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    Potterton Prima F Overheating

    System was installed in the late 90's and has been very reliable, excepting one motorised valve replacement and one pump replacement. Recently the boiler has been cutting out and the reset switch used to restore function. Behaviour started in early November and has become more frequent over...
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    How to adapt standard half round gutter brackets for tilted fascia?

    The fascia board running around a relatives detached bungalow is 'tilted' / 'angled', as opposed to the commonly seen 'vertical'. The guttering is standard 112mm plastic half round, supported by compatible top fixed plastic brackets. Under heavy rain conditions the gutter tips down and outwards...
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    Ventilation gap behind external cladding on timber frame extension.

    On a diy basis I'm building a small ground floor single skin timber frame kitchen extension. Flat roof, soffit and facia are in place and have fixed external sheathing of osb, breather membrane and 25x50 vertical battens ready to accept cement board (finish is to be render). Plan is to fix mesh...
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    Converting a loft with trusses vs converting 'cut roof' loft

    Been reading loft conversion advice this evening, noticed a statement repeated on many websites: "For cut roofs, your loft has potential to be converted provided the available head height measured from the bottom of the ridge of timber to the top of the ceiling joist is minimum 2.2 - 2.4...
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    Good potential for loft conversion or pitch too shallow?

    My early 60's bungalow has a gable ended traditional cut roof, the span from plate to plate is 7.5m and height from underside of ridge board to plate level measures 2.18m - this works out to be approx 30 degree pitch. Does this profile have potential for conversion to good usable living space...
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    What causes the shallow hollows when skimming with multi-finish?

    I'm diy, this is my first attempt at skimming onto plasterboard. I've skimmed 3 small walls and one small ceiling, everything has gone well EXCEPT once the plaster has dried out there are around a dozen shallow hollows on each wall. Is there a technique to ensure these shallow hollows don't...
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    Kitchen wiring - which circuit is best option, dedicated radial or ring main?

    I have a bungalow extension forming two new rooms; kitchen and a bedroom. My thoughts were to have a new 32A ring run from the CU, supplying both the kitchen and the bedroom (and a new 6A radial circuit for the lighting in the same rooms). It has been mentioned to me that it's common practice...
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    Top coat sand and cement render not adhering

    External rendering onto lightweight aerated blocks. Yesterday wetted the wall, applied sbr slurry, waited for it to go tacky, then applied 6mm scratch coat (5:1 plastering sand to cement with plasticiser and waterproofer). This morning scratch coat was rock solid, so wetted it down and applied...
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    Stacking out tiles before fixing

    This is my first attempt at roofing. Noticed roofers stack out tiles on a roof in a particular pattern, before fixing. Is there a standard way this stacking is done? I have large format concrete tiles. Planned to stack 4 max, and only where a rafter gives support underneath - sound ok? Also...
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    Advice re fitting inset valley boards versus ply over rafters

    On my bungalow extension I parted existing roof tiles and fixed diminishing trusses up the rafters (what a nightmare that was). The trusses are at 600 centres, existing rafters are at 400 centres. The roof intersection new to old forms two valleys, each 7 metres long. Each roof structure has...
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    What options for load bearing beam end bearing support?

    SE has commented on plans to give load bearing beam '100mm bearing on engineering brick'. On a previous extension job I built up three courses of engineering bricks in a section 450mm wide, into the inner leaf block work to support a beam end. BCO didn't comment, so assume that was good...
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    External render - where to locate drip bead?

    My 60's bungalow has a few external render 'panels', I can see the drip bead is always positioned one course above dpc. Looking at neighbouring properties, the drip bead is at least one course above dpc too - sometimes 2 or 3 courses above dpc. All of the neighbouring properties have 3 or four...
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    Interlocking concrete tiles for 15 degree pitch?

    Have a proposed single storey side extension and due to the span (wall plate to wall plate 10350mm) the truss company drawing shows a pitch of 15 degrees, in order to keep the roof at/below 4m height (enabling permitted development). Found a couple of products suitable for this pitch but on...
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    Drains testing - Using drain test plugs / stoppers

    I'm attempting to water test a newly laid run of underground drainage, using 100mm stopper. However, I can't get the stopper to stay in place. Even when it appears to be rock solid, every time I fill the system with water the plug gives way after 10 mins or so. There is approx 16 linear meters...
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    Underground drainage advice

    Have a 450mm plastic inspection chamber to install - does this need to sit on pea gravel, as per plastic pipes or should it be bedded onto concrete? Also, what is the exact spec for bedding/back filling plastic underground drainage pipes in a trench - 100mm pea gravel bed, infill either side...
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    How close to ground level with full trench fill?

    Have 1000mm deep trench excavated in prep for full fill of concrete. The groundworker is of the opinion the fill must stop 100mm below ground level at the highest - however, I used this method once before and filled right up to ground level, the bco didn't complain. Has something changed in the...
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    Ground supported floor advice - is screed layer necessary?

    Looking at the regs, there are several diagrams for solid ground supported floors, one of which illustrates ground supported floor construction being (in reverse order): 1. Compacted hardcore (max 600mm) 2. Sand blinding (min 50mm) 3. DPM 3. Rigid insulation (min ?) 4. Concrete (min...
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    Underground drainage connect to existing inspection chamber?

    Hi, I'm planning to extend my property (bungalow), the ext will contain an en-suite, therefore need to get the waste away. There is an existing inspection chamber in the garden - however, the angle at which the new drain (green line) will connect contradicts the flow of waste. Is there...
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    Is Enforcement of Restrictive Covenants Common?

    Sifting through the title deeds of a property I'd like to buy, of note is a restrictive covenant stating 'no building other than a garage shall be erected within 15 feet of a dwelling on an adjacent plot'. Presuming the purchase completes, I plan to extend the property along one side (subject...
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    Opinions regarding 'width of house' in respect of side ext

    Recently had an offer accepted on a bungalow and assuming sale completes, I would like to erect a 'side extension'. Looking at the planning portal interactive guide, one of the constraints for permitted development of a side extension is that it's width can be 'up to half the width of the...
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