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Thanks Micilin for your thorough and very informative answer. Control joints it is then.

Hi, Having extended my detached bungalow on both sides I'm about to have it rendered in monocouche (http://monocouche.co.uk/). The contractor has recommended expansion joints where the extensions meet the original building, indicated by arrows on the drawing below. Is this strictly necessary...

Hi, Does anyone know where I can get hold of a "solid" internal 6 panel french door? It seems like most internal french doors available off the shelf are glazed. The other doors in the house are moulded (hollow) 6 panel with a woodgrain texture and I'd like something to match without breaking...

Hi, We've suffered from appallingly low flow rate from our mains water supply since we moved in 18 years ago. Now we're having some major extensions built I figured it's about time I did something about it. The property was built in 1971 as a "labourers cottage" behind a farmhouse dating...

Thanks flameport, I'll do just that. Seems obvious now :? Cheers, Nomis

Hi, I'm having my bungalow extended (quite a lot) and the sparky has proposed to install 1 x heat detector and 2 x smoke detectors, hard wired to the mains and interlinked with battery backup. I've no problem with this. I'm going to install a burglar alarm and the panel I'm most likely to...

Update: I challenged the roofing contractor about the flashing. He claims that he used to lay lead flashing down first, but has since stopped because of problems with it cracking. His argument is that lead expands more than GRP as it heats up. This results in varying stress which then causes...

It depends on the interpretation of the schedule: Flat Roof Fibreglass roof covering. 19mm. Exterior Ply decking. 75mm.to 25mm.firings at right angles to joists - fall to rear. Trusses. Insert 150mm. Crown Loft Roll 40 quilt insulation between joists. Insert 150mm. Crown Loft Roll 40...

Hi, I'm having an extension built with a modern mansard roof topped with fibreglass. The top row of tiles looked really neat before the fibreglass was laid, but they have been knocked silly along the way. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the result until the resin had set. The contractor...

Thanks for the replies so far. It seems that I need not worry too much about overloading the existing meter, so I won't be changing it. For info, the DNO in our area is SSEPD and the meter is also stamped with "Property of The Southern Electricity Board". SSEPD are moving the supply, but they...

Hi, Quick question. I have an old English Electric electricity meter (type C31B/M) which is stamped "40A MAX". I've read that this is just the limit of accuracy and the meter will handle much higher currents (well over 100A). Is this true? I'm having 3 large extensions added to my house...

Hi, The OFTEC recommendations for buried oil supply pipes are all very straightforward. http://www.oftec.org/Media/Default/DocGalleries/OFTEC%20Homes%20Guides/OFTEC_HomeGuide_DomesticOilSupplyPipes_PUB21.pdf However there is one point I need some help with: "Oil feed pipes should be...

It's a single storey extension with a mansard roof. The roof trusses run perpendicular to the long internal wall, so some of the loading will inevitably be taken by that wall. There is no strip footing below, but the concrete slab is thicker there. The nominal thickness of the slab is 125mm...