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Indeed my original intention was to use this as a brick laying learning experience. However, there are two things that are worrying me. Firstly, the channel was created by removing bricks and I am concerned that if I did not do the work correctly I could end up adding to the stresses on the...

The photo is a few months old. and the soot has been removed and the chimney swept and a cowl fitted to prevent water ingress. Although the fire place is approx 200 years old, I believe it has been modified at some point. The tiles that are visible are not the actual floor, but have been raised...

I'm going to box out my fire place with plasterboard to cover the exposed brick work. In the centre there is a very large channel where bricks appear to have been removed to help the original fire draw better. Given that this channel is going to be behind the plasterboard, is there any reason...

Returning to this project after an enforced break for personal reasons. What ratio of SBR to cement should I use for the slurry?

He's actually gone to Australia for a couple of years, and the property is currently between tenants. I might just put one up anyway. By the time he gets back he'll have probably forgotten that there wasn't one on it to start with. Any suggestions as to how I should fill the hole in the floor?

The mains water comes in at the other side of the properties so I'm fairly certain that a pipe isn't to blame. However the neighbouring property has an un guttered sloping porch roof which is probably concentrating the rainfall into this area. The biggest mystery to me is why the sand based...

I've finally managed to excavate all the damp sand render. For some reason in this corner the render went about 6 inches below the level of the concrete floor. There is no obvious source of the damp. I think it is basically caused by the lack of a damp proof course where the concrete floor...

I'm repainting some wooden window frames using Dulux Liquid Gloss. Should I lightly sand between the first and second coats. I know that people often do when using gloss paint, however the instructions on the tin make no mention of this.

Returning to this project after a break. The wooden blocks were loose and starting to rot so I have removed them. Because of the rot they were not bearing any load, but I now don't know what to replace them with. They were the size of a full brick (old type). Given the narrowness of the gap a...

Not sure if this is the correct forum or if it should be in the" floor" section. I have been investigating the cause of a small damp patch that has appeared on the junction of one of my outside walls and the neighbour's party wall. The plaster had started to look a bit damp in the bottom...

As you suggest, the block of wood was probably a fixing block for the old windows as there is another one in the same place on the other side of the frame. They are both a bit decayed and loose so not playing any structural support role. I was thinking of removing them and filling the gap with...

After a recent ant infestation around my windows I decided it might be good idea to remove the window frame and see if there was any damage to the brickwork. It does look as if the ants had been tucking in to the fabric of the building. Having treated the infestation I am planning to repair the...