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Hi all, I have a couple of queeries with installing UPVC windows. 1: Fixing the top of the window into a Catnic. I have read that the windows should not be screwed up into a catnic, which does make sense regarding water and damp getting through the holes. Can i get conformation that i...

Hi there. How much projection or overhang would people suggest i have from the finished render. I am about to order windows for my self build, but have to choose either a 150mm wide sill, or a 180mm sill. The 150mm sill will give me around 40mm projection, and the 180 will obviously give me...

Thanks for the reply! fingers crossed that it is nothing more than that. the other thing I should add is that the blocks were all stored outside and uncovered, and I didn’t cover the walls while i was building them. hopefully this all adds to the evidence of them being wet and drying out...

Hi. There are few photos attached. Can I get some advise on what cause these cracks please? the blocks have been in place for about 2 or 3 months. the cracks are less than hairline. mortar mix was 4:1 sand cement with additive. Is it any if the following reasons? Thermal. Shrinkage. Drying...

Perfect! that’s what I need!!! had completely overlook and missed these!! I’ll get shopping right away! thanks again!

Hello. I have used Easy Trim on my roof hips. I have used Marley modern ridge tiles down the hip. the roof tiles are redland renown concrete tiles. the job looks pretty good. The hip tiles are straight, but not all smooth and flush along their tops. this is due to them not sitting nicely on...

Hi there. Can anyone give me any tips on installing Rounded Ridge tiles to my new build please? I've heard that its better to use sharp sand. Can anyone confirm the mortar mix ratio and any additives? How do you pack underneath the gaps/joins to ensure mortar doesn't drop endlessly onto the...

Cheers Jed’s. I’m coming to terms with the chance of cracks. they’re only hairline at the mo, so fingers crossed they won’t get bigger! I’ll put the magnifying glass away! Im not going to be rendering the wall for a long time, so I’ll have a chance to monitor it! thanks again!

Hello again! Quick question about laying moist dense blocks? I laid 3 courses of 10.4 dense (Dennis May) blocks about three weeks ago. I layed one course per day over three days. The weather was cool, damp and the odd bit of rain and snow was around. The blocks were stored on a pallet in my...

Thanks Woody. Another rookie mistake then to leave the blocks exposed. I looked back through my photos and They have been exposed since mid October. So that would be 5 months to date, through rain, frost, and now lush warm sunshine! Hopefully your right with the moisture getting in there...

Cheers I didn’t measure the mortar absolutely perfectly, and it’s probably a tad stronger than a ratio of 1 to 5. I think it’s probably about 1 to 4.5. basically it was 4 decent scoops of sand to one scoop of cement. With admix added. The cracked blocks in question are pretty much in the...

Wow. Thanks for taking the time to reply! Yeah, I’m really pleased with my achievement so far, considering this is all new to me, but I’ve got to admit I am feeling concerned about the cracks. I’m hoping that it is a minor bit of differential settlement between the outside walls and the end...

Yeah.... the de ja vu was the thermalite and celcon blocks! I got over that! I realised that everybody had a dim opinion of them! But the exterior blocks and mortar cracking started to worry me again!

Also, defiantly no mines, drains, trees or weird things underground! the ground is very dry and stoney! No clay!

Hi! Good relevant questions! I did everything all by myself and have the following answers... defo used admix every time. its a quite a sloped garden, that was untouched, so I had to dig out a lot to get down to a working height, then I dug the foundations. So defo not made up ground...

Hope so!!! Thanks! the more people that say the same as you the better! To anyone else that is looking at my post, and the sketch that I made, I hope you will concur that it is just a bit of loading settlement and shrinkage as the point loads are absorbed!!? Thanks!

Hi! I have a few concerns about some cracks on my self build that I am half way through. This is my first project, I might add! I have found a few hairline cracks and wonder if I should be freaking out? Here is the story: the site is 8m x 7m I dug the foundations myself! I dug down...

Sounds like that’s been my rookie mistake then?! I didn’t prop it in the middle, and possibly did two courses too soon! Rookie mistake - hands up!! Won’t happen next time! Just spoke to my BCO, who is due to visit me tomorrow to check my roof is coming along nicely, and he said the same...

Cool! Happier now!! just spoke to my BCO and he said that I shouldn’t worry too much! he’s coming out to site tomorrow morning to see my roof etc.. so he will see it with his own eyes then! I’m now going around the whole build with a fine tooth comb, and I’ve found a hairline stair step...