cassette, which isn't the prettiest looking thing. UK...

The main thing we should remember about DNA studies is that they remind us we are all immigrants. I read a book called 'Blood of the Isles' a few years back - very interesting read.

Yes but the coping must be securely fixed. My solution for that is to fix each coping with retaining clips. I specify stainless clips with a cross bar. One gets fixed into the laid coping and the next coping slots into the outer part of the bar and provides the next bar for the next coping. You...

Went a tad better than the Russian landing.

It is really a matter of compliance with building regulations, which is not prescriptive on what form of heating you must have. The way building regulations works for new build is to set maximum standards of fuel consumption and carbon emission and it is up to you how you meet those standards...

No they can't. Yes, agree with all of that. Slightly off topic though.

Seems ironic since the French were principal designers of the monstrosity in the first place.

Well, it isn't. That's why I said the draughty old manor house was a particularly acute case. The more important issue is that millions of ordinary households, at some point in the future, are going to be faced with either; high upgrade costs or excessively high running costs. The idea that...

LPG was my initial solution and was costed. Cheaper to install - more expensive to run but viable. Problem though is LPG boilers also will not be an option in the future. The system will eventually run on eletric only.

OK, thanks for that.

Compression is fine. As I say, it runs well with a squirt of quick start. I think the problem is the fuel isn't pumping, or whatever it does because there doesn't seem to be a fuel pump? The fuel line runs directly from the tank to the carb, exactly as it did before.

On a 1900 opening, I would be VERY surprised if a 200x200x140 standard pad wasn't more than enough. What's the situation there. Is that an external opening?

A couple of recent design projects have brought this into focus. One is a manor house with very poor insulation and no prospect of upgrading due to listing control. The existing heating is dead as a doornail. Clients wanted a heat pump but the numbers don't add up. This place is big and the unit...

It does spark. It actually starts with a squirt of quick start. But won't run on it's own. I'm short of time at the moment but will be giving it another go over the weekend.