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My flat roof (cold deck) on a new build extension has 9" x 2" joists, with firings tapering from 4" to 0. I don't have my plans with me at the minute, but I want to sort out the roof insulation this morning. From memory I need to achieve a "U" value of 0.16 for a flat roof. What product...

A friend taught me a trick to removing old paint from plaster. Score it with a knife in a criss-cross pattern, lots of times, ideally each score line 1/4" from the next. Then use brown parcel tape & tape over the entire surface, tow layers, each at 90 degrees to the other. One edge of the...

Paxeline is very similar to Bakelite and is/was used a lot in various electrical appliances. It has a very shiny surface and is very hard, hence I doubt plaster would stick. Out of interest, what is it covering?

Thanks. Wide DPC roll? Sounds easier, just take out a row of bricks & insert DPC so that the far edge is curled up the inside of the inner wall, then insert the lead flashing under the DPC as per the sketch below?

I'm familiar with the type of try below, which is built into the brickwork as work progresses. These can also be fitted into existing brickwork by chopping bricks out, inserting the tray & re-bricking. However, is there anything else available that doesn't require bricks to be chopped out...

Is there a decent web site that explains both flat and pitch roof construction? I can find loads on flat roof coverings, but very little on the actual construction of the roof itself.

Yes, it makes it difficult to get any fall on surrounding patio/driveway etc without showing the concrete blocks beneath. Guess how I know that one................................

Thanks, I did consider a warm deck, but with having to use 9" joists, plus the depth of firring, plus the 97mm Kingspan insul. deck, the fascias would have been huge. The other factor was that I didn't know how strong it would be with window cleaners ladders etc being plonked on top to clean...

Okay, I am concious that I was inadvertantly hi-jacking someone elses post with my contant questions...... so: Flat roof on a domestic extension. I am using 9"x 2" joists due to the span. "Builder-mate" suggested using 4"x 3" wall plates on top of the inner block wall to drop the joists...

The (crude!) sketch below shows the window reveal in plan view of the two smaller windows, is this the area in question? This pic obviously omitts any wall ties or cavity insulation. Is this questionable structurally or just aesthetically?

At the risk of sounding thick....... any chance you can explain a bit more? Can't quite see which bit you mean. Is it the front view (with the two smaller windows) or the rear view (where you can see the back of the house with the patio doors). Thanks

Thanks. Cavities are closed with 9mm Master-board (B.I request), so I can just drop the joists (9" x 2") straight ontop of the closed cavities? Thanks for all the advice, brilliant web site.

Do you mean the pier thats tied into the house? The reason for the smaller (1/3) brick length is due to a monumental cockup with measuring for the french doors..... :oops: , necessitating a bit of cutting & chopping to fit the pier into the allocated space. Never realised that was a problem &...

The pics below are of our extension taken a while ago. It is around 30m² and is a staggered "L" shape. The biggest saving was the bricks. 1500 Baggeridge solara multi-buffs for £100 from EBay!!!!!!

Ian, I found myself in the same situation last year! I am not a builder, but I have a couple of builder mates that taught me bricklaying in the past. I now have a few garages & various patios built by myself. I also have a "sound" knowledge of building regs from the same folks. But, I'm no...

Hi, I am building a single story side & rear extension on my house. This will have a flat roof. What size should the wall plates be? I was going to use 4" x 2", but I have been told by a friend (who is a builder) that I should be using 4" x 3". Any comments? Thanks

Thanks folks, problem sorted. Darling daughter(????) had stuffed a big piece of cardboard into the flue-space above the fire, blocking off the oxygen sensor. Brilliant web-site!!!

Hi folks. I have a Baxi Bermuda inset 2 back boiler which last night developed a problem. Switch the heating (or hot water) on, the ignition clicks as usual & the main burners ignite. After about 3 seconds, it goes off & the ignition clicks away, burners re-light then go off again after...