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I have to say I'm very impressed. I checked all the links out that you memtioned and they are all printed. I'm putting up a front extension and I think it's worth investing in a little project like this. It will easily fit in a budget of less than a grand. I mentioned on a previous (new)...

I'm not sure which department this subject should appear in so I took a lucky dip. Has anybody out there in the big wide UK used compost to generate heat to, say, generate the primary heat for the hot water cylinder or even rads? I have access to huge amounts of compost/ manure (goat &...

Thanks for that dude, very helpful. Just before I go...my dad had a spread round his house years 25 ago to do the rendering outside and the final coat he mixed up had some sort of dye in it which gave a magnolia sort of shade when it dried. Whats is this stuff and is it available from general...

I have to say I would have done it for free even tho im not as good as a real spread who does it all day for a living. Any real spreads amongst you folk out there that can give this guy some advice and confidence to give it a shot himself??? I was shown to put on 2 coats of plaster. Get your...

What mix does the scratchcoat have to be?? Does it have to have any additives; say for waterproofing?? And what sort of consistancy are you needing?? Also how thick does the layer have to be?? I can plaster (not a pro) but not done any rendering. I would have to put battens up to act as a...

I have to agree with 1John. I had the problem of a really good plasterer but was too unreliable. He actually showed me and advised me how to do it because he had too much work on. I was crap at first but thank God for filler. You will only learn by trying. Have a go. If it won't be seen...

Thanks for the info. I did check a local company. Something about people in Devon, seem very cagy when it comes to giving a precise cost. But the figure was about right. I was pleasantly surprised.

So when I phone round the ready mix companies and state what the mix is for will they automatically give me a cost for a 'correct foundation mix' or do I have to tell them what mix I require? I need approx 5.5 m3. At a guess I would say it will cost about £600. I have been on sites in the...

I guessed bricking in the trench must be more labour intensive and cost more. I have a 5.5mt deep well about 8mts from the proposed extension. I looked down it and the sides seem to be solid rock. The guys that dug it in the late 40's must have been built like Charles Atlas. There is a hell...

I am starting a new extension in a few weeks. The drawings were done by an architect and the drawing shows the footings cast in a 900mm deep trench 600mm wide. But the concrete is only shown 250mm deep. I always thought when pouring footings you filled the trench allowing about 5 courses of...

I forgot about the timber box girder method. Have seen it done. The builder bolted 2 or 3 10" x 2" timbers together and spanned then across the area (over the room) and sat them on top of a wall. Cant remember how he sat them on the top of the wall tho, but it looked quite impressive. I bet...

Thats an interesting site, thanks for that. I'm looking around for prices today for 9 x 2" timber. I expect to pay around £16-20 per 4mt length. Has anybody out there used a specific wood treatment on the new wood prior to fitting?? I was going to put a couple of coats of bog standard wood...

I asked a relative of mine who specialises in loft conversions and he also mentioned that calculation. Hes one of the old school. I have just under 4m span and my joist will have to be 9" x 2". What are the different 'C' grades, is it something to do with the quantity of knots per meter which...

Interesting stuff. In new installations as I understand it the new joists are not to come into contact with the old so as not to cause any disturbance to the plaster board below. The last DIY loft job I did at one of my previous houses I sat my 9"x2"'s on a 1" thick timber plate so to stand...

I read somewhere that the process of attaching timber onto existing joists is called 'sistering' and this makes up the . I don't know if it is allowed now. I asked an architect recently, who was getting in his 50's and he had never heard of the process so I can't imagine it being very popular...

I dont think i would be too keen on soldered joints especially between 2 different types of cable if thats what is to happen. Too much messing about if you have to sepearte them for testing purposes. Happy christmas, im having an early day

Hello all, Not sure if any body is still checking this site. I am almost in the throws of starting a new loft conversion myself. Funnily enough I also have the same type of roof. I will obviously do the Bud Regs. What does regularistion mean?? :?:

I used 22mm all round, teeing off with 22-15-22 Tees per rad and the last on line I used 15mm immediately from the second from last rad. A 22-15-15 Tee was used here. I also, because I have wooden floors, fitted drain off cocks enabling me to drain off ther system from outside, not messing about...

Thanks for the advice to all. Hotrod you are right about the back scratching. Its the same with the NIC EIC, which I used to belong to for about 10 years, and CORGI or Gas Council. Its all a farce, there are geniune tradesmen out there who do a damn good and thorough job but cant afford to go...

Ferroli Optimax 25s Boiler - 84kbtu I have recently purchased a secondhand but new unused gas boiler and flue kit to get me out of trouble. It was in an old house and never used and when the house was purchased and knocked about it wasn't part of the owners plans. I have cleaned it up at...