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We're having a new patio installed and the builders are doing a great job. However, I'm concerned to see the new level is only 120 mm below the damp proof course in places. The new level also comes about an inch above the bottom of an air brick which doesn't look right and I suppose could...

I'm looking to upgrade my front door's lock to a kitemarked multi-point lock (the kind that insurance companies like to see). The UPVC door currently just has a single latch although it looks like there are cut-outs towards the top and bottom in both the door and the frame where I presume there...

My garden is split into three lawns, approximately 50 m² each and split on differently levels requiring moving the mower down steps between them. I'm currently using a small old electric hovering Flymo (30 cm blade, 1150 W motor) which does seem an appropriate tool given the limitations, it is...

LEDs are so much better now than they used to be but I can't seem to find a bulb that can be varied between evening and daytime light. 2700K/4000K would be suitable, more variability would be a bonus. Ideally the bulb would also be dimmable or it could even combine dimming and colour change...

Hello, I'd like to get a garden shed for storage purposes but don't want to sink money into buying it only to leave it behind if I move house. What is the best sort of shed with moving it to a future house in mind? Thanks in advance

Hello, We had a larger flat roof dormer extension built a couple of years ago. The ceiling and roof is made up of plasterboard - timbers- celotex - osb - rubber. They key fact for this topic being that the celotex insulation is above the timbers making it a warm roof. At the back of the...

I am installing a new bathroom which will have a 5.5m run of soil pipe from the toilet to the stack. I am planning to turn the pipe 45 degrees immediately after the toilet, then a first run of 1m, followed by another 45 degrees, then the remaining 4.5m to the stack. This will all be with...

I am adding a new bathroom on the first floor of my house and there is limited space to run the drains to the existing soil stack. I have bought a branch connector for the soil pipe (see link) and was hoping to be able to join the shower and basin drain into one of the 40mm side bosses but have...

Hello, I would like to build a porch on the front of my house and while I'm comfortable enough with the walls and roof, I'm not sure what foundations I should be building on. At the moment there is an old concrete slab around the front of the house, this has got a large crack near to a...

I'm rebuilding a flat roofed garage and am wondering what the point in fascia boards are here because the rafters don't overhang the wall, instead they finish flush with the edge of the wall. Is there any reason I shouldn't clad right up to the roof line? A rubber roof will be installed with a...

We had a full width dormer extension built earlier this year which has dark grey cladding and a flat rubber roof. On warm sunny mornings there's lots of cracking noises as something expands. It responds very quickly to the sun coming out and the will be a cracking noise every few seconds a...

I know this is a boring question that must get asked a lot but I promise I have done some research and cannot find an answer that fits with my experience. I've recently moved house, had it rewired and I've fitted Philips LED bulbs throughout. Most are from their 'Warm White' range and some are...

I need to put a hole through the external wall for a kitchen extractor and there's already a couple of other holes in the vicinity. I can't find any regs or official guidance for how large a hole you can make and how far they should be from other holes, openings etc. Is anyone here aware of...

We are having a gas hob installed by a gas safe plumber on a labour only basis and I need to source something to connect to the 1/2" male thread on the hob to the pipework. I was under the impression that any 1/2" female fitting that will join to 15mm copper by solder or compression fitting...

I'm trying to track down a replacement for a ceiling light I believe was originally fitted to my bathroom in the late 90s. There are two lights but the cover from one is missing and I've had no luck in sourcing a replacement. The diameter is 30cm and here are a couple of photos: Thanks in...

Hello, I'm currently working out which of several development options are worthwhile and we can afford. Some would definitely require planning permission and some may not. We are considering: full width rear dormer, seperate rear dormers, small front dormer and side extension. I have been...

I attempted my first few solder joints on some bits of scrap pipe at the weekend with view to replumbing the house in the near future. I tried end feed and Yorkshire style joints. I was just using a small kitchen chef's torch but even so I got on better than I expected. I had thought I would...

Hello, I'm considering adding a sun tunnel to a bathroom, the tunnel would emerge through the roof on the street facing side. Does this mean it would require planning approval? I'd also like to add a window in the flat roof that we're replacing on the attached garage to get some more light in...

Hello, If this would be better off in another section of the forum please let me know. We are looking to add some living space in the eaves of the roof of a 1.5 story bungalow. I am hoping that we can get builders in to alter the roof, build a dormer structure and fit cladding, windows etc...

Hello, I will be refurbishing a 1960s house and am considering what aspects of the plumbing might need changing, there's a couple of points in particular I would appreciate advice with. Some of the pipework looks like it might be 50 years old, other bits look like they were changed more...