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What is the roof pitch? Does it absolutely have to be slate because there are much cheaper tiling options?

Though not as much as a contractor who refuses to break down a quote shouts nightmare contractor!

DPM's in concrete floor slabs came into regular use from about 1965 so irrespective of whether it was designed as a habitable space it could contain one. That being said there are only 2 ways to find out; invasive inspection or by the use of a floor hygrometer. You state that its dry but this...

Hi, rising or penetrating damp will leave moisture present at depth in the masonry, condensation damp will not and ends to just affect the plasterwork. That being said, chronic condensation damp will eventually dissolve the calcium sulphate within the plaster making it porous and defective. If...

Hi, Yes I do undertake damp surveys though I work as Head of Asset Management for a large organisation so I tend to do these in my own time or book time off. I also teach damp investigation as part of the building pathology module at Coventry University so am always looking for interesting...

Hi, it would be unusual but not impossible. Even those properties built directly onto rammed earth tend to excavate down to solid ground. I'm not convinced from the pictures that there is nothing under the bottom two courses shown. Are you sure this isn't just a stepped plinth and if you...

Woody, I've read many of your posts over the years and you're a very knowledgable guy but the danger here is assuming that your average joe has the pragmatic experience that you have. Assumptions can be made so long as the assumption is that it is asbestos. That assumption will of course mean...

Woody, the quality of the photographs makes no difference. No one on here should be identifying asbestos based on photographs. Its ok to say it looks like it is but its not ok to tell people that it isn't. Everyone should presume that it is unless bulk sampling and analysis tells you otherwise.

It's got a lot more support than most people's chimney breasts get. They're usually supported on steel gallows brackets, one placed either side. This job should have gone through local building control who will tell you whether the support was adequate, check in with them for peace of mind.

Let me first start by explaining how you diagnose rising damp... You need to positively identify 3 things... 1. Is there moisture present at depth in the masonry? The only way of checking this on site is take a drilled sample of granite and carry out a calcium carbide test. Or you might have...

No, no one can tell you from photographs whether or not it is asbestos but you should assume that it is. Most of the properties in this country contain asbestos unless built from 2000 on so your property is not unusual, the fact that it s ex council has nothing at all to do with the problem...

Joe, the best document you can read for finding out where you are likely to find asbestos is HSG264 Asbestos Survey Guide. There is a whole appendix in the back explaining the different types of asbestos and where they are found. In terms of risk, the amount os asbestos present doesn't tell us a...

Hi All, I have an Ariston Microgenus combi installed in the kitchen. I came down early this morning and the kitchen was incredibly hot with condensation running down the windows and patio doors. It appears that this was adventitious heat from the boiler which was running all night due to demand...

I also wondered whether I should expect to get a cooker circuit installed as part of a specification for a new kitchen ring main or would this usually be something that is charged as an extra?

Hi Everyone, I wonder if you could help clarify the approach to meeting 17th Edition Regs? I've just had a substantial amount of electrical work carried out by a major contractor. Everything was done on electrical installation certificates and despite the fact that we had a schedule of rates...

Excellent response, thank you all very much.

The clue for the acronym is in the title.

I am still shocked at the amount of companies or individual electricians are getting the PIR process wrong. I tried to explain the process to someone again today and yet again there was major disagreement. They had electricians doing informal checks then reporting back to the client on cost...

Take your point entirely regarding interpretation but we have a fundamental disagreement. Some electricians are issuing another 'satisfactory' periodic and some think this is not required. At least for this discussion the weight of opinion is against you at the moment.

Think you're absolutely spot on with that last response Dingbat :!: