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This might sound daft to the pros, but how do you get a good cut on a perforated brick? I'm using Carlton Civic Multi 73mm (3 perforations) and need some 3/4 bricks. Tried marking and cutting using bolster (brick placed on bag of sand) - the bricks just end up splitting at random, mostly...

Hi, About to start laying bricks for my porch. My house is a 1940s build. Ground slopes down toward the house. Two courses of blue engineering bricks acting as DPC. 3 courses exposed below these, the rest is underground (pic attached) Strip foundations were mass filled. Plan was to build 3...

Currently planning a new porch, external dimensions 2.8m wide x 1m deep. Dwarf wall 600mm high. For the footings: Ground is loam to clay, solid from about 300mm down, so plan to dig to 600mm deep, 450mm wide - and probably mass fill. Does this sound OK? For the dwarf wall: I'm in two minds as...

Hi, Looking to put some 6x6 posts in for some driveway gates I plan to build, 8ft span (4ft per gate) I know I shouldn't use postcrete for this job and will need to use proper concrete. Can anyone advise on the mix/ratios that should be used in this scenario? I plan on digging down...

Hi, We have a Yale 6400 alarm installed. We want to add some protection to our outside shed using the house alarm. I've read that adding a PIR and door contact will do the trick, but I'm not entirely sure which mode we should set them on the control panel. The aim I guess is to be able...

Hi, I've built one of these shed/cabin things. I'm replacing the supplied plexi windows with some double glazing. The DG units will be toughened - manufacturer reckons 4/10/4 will do the trick. The doors and window are recessed from the inside, approx 20mm. There is no beading etc to...

About to put the T&G down for my shed/cabin floor. Base is 6x2 timber. Polystyrene sheets wedged in between to give a bit of insulation, stop any draughts. During the construction phase I laid a sheet of black DPM over the top, mostly to keep the rain off. Should I remove this before...

Currently building a shed/cabin, won't be insulating the walls for a while, but now is the time to sort the floor out. I have several rolls of 200mm rockwool lying around - I know it isn't as good as polystyrene or celotex/kingspan, but can I put this to use? The floor joists are 6x2, so a...

This is probably a non starter, but me and the neighbour are looking at replacing the aging metal gates that span our shared driveway with something a bit more secure. The gap is approx 16ft wide and so we're looking at a pair of gates around 8ft wide 6ft tall. Pre-made timber gates are a...

Looking at getting one of these glorified sheds (marketed as 'log cabins') to use as a room to get away from things - and somewhere to keep the treadmill. I'm looking at a 3.5m x 3m wide one. The current area I have in mind for it isn't ideal - has two old concrete paths running through it...

Just starting out on my deck build. The deck is being built on a slope, so one end will be higher off the ground. I'm using 100x100mm posts and 6x2 joists. 1) What fixings should I be using for the posts to joist? I've read somewhere M12 rust proof bolts. Would M10 do the trick or...

Hi, We are currently decorating our front room. The chimney breast was blocked up years ago with fireplace fitted in front. I'd like to box the old hole in and fit some shelves etc... for AV kit. However, the hole is 400mm wide and I need about 500mm for stuff to fit! To widen I'd...

Hi all, Just moved in with my girlfriend and am starting to uncover lots of stuff to sort. First thing is the kitchen, ripping the old cabinets off the wall revealed an old Wylex fusebox (cream, wooden back.) Anyway, we've got an electrician coming this weekend to do a PIR with a view to...

Hi, We're in the process of redoing our kitchen and ripping down the false false oak beams (if you can call artexed fence posts that!) One beam runs parallel to the side wall of our house (about a metre away from the wall) - and this is an RSJ covered with plasterboard (and artex) Our...