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A Party Wall Surveyor acting for a neighbour has quoted the following figures (as 'market rates') for the formation of a 10m x 3.5m reinforced basement wall in central London. The figures seem a bit steep to me; just want to see what others think... underpinning £500/m2 excavation £200/m3...

This question relates to fire protection of structural steelwork. There are also numerous issues here relating to fire escape but I think I know how to address those... I'm looking at a completed project which commenced work in 2017, and with very little paperwork to explain how or why certain...

I recall an episode of £100,000 house where some shuttering ply was used in a kitchen in conjunctionwith a 'fire-retardant treatment'. Does anyone know what that treatment might have been - I'm guessing some kind of sprayed-on thermoguard product?

Be advised that fees for the above apply from 19th August, so no slacking this summer!

Ahead of commissioning a proper SAP calc, I'm trying to construct a rough rule-of-thumb, so that I can be reasonably sure I don't have to massively revise any details/wall thicknesses etc. for a new-build resi project. The doors and windows I want to specify fail the target U-value by 25%, and...

In light of the Hilton judgment and the subsequent clarifying amendment to the GPDO (so ignoring the presently incorrect technical guidance), my understanding is that the attached is Permitted Development (subject to Prior Approval Notification). Why? Because the enlarged part of the...

Home Automation might be too grandiose a term for this, so let me know if you think it's best moved to Electrics... I've got an external led garden light wired back to the garden shed. I'd like to be able to control that one light fitting wirelessly. I appreciate that there's a wealth of...

An electrician's told a colleague that they can't install a taro 5637 gu10 light fitting (tested 4/19/2016) because of new regulations. What new regulation have I missed?

Can anyone suggest a (preferably south London-based) fabricator and installer of bespoke aluminium guttering. My guy's just let me down.

The builder is claiming for the fitting of the above as an additional item. The contract specified a 3 speed bronze circulating pump, on secondary return to a buffer vessel. Is it not likely that these are one and the same thing?

This question relates to a brand new installation. Power went off to a washing machine and dryer without tripping the associated RCBO. Power restored by resetting RCBO. Should this be a cause for concern?

Someone appears to have forgotten to switch the planning portal on this morning. The approved documents were moved from there recently, but I can't remember the link. Anyone?

I'm building a steel-framed studio, as large as possible, in the back yard. See sketch. At one corner, the distance from the steel to two adjacent existing walls is very tight (ca. 180mm at the worst case). The front part of the building is cedar on timber battens on ply on timber studs,with...

On a Cat5e installation, is there much difference in quality/performance between relevant componentry - jacks, UTA cable, 110 punch down-blocks, etc. or is it all much-of-a-muchness. I'm wondering how far I have to go in specifying this stuff.

I'm wondering if I can get away with Celotex's 50mm High Performance Insulation between a concrete slab and 75mm screed for a heated out-building (a shed/garden studio). I'm happy to run it past my BCO, but wondered what your thoughts were?

I'm just trying to get a sense of how much effort's typically involved in swapping out RCDs and MCBs for RCBOs to all circuits on a typical terrace house.

plastic clips vs split Munson rings with threaded back plates - discuss :-)

This 19th century flue in a garden in south London - what is it?

I have a house with a gas emergency shut-off valve at the (external) meter but nothing at the point at which the pipe enters the property. I understand that it's good practice to provide one as soon as practically possible after the pipe enters the building - but is this a Building (and/or Gas...

I'm building a 6.5m x 4.5m x 3.2m high summerhouse/garden shed. It has a steel structure comprised of two portal frames and some cross members. All the steels are mitred 152 x 89 UB 16s, off of 200 x 200 x 12mm thk base plates. I want to avoid the use of apex/knee braces and instead provide...