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  1. ^woody^

    Building Safety Act Principle Designer - what to do if DIY build?

    That's part of the mess. The Act refers to designer needing the competent etc for the work they are doing, so that implies that someone who is not competent in certain aspects and does not profess to be, can't be responsible. eg the SE with training in and a lifetime of designing beams, and...
  2. ^woody^

    Structural Engineer needed or standard USB size?

    Some councils will accept standard UBs in common loading situations without the need for calculation. You need to ask them what their policy is. In that image, the screws imply that the joists are parallel to the wall, and in the absence of anything else above it, it won't be load bearing.
  3. ^woody^

    Building Safety Act Principle Designer - what to do if DIY build?

    It's bizarre when an SE will suddenly not want to do work because of implications of being a designer under the BSA, when they have been happy for over 10 years to do the same work and be a designer under CDM and not conform to their responsibilities under those regulations - which imposes...
  4. ^woody^

    Building on sand

    It's a waste of time insulating, or even highly insulating a wall and not floors and ceilings. Further, there is absolutely no benefit by insulating an unheated space - it does not make it warmer, nor does it create an even temperature environment. There is a difference in performance between...
  5. ^woody^

    Building on sand

    Planners don't need to know about sections or details, just what it looks like and how it appears in context of the surrounding area, and list the materials and colours. BTW, you don't need to insulate or even build cavity walls to the same standard as a for a habitable room.
  6. ^woody^

    Building Safety Act Principle Designer - what to do if DIY build?

    There is nothing simpler as a building control officer firstly checking that plans and specifications are satisfactory, and then checking that the work is done in accordance with those plans and specification - and any additions and alterations. Nothing. Ok, building control said that was too...
  7. ^woody^

    Building Safety Act Principle Designer - what to do if DIY build?

    DIY does not invoke the need for a PD, as there is only one designer and contractor. Appointing occasional trades or a professional of some sort, does technically create a situation, even if brief of there potentially being more than one contractor or designer. This is a grey area, as the Act...
  8. ^woody^

    Building on sand

    It's a bit of an oversimplification but in almost all cases, laws are not applied retrospectively. There's a premise that laws "look forward, not backward".
  9. ^woody^

    Building on sand

    I am the Teflon Don :p
  10. ^woody^

    Building on sand

    Thanks. I'd totally missed changes to enforcement time limits.
  11. ^woody^

    Lead strips for repairing slipped roof stones?

    The hooks need to be hammered in to the battens. The length of the hook is determined by the lap of the tile/slate plus 5mm or so. Info here www.stoneleaftiles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Stoneleaf-Slates-Guide-to-Hook-Fixing-illustrated.pdf
  12. ^woody^

    Water marks in bedroom wall

    If the water stain does not move or dry out, then it smore likely condensation, and the area pf plaster may need replacing. If it recedes and expands, then its water penetration. Check the bottom fitting on the downpipe to see it water is escaping, but it may more likely be an issue with how...
  13. ^woody^

    Damaged stone lintel

    Looks like you a lintel with a stone facing. The stone facing definitely needs attention, and may be insecure, it needs looking at urgently. The lintel may or may not need replacing, again it needs closer inspection. You'd be wise to sort out the cill too and provide a proper projection past...
  14. ^woody^

    Building on sand

    The planning and building control people do talk to each other and possible contraventions are referred amongst them for possible investigation. Whether the local teams have the time and resources is another matter, but the risk remains. This is not the same as one application for permission...
  15. ^woody^

    Is this pointing job reasonable?

    The question "Is this any good?" needs the context of "How much did you pay?" and perhaps "Who did it?" From close up there seems be a lack of care and finesse, that's not to say that its bad quality or a poor job. From further back it looks fine. The visuals are just part of what makes a...
  16. ^woody^

    Bricklayer daily rate?

    1000 a day is no problem. And I will always guarantee clients that at least 50 of them will be good.
  17. ^woody^

    Splicing column rebar

    Well if you want to do it to UK standards then you'll need to drill the base. But then you really would need to check the rest of the build as there is no point in having one column to a better standard than all the other work. Otherwise, check what the local standards are and see if that...
  18. ^woody^

    How to fill void above door lining

    Whatever the choice of plaster, it's bad practice to fit [significant] infill pieces to linings as that can cause cracking to finishes from use of the door. Secure large infills to the structure.
  19. ^woody^

    Building a part retaining wall for an extension

    The neighbouring ground looks like concrete, in which case there is no need for any retaining. In any case, how have you got to that stage of construction without the designer even considering the adjacent ground levels?
  20. ^woody^

    Splicing column rebar

    Rebar is extended via wire tying. The overlap depends on the bar diameter and other factors but it's normally around 500mm
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