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Hi I'm making a concrete type slab to replace the current chimney capping slab that has broken. I have been told to use grano tech but can't seem to find much information about it or where to buy it from. Can anyone give me any info on what it is and why is it better than normal concrete...

Hi I need to refix the ridge tiles on my roof that have come loose and also the end row of tiles (redland 50 double romans) that sit on the cloaking. What strength of mortar mix should I use? Also, I have been told that for the tiles that sit on the cloaking, it is best to 3/4 fill the...

Hi Building a single leaf block wall with a door opening, do I need to fit a lintel across the opening and what would be the best type of lintel to use? Thanks.

Hi, I have an approx 600x850mm concrete type slab that sits on top of my chimney with the flue coming out the middle. The slab is slightly shaped so that the rainwater falls away. The problem I've got is that this has cracked and needs replacing. I intend to replace this myself, but I...

Hi Building an extension, but need to move the bath waste pipe from the outside wall. I intend to connect the sink waste pipe to the bath waste pipe using a T piece and then running the one pipe into the soil stack. Do I have to use 50mm pipe to meet building regs? Thanks

Thanks, we've already removed the existing - that was the easy part in comparison!! I did think that making 1 in situ would be an answer, but I was hoping to get one ready made.

Hi, I have an approx 600x850mm concrete type slab that sits on top of my chimney with the flue coming out the middle. The slab is slightly shaped so that the rainwater falls away. The problem I've got is that this has cracked and needs replacing. I intend to replace this myself, but I...

Could anybody tell me if it is OK to use normal cement (Castle Cement) in the mortar mix for rebuilding top 5 rows of the chimney and should it be 3:1 mix? I have read on another website that it has to be Portland cement that contained sulphate so that it didn't react with the gases from the...

Thanks noseall, just hope that the council approve them!!

We are in the process of building an extension and all plans have been passed. but we have just noticed that there is a condition on there which states "A1 Loading - roof truss calculations are required prior to commencement of relevant works on site". We ordered the trussed rafters a week...

We did think about this as well, but from the front of the house it would look like 3 brick pillars in a row and it didn't look right at all. We did quite a few different photos and believe it or not this was our best option.

A full porch would be too narrow and couldn't see any way around it if we wanted to lose the metal pole.

I'm planning on replacing a flat roof with a pitch roof above garage and storm porch. I've put a computerised photo on to show what I'm trying to achieve. I'm hoping to remove the existing metal support pole from the corner of the storm porch and maybe run a long beam across the garage and...

Thanks Woody! Once the shell's finished do you know approximately how long I should leave the block work to settle/dry out before any more cracks are likely to appear so that I can plaster? Also, is it OK to plaster straight onto the thermalite blocks as I think someone has mentioned on...

We're having an extension built using thernalite blocks on the inner leaf. The builder has reached 1st floor level and we have just noticed a crack about 1mm wide running down from underneath the middle of the downstairs window opening. It runs through the blocks and the mortar joints...

We've installed a steel beam in the floor space between the kitchen ceiling and bedroom floor. Where we're breaking through into the new bedroom, the beam will sit where the step to the new landing will be. Can the steel beam be used as part of the stairs (200mm rise) without any T&G flooring...

Hi Just put u-beams across garage to start building 1st floor extension. Beams are 90mm wide each and will take 2 leaves of 100mm block work with 100mm cavity. Is it best to centralise each beam under the block or can I put the blocks on so that they are flush at the front face and have...

Sorry meant to say "or does the u beam sit straight onto the lintel!!