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I am building an extension and have created extra space in the loft in the process with all the new roof space being covered with breathable membrane/tiles but leaving a small section (approx 3m x 3m) of original roof with felt. I wish to insulate the new loft space (between and under rafter...

I have just laid a solid oak floor (20mm) onto timber battens at a spacing of approximately 12" centre to centre. I was careful to ensure that each board was tight against the next before I secret nailed it. However, despite my best efforts, I find that I have a small number of squeaky boards...

I must confess I did make some assumptions on some of the radiator heat outputs in my calculations as I was unsure of the values (original units that will be retained). So, there are actually 5 types of radiators but the vast majority are 1.8KW types - the others have a lower heat output. I...

Attached are a couple of drawings and my calcs - hope they make sense but please let me know if they don't. I need to re-visit the calcs as I think there are a few minor errors in there at the moment but they are reasonably accurate. The reason I am looking at a second pump is because the calcs...

I now pretty sure that I will run a new section of pipe (22mm) to feed the extension radiators. Due to the size of the overall system I am looking at installing a second pump and zone valves for the new rads. My question is, for the new pump can I simply Tee off of the incoming feed adjacent to...

I have a cast iron bath that was re-surfaced about 7 years ago but the material was very brittle and didn't take much to chip. The bath needs re-doing but I am reluctant to spend money again for something that possibly won't last. Should a bath that is re-surfaced in situ be more resilient or...

I am building an extension which consists of two storeys. At the moment I have two downstairs rooms that have been plastered and I am about to install a solid timber floor (the downstairs heating pipes sit on top of the floor slab and will be underneath the floor). The original heating system...

dann09 The pipework is continuous with no compression fittings or valves under the floor - I filled the pipes and have been running the system for 5 days now with no sign of leaks. The wedge proposal was to stop the boards from closing up when I nail - I only intend to use very thin wedges...

I am laying a solid oak floor (20mm) onto timber battens affixed to a solid concrete floor downstairs and to wooden joists upstairs. Downstairs I have run the central heating pipes (lagged) around the edge of the room and the battens have been cut so that they sit on top of the pipes. In...

Firstly in reply to John, the boards were acclimatised for well over a month and showed no sign of warping before I installed them. It may be coincidence but the board that I paid special attention to when fitting had two good coats of oil but has warped the most. Harbourwood, the boards are...

I am building an extension with solid oak window boards. Prior to plastering I oiled the boards (hoping to seal them), nailed the underside to provide a key and then bedded them onto mortar. However, the boards have all warped to varying degrees with a couple resembling ash trays! My...

Garyo, I understand that you cannot use expanding foam but must use mastic around the edges. Craig

Thanks Noseall. I have been undertaking a little more research and I found an article (from Celcon's web site I think) which said that 3" Celcon blocks could be used. My design is underwritten by a structural engineer (calculations were sent to Building Control). So, I presume that I can just...

Woody, I have checked my building regs submittal and there is a separate sheet produced by my structural engineer where it clearly states that I intend to use 4 x 195mm x 175mm C24 timbers bolted together with 75mm light weight blocks for the wall (non load bearing). The span is to be 4.8m with...

Thanks Woody. The joists on the partition wall just meet - the wall will continue above them -my thoughts are that they don't need to be bolted together. I showed a block wall on top of joists on my building regs drawings and it wasn't questioned although there were other things that were...

I am building an extension and am thinking of building in the floor joists rather than using joist hangers. In one section the joists would have to be cut into the existing brick wall (the other end will be block). I am looking for some advice on the following: 1.On what do I bed the joists...

I chopped off some of the external render to investigate the extent of the lintel and was surprised to see that it doesn't appear that the outer brickwork course is supported by a lintel - only the inner blockwork course. Was this normal practice for a 1960's house? As I intend to take out the...