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Actually, I might be able to get narrower stairs. Since writing the initial post I checked existing width (840mm) and the regulation for minimum stair width (there is none! only a recommendation of 800-900). So I could possibly get away with a 47x175 or even 63x175 depending what I'd need to...

As part of an extension I need to move my stairway 'forward' from where it currently is. I don't currently have enough headroom for this, so need to modify the first floor joists. So I need to cut into two main load bearing timbers, with an acrow prop taking the load. I will need to install a...

Haha! Well, as it turns out my mate has a mixer anyway, so I’ll borrow that for the price of some beer. He thinks my 50mm is too shallow for the aggregate to settle and that I should go with 75-100mm. Sound right? Anyone else tried a 50mm slab for light use?

Yep ballast looks much better. Mastercrete concrete bags * 28 = £168 All-in-ballast * 28 + cement* 6 = £78 It’s a no-brainer Still not sure about the mixer though. Seems a bit overkill for that amount. How many bags per hour could someone mix in a barrow? Can I just use fairy liquid as...

Making a concrete base for some brick/stone steps outside my front door. Need 50mm concrete on top of my compacted hardcore. Area roughly 2.8m x 1m. Worked it out as 28 pre-mixed bags (20kg bags). Are bags the right way to go or should I be buying bulk aggregate? (would prefer not as delivery...

In the end I used an architect and SE, who proposed a moment frame design. Our span is 8.8m and one entire corner of the house will be roughly in the middle. A moment frame, a.k.a. Goal post frame, uses vertical steel columns securely bolted to the horizontal member to provide lateral...

Running an dlectric supply to the shed (not yet built) SWA required or pvc twin/earth inside conduit ok? How should the cable exit the main house and enter the ground/conduit? Looked for some photos of this bit of detailing but not found anything that much of a match for my situation yet

Currently building a shed and would like to run a water supply to it (plus electricity and network). I'm planning on routing some 20mm MDPE 750mm underground, rising up through the shed's concrete base (inside) terminating at a stop tap/adapter. My question is what to do at the house-side of...

A while has passed but thought I'd post pics for reference of people in similar situations in the future... I did as advised and installed the lintel before proceeding. Then I poured the constructional hearth, which extends a metre from the wall. Then I excavated 225mm brick pillars either...

I've stopped at the outside wall - that's the back wall you can see in the latest pic. The outside chimney is 1370mm wide, inside is 500mm, so I've got plenty of masonry either side.

Ah yeah splitting the bricks would be much easier. Unfortunately I can't install the lintel yet as it is intended to be fully supported by the new bricks that I'm going to lay. Can't lay those until the existing ones are out. The wooden frame you can see around the fireplace has a heavy duty...

What a total pain in the arse this is turning out to be! Removing bricks from the middle of a wall is hard even with an SDS. Is there a better way? Like angle grind out the mortar? Will a 9 inch disc do that? My problem is all the bricks I need to remove are keyed into the bricks that need to...

Yep we've considered it, and it certainly would make things easier, but both me and the mrs would like a free standing one.

Here it is with all the infill excavated...

The current width is 500mm - this is a bit limiting for log burners, so I want to expand it to 725mm (ish). The 1100mm I mentioned previously is the new lintel width. But even if I kept the 500mm opening, I'm still looking to replace the old bricks with new ones, so I'd have to remove part of...

I've started demolishing my fireplace (old open fire in 60s house) with the intention of rebuilding it using new bricks, wider than before. Here's a top-down section: I'd like to rebuild the inner skin of bricks 1 brick wider on each side, to accommodate a log burner. My worry is that I...

Ok, cheers. Here's another angle:

Found this white fibre stuff that looks like loft insulation in front of my fireplace grille: Is it safe to proceed with removal of fireplace, or have I got asbestos?

Those pics are a great help thanks - looks like it may be possible to install the frame without fully knocking out the back wall (which would leave us without a usable kitchen, not a good plan as we'll have a toddler and a newborn!)

Ok great, should be plenty of options for SE to ensure the steelwork remains hidden then. What's the procedure to install the column in place of the existing corner? Underpin the existing strip with a 1m3 pad, or completely break up existing foundation and start again? I was hoping the...