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Hi My son has just moved into a house with a back boiler controlled by a RWB2E programmer. The problem is that he cannot get hot water. The boiler fires up fine when the programmer is switched to heating but stays dead as a dodo when switched to hot water. The indicator light on the...

Hi Gents The ground workers have just laid, on Sat, the internal slab for my timber frame bungalow and I'm a bit concerned about the cracks that have appeared in it. The overall main slab is 8m X 10m. The make up is:- 100mm h/core 50mm blinding 1200guage DPM 100mm concrete On...

Hi I have seen a lot of guidance regarding where and how joists can be drilled or notched. Do the same rules apply to attic trusses? Many thanks Dave

Hi I wonder if you experts can help me understand the regulations and flow rates for guttering? I want to minimise the number of downpipes (and resulting drainage trenches) in my new build. The front elevation is a straight run of 16m with a roof area of 93m2 at a pitch of 45deg. Will a...

Hi Not really sure, but are there any special procedures to carry out when sharpening breaker steels? Or is it just a case of putting a new edge on them using a bench grinder? Thanks Dave

When we moved in to our property, three years ago, the owner made a big thing about the garage having been re-roofed. It did look superficially ok but I couldn't see a lot as it was sheeted with that asbestos type cement board. I'm now demolishing it to make way for a new bungalow and this is...

A bit of a ramble, this so bear with me! I'm planning to self-build a bungalow at the rear of my property next spring. The existing driveway (tarmac) runs down the side of the site to a double garage (to be demolished). I will have a lot of stone, rubble and bricks from the old garage which I...

Hi I fully accept the need to overboard my bathroom floor with 12mm ply but how do I deal with the "step up" from the landing into the bathroom? Is there a purpose made trim to cope with such a difference in levels? I suppose I could put down black and yellow hazard tape and a "mind the step"...

Hi I'm about to lay the tiles on my new garage roof, mono pitch to the front. I understand that the mortar mix needs to be 1:3 cement and sharp sand. My problem is what sort of quantity will I need to bed 6m curved mono ridge tiles and 3m length of verge? Thanks Dave

Hi Can someone help me please with a simple question? At what spacing should I fix the 8 x 4 sheets of 18mm OSB to my garage roof? The joists are at 400mm centres across the roof, so that's a given in one direction, but what about spacing along the joists? The total area is approx...

Hi The Brickies are building up the skin of my new garage and have set in the window, side door frame and front door frames. What are the best fastenings I can use to secure them once the mortar has gone off? I'm stuck because I'm used to pre drilling a wall, inserting a plug and then...

Have at last poured my garage raft slab. I've covered it for tonight as temps are forecast to be low. It's raining now and is forecast for tomorrow, am I ok to uncover it in the morning and just let the rains come down? I've seen a couple of your postings, Noseall, where you've said concrete...

A bit of advice sought about pouring my garage raft slab. The concrete is being delivered in two parts, a full load of 6cm and a make-up load of approx 1.3cm. I think the best way to check the make-up quantity will be to sread the concrete and then measure the outstanding depth to the top...

I will be pouring the foundation for my new garage when, and if, the weather improves. Before I do it, though, I need to provide a way of getting the SWA cable from the house into the garage. The cable will run 2mtrs in a trench from the house and then through the slab. What sort of...

Just one more question about finishing my slab. I understand that it's critical to judge when to use the float to finish off the slab. How long should I wait after using the beam screed? How do I know when the concrete is ready for this process? Thanks Dave

Hi I've a panic on! I'm doing my garage base and am up to the sand blinding layer. I have had three bulk bags of "sharp concreting sand" delivered and used. I have run short so ordered another bag which came yesterday. My panic is that the new sand is a different consistency and colour to...

Having read a number of postings about fused/unfused spurs, I thought I better ask about my situation. I live in a dormer bungalow built in 1970. It has a ring main supplying the downstairs sockets and the sockets in the two upstairs bedrooms (one each side of each room) are fed via single...

Hi Gents Looking for reassurance with my plans for finishing the concrete slab for my double garage next week, (5.96m x 6.56m). I've not done anything this big before. I plan to hire a 5.2m beam screed for levelling and tamping and then use a bull float to get the final finish. Am I on...

What size (KVA rating) 110v transformer do I need to power a Makita HM1800 breaker? Thanks Dave

Hi Can anyone clarify if the radon protect regulations apply new build homes only or if they would include a new detached double garage for an existing property? Thanks Dave