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I've got a single skin building, wall plate is on and it will have a cold roof. Where do I position the first joist and the last joist? E.g. How do I create an overhang for drips on the side but also have a place to stick the edge of the ceiling plasterboard? Front and rear overhang is...

I'm about to reach my outbuilding's max height but another course of block would make it too tall when I come to doing the flat roof. Possible options a) 2 courses of brick then roof or b) 1 course of aerated block, cut short via reciprocating saw (around 30 units?). They sit on medium...

I'm asking methods for working at height. As in how do I lay blocks if I can't reach high enough Cheers

The block wall I'm laying is now too tall and out of reach. I want to get the building to 2.5m. I was thinking trestles with a scaffold board across the span.

Building a 5x3m outbuilding to act as a gym. I'm switching from a cavity wall to a single skin pier design due to time / money. Is it still reasonable to ventilate between the block wall and the insulation board? Would I use air bricks and leave gaps in the battens for air to circulate through...

That's my hunch. I just thought I asked as I had the opportunity to start again due to a different reason.

First time building anything with mortar. I put up a block wall and used a ratio of 4:1 sand:cement with a splash of plasticiser. The mortar had a smooth texture, kept it's form, stayed on the trowel and was easy to apply if I wet the blocks a bit. The following morning it seemed to set and the...

Is it reasonable to mix block density on the same wall for a 5x3m building? This would be the 7n 20kg blocks with the medium and light density blocks for an outer wall and aerated for an inner wall. Background: I ended up with eccentric foundations with the outer coarse running just a few cm...

Thanks for your reply John. Yes I figured rebar would have been a must. I've asked around and most other people don't seem to be too concerned as long as its all on it. The closest to the edge is 33mm on corner 3 and on the interior of corner 1 about 20mm. This is my first major construction...

Some pictures Corner 1 Corner 2 Corner 3

I'm making a blockwork building at the back of the garden (12.5m2). I have a rectangular trench fill foundation (c20). It will hold a cavity wall of dense and light blocks. Unfortunately, I wasn't accurate and a part of my foundation narrows. I figured it would be simple to dig out this...

I don't know what counts as firm chalk but the only way to get it out is with a pick. Which isn't a problem. The trench is in chalk all the way around. Here is a picture. The floor is spoiled by some collapse and my muddy boots. I had assumed making up concrete to the minimum footer...

Nah the issue might be parking for the lorry and pump. Even if they parked further from my house the road is congested. Which is why I'm focusing on trench blocks which I can bring in bit by bit with a van as a backup plan. Specifically how I lay them flush on uneven chalk ground.

How do I lay trench block on uneven chalk ground? My plan would be to use a blinding layer of sand but I don't know if that's suitable and if it requires a wacker plate. Background: I'm building a 4.5 * 3.3m outbuilding. Ideally with a cavity wall of dense and light block. But can scale back...

Hello all :) Never built anything big before. I'm want to build a masonry 15m2 outbuilding as a gym. I want to use the building all year round and I can imagine a lot of body heat being generated. I plan to have an electric heater too for winter. I have two wall designs I would appreciate...

Thank you for the reply. I've made the assumption I'm on chalk. I'm pretty sure I will need a pick to excavate given the local area. I will dig a few test holes.

I'm building a 5x3m 2.5m high single skin concrete outbuilding. It will act as a gym. I'm looking for advise with the foundations. Based on Structure: Approved Document A the width of the footing is advised to a be a minimum width of 250mm and depth of the excavation 450mm based on my wall and...