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On concrete footings you can start building as soon as it is set - It will be gaining strength all the time as you get higher. Laying bricks or blocks the minimum size for cuts and overlaps should be 1/4 of the block/brick but for work you can see two neatly cut bricks/blocks will look better...

Probably built with a mortar containing a fair bit of lime so it expands and contracts evenly and the perps allow that. Most walls today will be a cement mortar which is stronger and does not allow movement and as a consequence when it contracts the stress will actually crack the wall unless...

What purpose does the wall serve, is it absolutely straight with no changes of direction? For a wall one brick thick (215mm) you may not need any attached piers but they would certainly aid stability and you will also need a couple of vertical expansion joints if no change of direction, so...

You will never get a bond to a dirty surface, you may have removed the loose bits so now chop off a bit of the edge to expose a clean surface to bond to. Opening the gap will also allow you to tidy up the base and compact it. It does look like the slab is crap anyway so the best you can then do...

Your dampness may be caused by the the existing drain being in poor condition. Why not replace the existing drain with new pipe to carry away all the storm water from your gutters/downpipes, that ensures that is carried away, then if you want to lay an additional "french drain" to deal with the...

I would want to see the layout of the drains to demonstrate the access to rod them. An access pipe on the base of a stack for the purpose of rodding needs to be used in conjuction with a roddable sweep bend at the bottom. Best to have a quick chat with your BC officer.

It should not be a problem if done correctly. NHBC Standards below. 6.4 - S6 Joists shall be properly trimmed into steelwork Joists trimmed into steelwork should be notched at both top and bottom and have 12mm/2mm projections respectively to allow for timber shrinkage. (b) bearings onto...

Around windows are two probable causes in your situation. With painted pebble dash the water can literally cascade down the surface and enter at any point not sealed. So it the pebble dash to window joint is not sealed there is a point of entry. The next issue is it is quite common on older...

With a suspended timber floor just make sure the timber is in contact with areas protected by DPC's the joist hangers are better fitted above a DPC to reduce risk of corrosion. You will probably need the stepped ducts to get your airbricks in. The external DPC at 150 above ground is because that...

The external DPC should be 150mm above ground level so do that using suitable bricks below the DPC. Consider lowering the external ground levels if that is practical. Stepping the DPC is normal practice where the external ground level slopes. Your internal DPC level may well be different. Avoid...

You need to post more information. Pebble dash should be OK if it is sound with correct detailing. Water penetration through it is not usually a problem when it is in good condition so perhaps your "water" is getting in elsewhere. The best thing to do is to post photo's of the inside walls where...

If I was doing it I would do the ceiling first - why? - because most likely if some paint ran down it would be over the lower parts. Also a smudge or two of white from the ceiling onto the beams would be covered by the darker beam paint carefully cut in.

A contract has to be agreed by both parties so make sure you are absolutely happy with it, it is absolutely essential it is in writing with both of you having signed copies. It should detail the work to be carried out, the timescale, and if you are going to make stage payments what exactly those...

Ken, if I read it correctly the light ones are new trusses lined up with the old black ones. So the new ones are just dirty at the moment no paint at all.

I really don't see those old beams having paint removed sufficiently to allow a stain to be applied that would look remotely good. Nothing I can think of would get the black specks and streaks that you will find stubborn .So with an actual natural look being unrealistic you are between a rock...

What is the total size of the decking area you are planning on? It is one thing to have an area to support a tub but if the rest is just deck then the supports elsewhere don't need to be the same.

If you think the water is coming from guttering then deal with that - It maybe all you really need to do. Always keep the roof and guttering in top shape. If this is an old property refurbished then I would not be surprised to find old room vents. On a personal level I always retain them as...

The white salts suggest wetness in the bricks as the salts get left behind as it evaporates. So I am inclined to go along with JD. Suspect water coming down that wall where the bricks key in with the render. That joint is weak point for water getting in. I don't generally agree with putting...

Looks strange, why not post an outside picture of the door and one of the good side. I am trying to understand how that return has been built so looking for clues! Any history would be welcome such as was it once an outside lobby and a door added further out to gain indoor space.

I'll back up what stuart45 says. To make it more interesting there are so many similar terms it can all get confusing. One I saw often in specifications was "selected excavated material" in other words the best you can get from what you have dug out of the ground! meaning if there are nasty...