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I've sacked him - he had an excuse for everything! It wasn't just the arch, it was lots of other details. the guy couldn't build for toffee. Just another builder with empty promises of quality - unfortunately its these guys that give builders such a bad name. Hopefully the next guy will be the...

My builder has just built the first of a few brick arches on my extension - and I am not impressed. Obviously he's used a wooden former and the arch itself is not too bad, its the way he's run the bricks into the arch either side that looks like a dogs dinner. Instead of cutting the bricks with...

Yeah, I remember that - he was emphasizing the importance of the keystone and how the greater the pressure, the stronger the structure. Its cos it was just an arch wi nowt round it. Funny tho

Cheers for the tips everyone.

I am currently building a two-storey extension to my cottage and there are two carriage arches in the new-build. Does anyone know how to build the perfect arch? Would I be better off using a curved steel beam with plates welded on? Or would you use a wood former and build the arches in brick...

I understand the importance of having a clear cavity to allow air-flow and we liked your suggestion but wonder how you would get sheets of insulation in the cavity when there's wall-ties in the way?

Ha ha, to be fair it looks like its coming out of the bricks

I am currently building a 2-storey extension to my cottage. I am using reclaimed hand-made bricks. So far only a small pillar of brickwork has been built. However now it has stood a couple of weeks the brickwork has got white-stuff on it - now I have seen this white marking on new-builds and...

Thanks John, that's been very helpful. I think we will probably use thermolite because of the insulation value and because everyone keeps telling me to shut-up about blocks! Out of interest which would you choose?

The ground floor is already built. The inner and outer leaf are constructed from 100mm Dense Solid 7.3N Blocks and the 100mm cavity is filled with reinforcing bar and concrete (as the building is back-filled with earth up to the first floor level). The build then turns into what I would call...

Hi, I'm currently building a 2-storey extension to my cottage. Up to first floor height the inner-leaf has been built using 7N blocks as it forms part of a retaining wall on 3 sides. However as we build up past the first floor I have a choice of using thermolite blocks or 3.5N medium blocks. Can...