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Will do, I'll get a couple pans to a rolling boil for an hour or two this weekend before I go up.

I know it's not sensible. The problem is the builder doesn't or won't admit he got caught cutting corners. I'm almost positive they didn't expect me to go up and check on their work. Access to the loft space in tenements is usually quite difficult, via a high level hatch in the stairwell, it's...

I've told the builder on multiple occasions that the bodged install isn't acceptable and I'm not paying a penny until it's fixed. They've consistently replied with variations of "it's just a pipe to direct air outside", "it doesn't look the best but it won't be a problem""it's fine, we see this...

Attached some pictures of the work I'm not happy about (ignore the insulation, it's in the process of being replaced). Is it acceptable and I'm just being too strict with my interpretation of the regs? If the install was tricky, then I understand if some guidelines were stretched. But the...

Care to elaborate? I agree that many regs are ambiguous however, some are also very prescriptive. Such as, the regs say flex length should be limited to 1500mm, how can that be interpreted as anything other than keeping the length below 1500mm? If I use 2000mm of flex, I've disregarded the...

I don't fully follow though. Some of the standards for ducting that I posted above are clearly quantifiable. Like flex should be limited to max 1500mm, extended to 90% of it's maximum length, a condensate trap fitted on vertical duct, joints not taped only, etc. That is effectively telling you...

thanks for the reply. I find it frankly ridiculous that you need to specify to a builder not to cowboy a job and follow the building regs. That should really be the default. That brings me back to the question, what is an "guideline" and what is a legal "requirement"? For example, I've copied...

I'm currently in dispute with a builder regarding an installation of a kitchen extract duct. They've basically cut the rigid PVC pipe too short, used around 6ft of flex ducting, and is completely uninsulated/no condensate drain fitted. The flex ducting is compressed, unsupported, loops/sags on...

I live in Scotland in a tenement flat on the 3rd floor, in a non-conservation area. My flat currently has tilt and turn double glazed uPVC windows but are over 20 years old by now. I saw two window installers working in the area and I called them to arrange quotes. 3rd floor, 9 windows...

He said the joints would be generally raked to a depth of not less than 40mm (just under 2 inches) in rubble in stonework & 20mm ( just under 1 inch) in brickwork. Sounded reasonable to me although whether or not he actually goes to that depth will be near impossible to verify. I'm not exactly...

You know the thoughts and opinions of everyone that replied on here. Just cause you don't like them doesn't make it any less true. Whether your building a team, employing subcontractors, getting friends, or whatever idea you flip flop to, you're in no position to be leading a loft conversion...

You calling your friends or asking on the forum is simply a result of the same reason. You don't know how to do it and therefore are not experienced enough to take on the job. "End of." You should be doing your friend and more importantly, the client, a favour by putting the two of them in...

Are you presenting yourself to the client as a DIYer or a professional tradesman? It can be done by a competent DIYer is extremely debatable (storage yes, habitable then I'd say no) and you're certainly not paying a competent DIYer are you? If you gotta ask for how to do it on a DIY forum...

The builder finally got back to me and basically said the joints will be raked out to around 2 inches on stonework. Regarding the mortar question, he said the following: That to me reads like he's saying Portland Cement = Lime Mortar?? I thought they were complete opposites or does lime...

First off, no professional is going to give you instruction on how to do a complex job without actually seeing the job. Second, they're not going to tell you how to do their job so you can charge some potentially unknowing customer for what will inevitably be a bodged and likely unsafe job at...

It might be their choice, but if you’re not giving them all the information, it’s not an INFORMED choice, is it? You’re misrepresenting your services, skills, and experience to try and get the contract. If I saw an apparent professional tradesman on a home DIY forum asking how to do a job...

So what are you saying? You worked for clueless management who had no idea if the job was done properly or by a cowboy and decided to get in on that action? By your own admission (assuming you're copying a similar business model), your quote has no value for money and is approximately 20%...

You say you're being very clear and cautious but are you being honest and telling your potential clients that: A) You don't actually know how to do the work yourself and are just acting as a middleman in this capacity? B) Your experience is (or sounds like at least) essentially that of a...

A google maps image of the actual wall needing done is the best I can do right now. The only other image of the wall I have is not needing done but the construction is the same. Their words were clean wall off, breaking off the old cement from joints, clean the gaps between the stones and...

My mother stays in a old end terrace building, circa 1800 I think (although I've heard 1600 too). She's on the ground floor and has two neighbours above. The top floor is renovating and his builder has found water ingress coming from between the stonework of the end gable wall. When it's...