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Sounds like the worst case scenario, I'm going to contact a structural engineer and find out how best to approach this, looks like the garden might not be that much fun this summer! Not a big garden and it's holding up the neighbours land which is about 6 ft up so pretty rubbish for removing...

I've got a retaining wall in my back garden about 5 ft tall and 20 ft long constructed of pre-formed concrete gravel boards slotted into concrete fence posts, I don't know how far the fence posts have been buried. Over the course of the winter the mortar joints between the panels have started...

As promised, some piccies: A wider view showing the cement pointing only down to a certain level, the remnants of the concrete that breached the DPC and the slate DPC at the bottom. There is only one course of bricks below the ground level and no foundations that I can find. A...

Sorry about the delay replying - my notifications didn't work properly. It is definitely cavity construction and there is definitely a layer of slate 2 courses up in the the wall. The date is taken from a stone set into the front of the house, so I'm assuming that's correct too. The inner...

I've got a bit of a problem with my pointing (I think). House is 1889 3 bed semi of cavity wall construction. I've had some damp problems in the front bay window in the past, mainly caused by dodgy guttering and a concrete pad outside that breached the old slate DPC. I've removed the...

Hi, Bought the house just under 2 years ago and had to replace the original flooring in the front room due to damp, joists were touching the soil (chalk) beneath and had got dry rot. Problem was compounded by the wall construction (cavity wall on a house built in 1889), as the cavity was...

Well, I got over the spacers issue, managed to cut the horizontal bits with a stanley knife and pop out the vertical sections before I regrouted. Got the grout in no trouble and spent forever getting the silicone out as it was breaking down in places. Just got to do the new silicone seal...

As usual the job is trickier than I thought - some kind soul had left in all those plastic spacers so when they come out they bring a bit of the glazed part of the tiles off. I don't want to wreck all the tiles but if I don't get all the grout out then the new stuff won't bond properly. Not...

When you say metal puller I take it you mean the spring loaded sliding device on the blind rail that keeps the blind under tension as it moves up and down the window? I had a similar problem when I moved into my house - if you speak to Velux technical assistance they are very helpful and sent...

I've gone and got some BAL Microflex - hopefully should get the grout out and re-done tomorrow. Not really sure how I'll tell if the plasterboard joint is under the grout joint and what to do about it if it is? On a completely separate note - Topps Tiles in Yeovil charge the earth for a...

Hi, I've recently noticed a hairline crack running vertically through the grout in my shower, from the top to the bottom of a stud wall, which I think just has plasterboard behind it. As all the work was done before I moved in I don't know if the grout is decent, whether the stud wall is...

Just got home and checked - Boiler FCU is a spur off the utility room ring circuit. Am I right that if I take the switched FCU for the heater from the load side of the Boiler FCU that the installation would be ok? On a slight aside - does a utility room class as a special location? There is...

Is this ok? I'm having the kitchen done and just need to make sure that a new FCU for a heater isn't going to involve a load of extra wiring. Socket on ring --> Switched FCU to Boiler (3A fuse) --> Switched FCU for hydronic plinth heater (5A fuse) I think the Switched FCU to the boiler is...

Got a reply from Dulux again - Trade Diamond Eggshell isn't suitable for newly plastered walls, use Supermatt or Fastmatt. I'm giving up with them for now I think. Crown aren't much better - they tell me to use Eggshell or Acrylic Eggshell too! I'm going down to the local Brewer's later...

Afraid I'm still in the soppy, would-do-anything-for-her phase! I emailed Dulux Trade tech people who recommended Diamond Quick Drying Eggshell as it comes in the right colour and is a non Vinyl paint, I've just emailed Crown Trade to see if they do a similar colour in their Covermatt, which...