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Hey folks, I’m self building a double skin (brick + cavity + block) detached workshop (6m x 5m) with a flat roof that’ll overhang by 300mm on all 4 sides. 1. I've researched the build-up of a warm deck ‘sandwich’ but can’t figure out how to prevent cold air entering at the soffits (and...

Hey folks, So, I’m building a 7m x 4m double skin (brick and block) workshop at the back of garden - no building regs/planning required. 1). I’m planning the oversite ‘sandwich’ but can’t see the need to screed. Why can’t the top 100mm concrete layer become the finished floor which I plan on...

Hey folks, I'm renovating a 4-bed semi (2 occupants) and had 7 rads first fixed upstairs and will have UFH/Screed installed downstairs (90sqm coverage / 2 zones). I opted for a combi over system (lots of reasons - mainly space) and have some Qs: The Vaillant approved plumber initially...

Hey, I'm hoping you folks can help with this: The bricklayers have got me up to wall plate level and it's time for the roof. With so many options, I wonder what would be the quickest and cheapest roof construction whilst allowing for 3 x skylights (118 x 78cm) on each slope. Notes: some form...

Hi folks, So I'm about to embark on a full-width (approx 6.5m) rear extension to span the back of our semi. There's a shared clay sewer (approx 8~9" in diameter) that runs perpendicular to our proposed footings. The sewer serves me and the neighbour but I won't have a need for it once the...

Hi folks, I'm dealing with a 2480 mm high room that needs to be boarded out with standard 2400x1200x12.5mm plasterboards. Basically, even after boarding the ceiling and raising the sheets off the floor, the room would still be approx 55mm too tall to take a single full sheet. This means I'll...

Right folks, so - I'll be laying easy-lay PB pipe in a 3-bed semi for a Central Heating install and had some questions: 1) The 22mm Flow/Return runs are beneath floorboards - how close should I get to the radiators before reducing and 'tailing-off' in 15mm copper? I've seen plumbers run 22mm...

Hey folks - I'm curious as to how the pros would finish slating around a window opening on a flat dormer face? These are vertically hung fibre cement slates and I'm wondering if a basic corner trim could finish the job so the edges look neat? Would you recommend a plastic trim or aluminium...

Hey folks, my Edwardian house still has the original large coving on a lath/plaster ceiling. Without going into detail, the ceiling absolutely must come down (think rain damage!) but it'd be a shame for the coving to go down with it. I can't overboard either as I'd lose a lot of detailing in the...

Hey folks: So: the setup is a slated dormer cheek forming an internal parallel corner with a brick chimney breast - both faces are vertical. A bit like this: https://www.contractortalk.com/attachments/img_0143-jpg.30583/ My setup is similar with the lead currently covering the soakers. Now...

Right folks: Looking to lay central heating (22/15mm) and Hot/Cold water pipes in a 3-bed semi. The usual stuff: feeding pipe through joists with the tales to rads coming up in copper. I last did this in 2012 with JG Speefit without issue but I'm wondering if it's worth switching to Hep2O if...

Hey folks, just want to get your thoughts on a loft conversion in an Edwardian semi where a ceiling drop was requested after the builder had bedded the wall plate and fitted rafters. Wall plate can't be lowered as the owner wants to keep Fascias, Soffit and Gutters (FSG) in-line with neighbours...

Hey folks, I'm in a 1988 'new build' constructed entirely of engineering brick - and it's of the toughest type. Judging by several posts here (and replies like you need an SDS o_O) I'd say not many have encountered engineering brick. There's a 4" cavity behind the brick facade followed by light...

Hi folks, As an electronics guy, I mostly operate in the 5V and 12V realm but wanted to run the following question on loads and wiring ahead of our test equipment arriving next month: We'll have 16 x test machines running 24/7 with each consuming max 850W off a standard 13A UK plug/kettle...

Hi Folks, So I'm thinking of getting a new loo fitted and a quick survey suggests the foul drains being on the other face of the warehouse altogether. This means Sani-flo'ing the crap vertically 4 meters, across 30m and down again abit more into the...??(this leads me nicely onto my question)...

Hi folks, So - complete disaster: door frame was fitted so it opens into hallway rather than into room. A silly error but the frame can't be ripped out (plastered in, time constraint, etc,). I was wondering whether I should 'route out' the jambs across all 3 edges and use the 'new' dimensions...

Hi there, I was hoping you good folks could help with a issue I've encountered on a new 1700x700mm bathtub refit. The issue is it takes forever to drain - I mean abnormally long @ +10 mins. Starting at the compression end of the standard P trap, a 25cm length of waste pipe takes the flow...

Hi folks, Hoping you good people could help me out with an idea I've had: I'm on a 3 Phase Supply (formerly a commercial site turned into small apartment). My terminology is way out but it seems only 1 of these 3 'phases' are metered (@100A). The other 2 'phases' (100A and 80A) are simply...

Hi folks, I have some questions on 20mm PVC conduit (the 3m round PVC lengths you get from Screwfix) and was hoping somebody could help: 1. Whats the difference between an inspection 'elbow' and and an inspection 'bend' ? Screwfix have both and I'm not sure which to buy for a...

Hi folks, Having a 6kW cooker installed and my current unfinished setup looks like this: Starting at the Fuse Box (not actually connected yet), 10mm cable was channeled through upstairs joists and dropped into kitchen. The drop meant chiseling wall and embedding wire straight into the...